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paperwitch's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
A heart wrenching story that touches base on the paperboy kidnappings of 1980. I loved this book, the characters are filled with emotional turmoil as they try their best to figure out what happened to the boys. I think one of this books weaknesses was its ending and length. We spend so much time in certain areas that in return made the ending feel rushed and unfinished. This book had a lot of potential and beside its flaws it is still a truly enjoyable novel, I couldn't put it down, even when it dragged.
A heart wrenching story that touches base on the paperboy kidnappings of 1980. I loved this book, the characters are filled with emotional turmoil as they try their best to figure out what happened to the boys. I think one of this books weaknesses was its ending and length. We spend so much time in certain areas that in return made the ending feel rushed and unfinished. This book had a lot of potential and beside its flaws it is still a truly enjoyable novel, I couldn't put it down, even when it dragged.
amarisroyal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
hollydaze71's review against another edition
4.0
This was very well done and did not end as I thought it would.
It should come with a trigger warning.
It should come with a trigger warning.
gimpyknee's review against another edition
2.0
Somebody should tell Officer Goodkind that the monster abducting young boys could not possibly be using a taser. The story takes place in 1984. Tasers were not invented and employed until 1993.
Too predictable.
Too predictable.
aprilsbookblog's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
booksbybindu's review against another edition
4.0
The Monsters We Make by Kali White.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publishing date - 9th June 2020
Publisher - Crooked Lane Books
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publishing date - 9th June 2020
Publisher - Crooked Lane Books
salimah's review against another edition
4.0
I was certain that I'd land at the three-star mark with this one through most of the front half and a bit of the back half, when the novel suddenly gained momentum, strength, and became a more efficient, more tautly constructed vehicle for the story.
The Monsters We Make was always at its most effective and excruciating when the writing was with Sammy's POV--how I felt for that tender boy who was so unseen by everyone in his life. There were moments when I considered not finishing, not because the book wasn't compelling enough, but because I could not bear the toll the abuse took on him.
Ultimately, I'm glad I finished, but there are definite trigger warnings to heed here. Though the author is never gratuitous re: descriptions of acts, the allusions to the torment (physical, emotional, psychological) are severe enough.
The ending was, as others have observed, not a categorically happy one though many of our characters are given appropriate relief and closure. The book is all the more effective for it.
The Monsters We Make was always at its most effective and excruciating when the writing was with Sammy's POV--how I felt for that tender boy who was so unseen by everyone in his life. There were moments when I considered not finishing, not because the book wasn't compelling enough, but because I could not bear the toll the abuse took on him.
Ultimately, I'm glad I finished, but there are definite trigger warnings to heed here. Though the author is never gratuitous re: descriptions of acts, the allusions to the torment (physical, emotional, psychological) are severe enough.
The ending was, as others have observed, not a categorically happy one though many of our characters are given appropriate relief and closure. The book is all the more effective for it.
brianas_'s review against another edition
1.0
This book bored me beyond belief. I would have dnf’d it if my coworker wouldn’t be asking about it.
readsalattethrillers73's review against another edition
4.0
I’m a sucker for a story set in the 80’s and this book definitely gave me the atmospheric vibes I love. Framed around the true story of two missing newspaper delivery boys in Ohio, this story is about Sammy and Crystal, who live with their single mom, Trish. You know from the beginning that Sammy knows more about the latest missing persons case, but is too afraid to come forward. In a parallel story, is officer who was unable to solve the first two missing boys cases and is now faced with yet another unsolved case. I thought this was a good story, yet a bit predictable. It was also a fast read, which got me out of my latest reading slump.