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dragonbex's review against another edition
3.0
I admit I kept reading, but each thing that happened felt more fantastical than the last. I don't insist on realism in novels but some form of accountability? The whole thing felt a bit forced in my opinion?
valentines_library's review against another edition
3.0
Read the preview for this book and thought I would love it but it was just...fine. I wasn't thrilled like it told me I would be, but it also wasn't boring. I still don't completely understand Judith or why she does what she does but I liked her in the beginning of the novel much more than at the end. Also I don't really understand the plot - if there was one after Judith snapped? It was fine enough to finish but I didn't hate it or enjoy it either.
meeks3's review against another edition
2.0
This book was on a "Best of 2016" list so I decided to give it a shot especially given how intriguing the topic seemed to be. Unfortunately, I do not believe the book lived up to the hype. I felt like there was no clear purpose to the book and I often was unsure why I was supposed to care about Judith. I was sympathetic to her in the beginning of the book considering how unfairly Rupert treated her, but as the story went on I found myself being baffled by her choices. You have felt like an outsider your entire life and your main goal is to climb the social ladder, but you think that the best way to achieve that is to become a serial killer? I get the whole "killing more to cover your tracks" thing, but the story seemed to show her more sociopathic tendencies more than anything else. Even then, she was not a sociopath that I felt any empathy towards.
What I appreciated most about the book is that Judith is unapologetic about her sex life. Too often women are only portrayed as having (acceptable) sex in the context of a loving committed relationship or when cheating on a loving committed relationship. This is not Judith. She's a woman who enjoys sex and has no problem taking her sexual pleasure when she wants it. My thoughts during those scenes were generally "Get it girl!"
I was unaware this is the first book in a trilogy when I started reading it. I generally do not like to start a series if I do not intend to finish it, but I do not see myself reading any further. Without feeling strongly for Judith (whether it be good or bad feelings) I see no point in continuing on with her story.
What I appreciated most about the book is that Judith is unapologetic about her sex life. Too often women are only portrayed as having (acceptable) sex in the context of a loving committed relationship or when cheating on a loving committed relationship. This is not Judith. She's a woman who enjoys sex and has no problem taking her sexual pleasure when she wants it. My thoughts during those scenes were generally "Get it girl!"
I was unaware this is the first book in a trilogy when I started reading it. I generally do not like to start a series if I do not intend to finish it, but I do not see myself reading any further. Without feeling strongly for Judith (whether it be good or bad feelings) I see no point in continuing on with her story.
ipomoea's review against another edition
2.0
WTF was this? It was like 50% trashy beach read (label-dropping new money in the Mediterranean yachting scene), 20% art caper, and 30% WHAAAAT ARE YOU DOING YOU WEIRDO. I can't in good conscience recommend this because the three parts were so disjointed and unnerving that I couldn't really enjoy it. This was like a trainwreck in that I couldn't look away and was scolding myself the entire time. Why someone would want to follow this character into another book is beyond me.
aseel_reads's review against another edition
Just really vulgar and gross, not worth the uncomfortable reading experience for bookclub, will find another one word title book to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Classism, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Body shaming
bianca89279's review against another edition
1.0
I'm in a funky reading mood, I've been trying several books and audiobooks and nothing works. I saw this one was available on the library overdrive so I downloaded it.
The beginning was decent, writing and story wise. Our heroine, Judith, is a British young woman from the North; she's moved to London and got a job in a well-known art auction house. She also works in a bar, as a hostess of sorts, getting men to buy expensive drinks. Initially, she appears prim and proper, just a hard-working, well-educated girl, trying "to make it". Nothing wrong with that. Not long into the novel, things get odd and preposterous.
Hilton tries to shock us with the use of the c-word and with the very detailed descriptions of some sex acts. I didn't find it shocking and even less arousing. It was just too obvious.
As if it weren't ridiculous enough, it tries to be a mystery/thriller novel as well.
Oh, and the incessant brand name dropping really irritated me.
So, this is a DNF for me.
I wanted it an escapist read, but this novel only managed to vex me.
The beginning was decent, writing and story wise. Our heroine, Judith, is a British young woman from the North; she's moved to London and got a job in a well-known art auction house. She also works in a bar, as a hostess of sorts, getting men to buy expensive drinks. Initially, she appears prim and proper, just a hard-working, well-educated girl, trying "to make it". Nothing wrong with that. Not long into the novel, things get odd and preposterous.
Hilton tries to shock us with the use of the c-word and with the very detailed descriptions of some sex acts. I didn't find it shocking and even less arousing. It was just too obvious.
As if it weren't ridiculous enough, it tries to be a mystery/thriller novel as well.
Oh, and the incessant brand name dropping really irritated me.
So, this is a DNF for me.
I wanted it an escapist read, but this novel only managed to vex me.
l6zarras's review against another edition
3.0
I had very low expectations after reading the reviews, so it was better than I expected. I think every book written after "Gone Girl" has to feel like it has some crazy twists and this book is no different. It did surprise me quite a few times, I'm interested enough to read the next one.
smitchy's review against another edition
1.0
OK. This is the most over-hyped book I have read in quite some time. This was sold as the next Gone Girl - it doesn't come close: there is no suspense here; it takes 170 pages for any real action, and that is after a lot of sex, and then more sex.
Quite frankly I was bored. When she finally kills someone (over something that happens at the start of the book - which was pretty fucking obvious no "twist" there) I actually thought that it all seemed massively convoluted.
By page 200 I was reading just to get to the end. More sex..... There are no redeeming features to this character - that is about the only similarity to Gone Girl; seriously unlikeable characters, but at least amazing Amy had a certain psychotic charm.
And at page 230 I was getting so sick of sharing my brain with this chick that I committed an act I rarely do: I skipped to the last page. That's when I read it "To be Continued". TO. BE. CONTINUED!!!
Deep breath...
That was it. I was done. The only reason I had read that far was to see this horrible character killed or caught.
Maybe there is a fantastic twist at the end. I don't know and what's more, I DON'T CARE.
Quite frankly I was bored. When she finally kills someone (over something that happens at the start of the book - which was pretty fucking obvious no "twist" there) I actually thought that it all seemed massively convoluted.
By page 200 I was reading just to get to the end. More sex..... There are no redeeming features to this character - that is about the only similarity to Gone Girl; seriously unlikeable characters, but at least amazing Amy had a certain psychotic charm.
And at page 230 I was getting so sick of sharing my brain with this chick that I committed an act I rarely do: I skipped to the last page. That's when I read it "To be Continued". TO. BE. CONTINUED!!!
Deep breath...
That was it. I was done. The only reason I had read that far was to see this horrible character killed or caught.
Maybe there is a fantastic twist at the end. I don't know and what's more, I DON'T CARE.
pifferdiff's review against another edition
1.0
I can certainly say that this book will not be (as the cover promises) "the most shocking thriller" I'll read this year, UNLESS it is the most shockingly bad thriller I read this year. What a wierd mish-mash of attempts at a "look how much I know about art" heist novel, fan-fiction-esque wannabe Gone Girl crime writing, and oddly-placed and awkwardly-written erotica. Oh, yeah, and a ton of bad chic-lit-style mentioning of designer brands. And the fat-shaming - not cool.
I wish I could remember where I found the recommendation that led me to think this book would be good so that I can avoid all future recommendations from the same source. In the meantime, I will share with you a few sentences I read so that you don't have to:
"I licked salt and peach juice from my lips, a sensual Instagram." (p. 109)
"I smoked until I retched water and lit cigarettes through the metallic taint of my own guts." (p. 200)
"She was wearing a Stetson, dancing on a banquette, because if you're crazeee you can't dance on the floor, swigging from a bottle of Jack Daniel's, contemptuously twirling a lasso over a crowd of drooling Eurotwinks, platinum dreads bobbing to Daft Punk." (p. 234)
I wish I could remember where I found the recommendation that led me to think this book would be good so that I can avoid all future recommendations from the same source. In the meantime, I will share with you a few sentences I read so that you don't have to:
"I licked salt and peach juice from my lips, a sensual Instagram." (p. 109)
"I smoked until I retched water and lit cigarettes through the metallic taint of my own guts." (p. 200)
"She was wearing a Stetson, dancing on a banquette, because if you're crazeee you can't dance on the floor, swigging from a bottle of Jack Daniel's, contemptuously twirling a lasso over a crowd of drooling Eurotwinks, platinum dreads bobbing to Daft Punk." (p. 234)