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zea_d_writing's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book.
On the one hand, I think it’s written very well. The prose is well done. The pacing a bit slow but it also helps build up the sense of unease. The foreshadowing is (maybe a little too) well done. The format of the text and how it relates to the story its telling is clever.
The book starts off with the strong feeling of something being not quite right. There is a sense of being on edge as you realize that something about the MC feels off and that she’s being harassed by The Caller; a mysterious caller who sends cryptic messages at all hours of the day and night. As the story progresses through the drive to the farmhouse things become more surreal and strange. The dinner with the parents feels downright unnerving. And by the time the story arrives at the school, its very obvious that something very wrong is going on.
The tension built up in this story is very well done. And I think the author did an amazing job laying the groundwork and then pulling all of the pieces together in the end.
HOWEVER, the trope of “the terror/horror of this story is that the character is mentally ill” is a) really tired and b) extremely problematic and harmful. I don’t have the condition that this story depicts so I can’t speak on how this story handles it. But when the “twist” happened it just felt like a letdown. I could tell it was coming, it was well foreshadowed, but it was still a letdown. It wasn’t scary, it wasn’t thrilling. It was tragic and unfortunate and its such an overused “twist” that it didn’t feel like anything new or original.
Also…it can’t be argued that this wasn’t supposed to be read as a thriller/horror novel and instead was supposed to be a study of the fragility of the mind, exploration of identity, and how mental illness can warp our realities. It’s listed as a psychological thriller/horror. It’s marketed as a psychological thriller/horror. All of the reviews list it as “creepy”, “thrilling”, “terrifying”, “a twisted nightmare”…and on and on. And the story is written as a thriller; intentionally meant to be creepy and framed as a horror. And therefore the “twist” of the story just simply being that the MC is mentally ill and the “I’m thinking of ending things” actually means suicide…is tired and problematic.
As someone who struggles with mental illness, I don’t think it’s impossible to tell a thriller/horror story that features mental illness without it being problematic. I think its very possible. And I’m not saying this book did the worst job at this. I actually think the author tried to be mindful of how he handled the subject. There are absolutely more harmful depictions out there. But that doesn’t negate that this book still fell into harmful tropes.
I’m giving this 3⭐️ because I really think the author did a good job crafting the story and I enjoyed it up until the end. But the end kind of killed it for me. (Yes, I do understand the ending. I didn’t find it confusing at all. It felt well supported and fairly straightforward to me. It was just tired and problematic.)
On the one hand, I think it’s written very well. The prose is well done. The pacing a bit slow but it also helps build up the sense of unease. The foreshadowing is (maybe a little too) well done. The format of the text and how it relates to the story its telling is clever.
The book starts off with the strong feeling of something being not quite right. There is a sense of being on edge as you realize that something about the MC feels off and that she’s being harassed by The Caller; a mysterious caller who sends cryptic messages at all hours of the day and night. As the story progresses through the drive to the farmhouse things become more surreal and strange. The dinner with the parents feels downright unnerving. And by the time the story arrives at the school, its very obvious that something very wrong is going on.
The tension built up in this story is very well done. And I think the author did an amazing job laying the groundwork and then pulling all of the pieces together in the end.
HOWEVER, the trope of “the terror/horror of this story is that the character is mentally ill” is a) really tired and b) extremely problematic and harmful. I don’t have the condition that this story depicts so I can’t speak on how this story handles it. But when the “twist” happened it just felt like a letdown. I could tell it was coming, it was well foreshadowed, but it was still a letdown. It wasn’t scary, it wasn’t thrilling. It was tragic and unfortunate and its such an overused “twist” that it didn’t feel like anything new or original.
Also…it can’t be argued that this wasn’t supposed to be read as a thriller/horror novel and instead was supposed to be a study of the fragility of the mind, exploration of identity, and how mental illness can warp our realities. It’s listed as a psychological thriller/horror. It’s marketed as a psychological thriller/horror. All of the reviews list it as “creepy”, “thrilling”, “terrifying”, “a twisted nightmare”…and on and on. And the story is written as a thriller; intentionally meant to be creepy and framed as a horror. And therefore the “twist” of the story just simply being that the MC is mentally ill and the “I’m thinking of ending things” actually means suicide…is tired and problematic.
As someone who struggles with mental illness, I don’t think it’s impossible to tell a thriller/horror story that features mental illness without it being problematic. I think its very possible. And I’m not saying this book did the worst job at this. I actually think the author tried to be mindful of how he handled the subject. There are absolutely more harmful depictions out there. But that doesn’t negate that this book still fell into harmful tropes.
I’m giving this 3⭐️ because I really think the author did a good job crafting the story and I enjoyed it up until the end. But the end kind of killed it for me. (Yes, I do understand the ending. I didn’t find it confusing at all. It felt well supported and fairly straightforward to me. It was just tired and problematic.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Self harm, and Mental illness
Moderate: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Animal death, and Blood
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wow. okay, so, over two years ago, a friend recounted this book to me, including its ending. later i started to read it but never finished; today i read it start to finish. even knowing the ending it was still so unsettling and creepy, which is commendable because i don't see myself as easily scared by books. and even as a horror/thriller, it had substance to it and leaves me with much to think about. recommend, though it's best to go in knowing as little as possible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Body horror, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Suicide
Moderate: Death, Stalking, Animal death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Cursing
Minor: Alcohol, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, Vomit, Body shaming, Death of parent, Gore, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Violence
bookburdy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Self harm, Gore, Stalking, Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
tigtig686's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death
risemini's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
kibiiiariii's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I truly disliked this book.
The writing itself isn't that bad, but the beginning and end of this book really are. The beginning is extremely boring and filled with superficial philosophy, the long car ride does really feel like one, it´s never-ending the end made me full of rage, I already wasn't enjoying this book but the ending really felt like I had wasted hours of my life, the author pulled the it was all a dream shtick . The middle part didn't feel as bad.
As for the characters, I cannot stand the main one, (whose POV we always follow) I was actually constantly rooting for her death. I am aware she represents more than appears at first sight, but I still find her insufferable.
On a brighter note, or darker in this case, I felt the tense and ominous environment was really well maintained from the half point onwards, but this wasn't enough to save this book for me.
The writing itself isn't that bad, but the beginning and end of this book really are. The beginning is extremely boring and filled with superficial philosophy,
As for the characters, I cannot stand the main one, (whose POV we always follow) I was actually constantly rooting for her death. I am aware she represents more than appears at first sight, but I still find her insufferable.
On a brighter note, or darker in this case, I felt the tense and ominous environment was really well maintained from the half point onwards, but this wasn't enough to save this book for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Body horror, Gaslighting, Gore, and Physical abuse
chloevienna's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
really solid horror book - read it in a few hours. i’d seen the movie first, but definitely enjoyed the book more and felt it gave interesting insights. really spooky and oddly deep??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Animal death, Gore, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Death, Body horror, and Self harm
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content
ekmook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Suicide, Blood, and Self harm
Minor: Animal death and Stalking
inmyhead's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
You definitely are going to have to look up the explanation or re-read the book to understand what's actually happening, it's amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Animal death, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Blood, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
It's really sad once you figure out what's actually happening but I do think it's definitely an awakening of almost saying "Don't stay to much in your head" and to talk to others or it will drive you mad and cause sadness.whatathymeitwas's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Animal death, and Suicide