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mimimilaa's review against another edition
3.0
This took me a while to get into, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. It has an interesting premise, however I did think that it wrapped up too nicely (especially with Johnathan's dad not questioning what Catherine had said)
glennaparks's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kalypsowolf's review against another edition
2.0
2
For the most part this was just a really dull read and the writing style does absolutely nothing to help that. The author tries to intentionally mislead you by just conveniently omitting details even though we are literally in the head of the character. Rather unsuccessfully, I might add.
The story itself is not very compelling either and I genuinely considered dropping it but I was reading it for a book club. (That I ended up getting too sick to go to btw, shoulda dnfed)
The ending was satisfying though which redeemed it a bit and I can see why some people would really enjoy this. Just not for me.
For the most part this was just a really dull read and the writing style does absolutely nothing to help that. The author tries to intentionally mislead you by just conveniently omitting details even though we are literally in the head of the character. Rather unsuccessfully, I might add.
The story itself is not very compelling either and I genuinely considered dropping it but I was reading it for a book club. (That I ended up getting too sick to go to btw, shoulda dnfed)
The ending was satisfying though which redeemed it a bit and I can see why some people would really enjoy this. Just not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Sexual content, Drug use, and Stalking
sdlambert23's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kaiiitlinnntren's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jasperisarock's review against another edition
Yikes. Okay. If I was a women’s studies teacher, I would have my students read this book (after providing them with the appropriate trigger warnings).
katykelly's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
What a premise to start a book with - you begin reading a book and realise it's all about you. I found a copy in the library based on that alone.
The story turned into something a little more routine in many ways though, I think I was hoping for something more sci-fi and futuristic in its plot. But I did enjoy listening (I had an audiobook version).
The book Catherine Ravenscroft is reading is about her, about a day in her life she would rather forget. One that she now can't. Someone doesn't want her to. But who has sent her the book? And why?
The fairly quick unravelling of the 'who' leads us to a rather dark tale, but again, this isn't the whole truth, as the two narrators between them tell a story that only at the end is laid bare.
The truth may wreck her life, her family, her marriage. It's one of those books where you hang on to find out if your guesses are correct. I worked it out before the big reveal, and found it very strange - I couldn't quite understand the 'why' of what happened, it just didn't gel together.
It's cleverly put together though, leading you up various paths, using both the unreliable and secretive narrators and also passages from the Book to tell the story.
Towards the end, the scenes involving the revelations I found particularly well written and involving, there is some excellent writing there. But I don't want to say any more for fear of giving away spoilers.
I found it an interesting read, not a satisfying one, but I'm glad I gave it a go after the publicity it's garnered. It will be enjoyed for its twists, its unusual use of narrators and its intriguing central premise.
What a premise to start a book with - you begin reading a book and realise it's all about you. I found a copy in the library based on that alone.
The story turned into something a little more routine in many ways though, I think I was hoping for something more sci-fi and futuristic in its plot. But I did enjoy listening (I had an audiobook version).
The book Catherine Ravenscroft is reading is about her, about a day in her life she would rather forget. One that she now can't. Someone doesn't want her to. But who has sent her the book? And why?
The fairly quick unravelling of the 'who' leads us to a rather dark tale, but again, this isn't the whole truth, as the two narrators between them tell a story that only at the end is laid bare.
The truth may wreck her life, her family, her marriage. It's one of those books where you hang on to find out if your guesses are correct. I worked it out before the big reveal, and found it very strange - I couldn't quite understand the 'why' of what happened, it just didn't gel together.
It's cleverly put together though, leading you up various paths, using both the unreliable and secretive narrators and also passages from the Book to tell the story.
Towards the end, the scenes involving the revelations I found particularly well written and involving, there is some excellent writing there. But I don't want to say any more for fear of giving away spoilers.
I found it an interesting read, not a satisfying one, but I'm glad I gave it a go after the publicity it's garnered. It will be enjoyed for its twists, its unusual use of narrators and its intriguing central premise.
anakins_wife's review
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
A great premise, but everything else was disappointing. No tension, no real thriller, just a good idea poorly executed and written, with plot twists that made me go “huh”. Even the final twist was an “oh I see, that makes sense now” instead of what it should’ve been— an “omg wtf”. Do not recommend.
tatyanavogt's review against another edition
5.0
I'm going to be honest, I wasn't expecting to like this. As a matter of fact I wasn't really interested in anything in the beginning. Mildly curious about the contents of the book that starts the story off. Wondering what could possibly be in it to cause such a fuss. I was sure that when I found out I would no longer want to continue the book. And yet, at some point that mild curiosity turned into investment. I needed to know so much more, and I was 'happy' with the twits and turns.
Now I will admit that I am NOT someone who reads a lot of thrillers in general so I don't know how obvious things were or were not. But I was into it and by the end of the book I'd found another favorite. A book that made me upset, a little uncomfortable and mostly kept me wanting more. I don't think it kept me on my toes, and it wasn't scary, but it was intriguing.
I keep flip flopping on the rating. Going back and forth between a 4 and a 5 star. I feel like there is a flaw in some of the details, and my lack of disinterest at the beginning should account for something. And then I realize that the flaw can be seen as a comment on a bigger interest and that technically I was in the mood for a romance not a thriller when I started the book and that could have contributed to my partial disinterest at the start... I dunno...
