Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death
Listened to this on audio. I think if I was reading this book as a hard copy I would have gotten fed up with it and DNF'd it. There was so much repeating of the story but the saving factor was the narrators of this book. It made it enjoyable and I didn't mind the rehash of the story. Two girls go missing only one returns. "Dun Dun Dun" that's a sound effect... The girls are sisters, they have a crazy ass family. On the verge of crazy ass sickoids. You really don't blame them for getting the hell out of town. But what is the twist? Why does only one return? Well you'll just have to sit thru the repeating, rehash of the story to find out. Just like I did. Try the audio you can always fast forward.
I love a good psychological thriller and the mystery that surrounds the storyline. This one had been on my radar for a while and when it finally became available at the library I couldn’t start reading it fast enough. I ate up the first few chapters, prepared to immerse myself in the disappearance of Emma and Cass. But midway through the novel it became painfully clear that Emma In the Night wasn’t a good fit for me.
I struggled a bit with the writing style, with the drawn out story line, and with being told what was going on rather than being shown. I wanted to guess myself what was about to happen or “whodunit”. But that just didn’t happen. It felt as though I was handheld and led around throughout the plot.
But there were parts I enjoyed! Wendy Walker’s use of Narcissist Personality Disorder was really striking, and the conflicting characteristics of Cass and the unfolding of her story really were enjoyable. She was likeable and frustrating, sincere and haunted all at the same time!
I wish I could give Emma In The Night a 2.5, I’m on the fence about it.
I struggled a bit with the writing style, with the drawn out story line, and with being told what was going on rather than being shown. I wanted to guess myself what was about to happen or “whodunit”. But that just didn’t happen. It felt as though I was handheld and led around throughout the plot.
But there were parts I enjoyed! Wendy Walker’s use of Narcissist Personality Disorder was really striking, and the conflicting characteristics of Cass and the unfolding of her story really were enjoyable. She was likeable and frustrating, sincere and haunted all at the same time!
I wish I could give Emma In The Night a 2.5, I’m on the fence about it.
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot twist that was definitely not expected. Heartbreaking to read about the way the girls grew up and how things played out. Semi-happy ending, but definitely kept me hooked the whole time.
The story seemed like it went on forever and the plot was overcomplicated and predictable.
Reading this book gave me more insight to narcissistic people. I've known people who are like that, but I never understood them. Emma in the Night went in and explained it in a way where I understood it more. I thoroughly enjoyed the book & it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. This book did have some emotional triggering moments, but I'd stop reading, take a breath & get back to it. I thought I was able to predict the book, but I was totally wrong. I'm going to have to check out other books by Wendy Walker.
This is more of a 3.5 star book but I rounded up. I finished it quite quickly because I really wanted to know if I was right about what happened— I was only half right but it still wasn’t as big of a twist I was anticipating after chapters and chapters of hinting that all is not what it seems.
It’s super well written in the sense that it keeps you on edge in true psychological thriller fashion but the author goes a little too hard on the psychological aspect and not in the way I would’ve liked. Abby is convinced that Mrs. Martin has Narcissistic Personality Disorder and so the book goes into great detail about pathology and how the disorder manifests but it reads much like an undergrad lower level psych textbook. It seems the author really latched onto mental illness as being the crux of the entire plot and she really wanted to sell it by heavily basing it on research.
The writing in general was not great, there was some awkward phrasing here and there which editors should have caught. I also found the way that Cass’ character was written to be kind of confusing. I understand that there are bursts of immaturity here and there because although at this point in the story she’s 18, she’s been cooped up and away from “reality” so perhaps she’s not really “grown.” But I feel like either couldn’t decide if she was trying to write her as a smart grown woman or a confused child— this is especially confusing in her recounting of events prior to their disappearance like how she kept saying “having sex with Mr. Martin” and “sex power” and explaining some adult concepts, as an adult, but through a child’s mouthpiece while she was perfectly capable explaining other adult concepts just fine.
I couldn’t find myself really relating to any of the characters or really feeling empathy for them (not even Cass or Emma) because they were all very one dimensional.
I could also do without the little sidebars of philosophical musings about betrayal and trust and war.. they did add a little to the plot in the sense that they helped Abby catch onto Cass’ hints but I feel like it was a little overdone.
It’s super well written in the sense that it keeps you on edge in true psychological thriller fashion but the author goes a little too hard on the psychological aspect and not in the way I would’ve liked. Abby is convinced that Mrs. Martin has Narcissistic Personality Disorder and so the book goes into great detail about pathology and how the disorder manifests but it reads much like an undergrad lower level psych textbook. It seems the author really latched onto mental illness as being the crux of the entire plot and she really wanted to sell it by heavily basing it on research.
The writing in general was not great, there was some awkward phrasing here and there which editors should have caught. I also found the way that Cass’ character was written to be kind of confusing. I understand that there are bursts of immaturity here and there because although at this point in the story she’s 18, she’s been cooped up and away from “reality” so perhaps she’s not really “grown.” But I feel like either couldn’t decide if she was trying to write her as a smart grown woman or a confused child— this is especially confusing in her recounting of events prior to their disappearance like how she kept saying “having sex with Mr. Martin” and “sex power” and explaining some adult concepts, as an adult, but through a child’s mouthpiece while she was perfectly capable explaining other adult concepts just fine.
I couldn’t find myself really relating to any of the characters or really feeling empathy for them (not even Cass or Emma) because they were all very one dimensional.
I could also do without the little sidebars of philosophical musings about betrayal and trust and war.. they did add a little to the plot in the sense that they helped Abby catch onto Cass’ hints but I feel like it was a little overdone.
dark
emotional
sad
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
I absolutely love this book! It was compelling and thought-provoking up till the very end. Somethings I saw coming, but they were set up in a way that never spoiled that the true twists and turns.