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alexbahgat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Overall, I’m not completely sure how I feel about this book. The writing doesn’t leave much room for interpretation (Laura Dave literally spells out every single thought and emotion Hannah is having) and quite frankly Hannah is almost too impressive of a person. She understands and reads people way too well, so while I don’t think the plot was all that outrageous, I did have to suspend my disbelief in her a bit. Also, for a thriller, it wasn’t all that thrilling (until maybe the last 1/3, but even then it wasn’t all that intense).
That being said, it was a quick and fun read. By the end I really loved the characters and their twisted, beautiful, tragic relationships. I appreciated that Laura Dave really showed that nobody is all good or all bad, but that in reality, we all live somewhere in the middle. The ending was abrupt, but it was A++.
That being said, it was a quick and fun read. By the end I really loved the characters and their twisted, beautiful, tragic relationships. I appreciated that Laura Dave really showed that nobody is all good or all bad, but that in reality, we all live somewhere in the middle. The ending was abrupt, but it was A++.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
amelianotthepilot's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
the formatting of this book genuinely annoyed me. there was extra pages after some chapters but not others for no real reason
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment
cjc's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I read this novel on a whim and have to say that I was fairly disappointed. Dave's prose did not resonate with me and, as a matter of fact, came off as quite stale. The story seemed more like a chore, written page after page as Hannah quickly navigates through the plot points. It is not my main grievance and could even be disproved, but I disliked how fast Hannah pieced together the puzzle considering her (lack of) qualifications. I liked her character, but I don't see the connect between her vast detective intelligence and her profession. On another note, I disliked the initial premise of the book. While the actual plot itself was fine (though not worthy of a 5), the initial premise seems so outlandish and idiotic of Owen. Without delving into spoilers, I cannot fathom how it remains a good day to leave in such a manner. I finished this book in one sitting just to tick it off on my list, as to appreciate greatness you must be familiar with the opposite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
hilarylouise's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death, Car accident, and Death of parent