Now to the spoiler thoughts:
I must admit that I had a fleeting thought that perhaps the "affair" was something that she didn't want I don't think I fully registered the idea of rape when I had that thought but it was in that realm, some type of coercion. But the expression they describe of her having in the photo, made me partially dismiss that idea but not completely. I felt that she had the right to be heard and I guess part of me didn't want her to have cheated so I kept "hope" for something else. I feel bad that it was straight up rape though.. it almost feels insulting to have rape be such a common topic in stories. Regardless the dynamic shift that happened when everyone was treating her so poorly only to realize that she had been the victim the whole time and they were the villains.
It really made me upset for her, and I am SOOOO very glad that she left her husband. I was livid that she was so quick to take him back, almost like nothing happened. Like he hadn't just abandoned her while denying her the ability to tell her side of things. Instead he took the word of a stranger over his own wife. I understand his initial reaction but the fact that he wouldn't hear her out at all made everything after seem extreme. The packing her bags and kicking her out of her own home without talking to her... like damn.. I guess the pictures were enough.. and I guess thats where the flaw in the story was. The fact that he couldn't see that she was scared in the photo.. That neither man could.
The flaw is that despite it being there when they looked, neither man could register the fear on her face when they looked at the photo. Despite looking at the photos multiple times, despite having constant access to them. Perhaps if they had just glanced at them, looking at the stalker photos of her with her son and using that as a bases. But her in the sexy lingerie set was described as if her husband was staring at it. Looking at her expression as something he was jealous of.. I dunno. Maybe its not a flaw in the story but a commentary on how people see what they want to see..
It makes sense why she questioned why HE did it. Why her rapist saved her child from drowning, it also makes sense why she didn't say anything, because it is true that women need to defend their truth when they are the victims of assault and rape. Because his death was a type of freedom, a chance to put a horrific thing that happened to her out of her mind. She didn't need to tell that story, she didn't owe anyone that.
I'm glad the father didn't question her, I'm glad he told her husband the truth when he realized it. I'm glad he believed her and that he felt remorse for what he had done. Somehow I am more forgiving of him than I am of her husband. I keep reading books with shitty husbands and it makes me very upset! lol.
Now I will admit that I am NOT someone who reads a lot of thrillers in general so I don't know how obvious things were or were not. But I was into it and by the end of the book I'd found another favorite. A book that made me upset, a little uncomfortable and mostly kept me wanting more. I don't think it kept me on my toes, and it wasn't scary, but it was intriguing.
I keep flip flopping on the rating. Going back and forth between a 4 and a 5 star. I feel like there is a flaw in some of the details, and my lack of disinterest at the beginning should account for something. And then I realize that the flaw can be seen as a comment on a bigger interest and that technically I was in the mood for a romance not a thriller when I started the book and that could have contributed to my partial disinterest at the start... I dunno...
Now to the spoiler thoughts:
Spoiler
I must admit that I had a fleeting thought that perhaps the "affair" was something that she didn't want I don't think I fully registered the idea of rape when I had that thought but it was in that realm, some type of coercion. But the expression they describe of her having in the photo, made me partially dismiss that idea but not completely. I felt that she had the right to be heard and I guess part of me didn't want her to have cheated so I kept "hope" for something else. I feel bad that it was straight up rape though.. it almost feels insulting to have rape be such a common topic in stories. Regardless the dynamic shift that happened when everyone was treating her so poorly only to realize that she had been the victim the whole time and they were the villains.
It really made me upset for her, and I am SOOOO very glad that she left her husband. I was livid that she was so quick to take him back, almost like nothing happened. Like he hadn't just abandoned her while denying her the ability to tell her side of things. Instead he took the word of a stranger over his own wife. I understand his initial reaction but the fact that he wouldn't hear her out at all made everything after seem extreme. The packing her bags and kicking her out of her own home without talking to her... like damn.. I guess the pictures were enough.. and I guess thats where the flaw in the story was. The fact that he couldn't see that she was scared in the photo.. That neither man could.
The flaw is that despite it being there when they looked, neither man could register the fear on her face when they looked at the photo. Despite looking at the photos multiple times, despite having constant access to them. Perhaps if they had just glanced at them, looking at the stalker photos of her with her son and using that as a bases. But her in the sexy lingerie set was described as if her husband was staring at it. Looking at her expression as something he was jealous of.. I dunno. Maybe its not a flaw in the story but a commentary on how people see what they want to see..
It makes sense why she questioned why HE did it. Why her rapist saved her child from drowning, it also makes sense why she didn't say anything, because it is true that women need to defend their truth when they are the victims of assault and rape. Because his death was a type of freedom, a chance to put a horrific thing that happened to her out of her mind. She didn't need to tell that story, she didn't owe anyone that.
I'm glad the father didn't question her, I'm glad he told her husband the truth when he realized it. I'm glad he believed her and that he felt remorse for what he had done. Somehow I am more forgiving of him than I am of her husband. I keep reading books with shitty husbands and it makes me very upset! lol.