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megan_bbender's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
My friends call me Magpie so when I saw this book on the shelf I just had to get it. It's not the most amazing book I have ever read but it also isn't the worst. I really enjoyed certain parts of it, but I found that there were lots and lots of filler pages that were very slow and boring to read.
I feel as if the author does not think the readers are smart enough to figure out the twist on their own which is why there was so much back and forth between the past and present. This is what made the book feel so slow, because you are reading over the same scenario twice.
After looking up the author, I can appreciate that this book may have a lot more deeper meaning as it possibly reflects some of her personal experiences with marriage and IVF but I personally cannot relate to these issues so there was not a strong connection for me.
With that being said, the twists and turns were really unexpected and they kept me on the edge of my seat. The ending was a bit predictable but it was still enjoyable.
I feel as if the author does not think the readers are smart enough to figure out the twist on their own which is why there was so much back and forth between the past and present. This is what made the book feel so slow, because you are reading over the same scenario twice.
After looking up the author, I can appreciate that this book may have a lot more deeper meaning as it possibly reflects some of her personal experiences with marriage and IVF but I personally cannot relate to these issues so there was not a strong connection for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Infertility, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
emilydigweed's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Abortion, Rape, and Sexual assault
margaret_k30's review
Too anxiety inducing and was uncomfortable with some of the plot points.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Rape, and Pregnancy
bookishpip's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Infertility, and Rape
devmin's review
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Infertility
Moderate: Miscarriage and Rape
dlrosebyh's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.0
If this novel had a warning, it would be, “Never trust anyone with a J name”.
Yes, we hear that warning almost everywhere— whether in social media or in our friend groups, however this novel rather takes that warning quite literally.
Magpie follows three characters: Jake, Marisa, and Kate. Despite only having known Jake for a few months, Marisa has never felt quite this confident in a person. She knows she has at last found the unwavering love and support she has been searching for her entire life when he asks her to move in with him and they begin trying for a child. However, when they take in Kate as a lodger, who seems to have little regard for personal boundaries and shows an unsettling interest in both Jake and the unborn child they are hoping to have, their relationship is put to the test.
With the plot given, I didn’t really know what to expect in this novel. I mean, I’ll be honest: I’ve never really liked thrillers or mysteries like the vast majority. With that given, let’s just say that I found this book rather mid. If you know me, you know that if I like a book, especially if I’m reading it digitally, I finish it quickly. Well, while, yes, I did finish this book in like three days, I can’t help but compare it to my experience with other thriller or mystery novels that I’ve finished in one sitting. For me, one of the most important aspects in a thriller novel is for it to be gripping. I don’t want to read a thriller novel to be read slowly, I want to be intrigued; I want to be with the characters. And unfortunately for Magpie, I didn’t really feel that.
I do know that I am not the target audience for this novel. I’ll admit it. I lack knowledge when it comes to marriage, adulthood, surrogation— and I don’t know if it’s because I’m used to fantasy novels, but I wished that some parts were explained more profoundly. And what’s even more annoying is that some parts felt like dragged. And that for me, is a turn-off.
Overall, I think this book is just alright. It’s what you think of when you hear of a three-star-read. While I didn’t enjoy the book as much as other people, I do believe that it is an outstanding book on its own. So if you think this book is for you, then why not give it a shot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Rape and Gaslighting
gracetiblem's review
- 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
3.75
The plot twist is PHENOMENAL. It absolutely got me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, and Mental illness
Moderate: Infidelity
bumble_abi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
you can tell I'm not having a great time with my mental health because I'm reading mass market thrillers again
this is blurbed as 'the most mind-blowing book of the year' which is the kind of hyperbole that can only set a book up for a fall. Marisa and her lovely boyfriend move in together and try to start a family, but Marisa is increasingly disturbed by the behaviour of their solicitous and overfamiliar lodger, Kate. There's a decent twist in this but it occurs only about a third of the way into the book, and then the rest is the long unraveling of how we got to that point, followed by a slightly too tidy ending.
This truly did feel like a book of two halves - the first half is great, tense and confusing and addictive, but it peaks too early and doesn't leave enough meat for the second half. There's not enough depth to any of it to justify its ultimate meandering. There's a (not graphic - the narrative voice just tells you it happened) rape scene which didn't have very much of a purpose in the plot except as a shortcut to creating a character who is unstable, which felt unnecessary and distasteful. I enjoyed it well enough but wouldn't rush to recommend.
this is blurbed as 'the most mind-blowing book of the year' which is the kind of hyperbole that can only set a book up for a fall. Marisa and her lovely boyfriend move in together and try to start a family, but Marisa is increasingly disturbed by the behaviour of their solicitous and overfamiliar lodger, Kate. There's a decent twist in this but it occurs only about a third of the way into the book, and then the rest is the long unraveling of how we got to that point, followed by a slightly too tidy ending.
This truly did feel like a book of two halves - the first half is great, tense and confusing and addictive, but it peaks too early and doesn't leave enough meat for the second half. There's not enough depth to any of it to justify its ultimate meandering. There's a (not graphic - the narrative voice just tells you it happened) rape scene which didn't have very much of a purpose in the plot except as a shortcut to creating a character who is unstable, which felt unnecessary and distasteful. I enjoyed it well enough but wouldn't rush to recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Infertility, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Mental illness
Moderate: Rape and Violence
stagasaurus's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Infertility, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Miscarriage
Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Gaslighting
tessalort's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Infertility, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Rape, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis