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greatexpectations77's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was pretty solid, but I wasn't a huge fan of the open ending . But this was an interesting look at mental illness and factitious disorder imposed on another . I liked this book better than Have You Seen Her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Grief, Abandonment, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content, Infidelity, and Child abuse
nedreadsbooks's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When death is counting down the days... anyone could be a killer.
Jennifer Barnes has just been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour and given only six weeks to live. As readers, we follow Jennifer through her last six weeks and her reflection on her relationships prior in her attempts to figure out who might have been out to get her.
Thank you to Catherine McKenzie, Simon & Schuster Canada, Atria Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow. I can honestly say that I did NOT know what to think for most of this book! Catherine McKenzie did an amazing job at keeping me guessing and second-guessing all of my theories alongside Jennifer. This book really did an amazing job at so many things, including explaining the intricacies and complex nature of familial relationships and deep-seeded trauma. I have to admit that I went into this book nervous that I would not be able to keep track of which triplet was which, but as the novel went on each sister had such a unique voice and storyline that I had no issues identifying the context.
The only criticism I have of this novel, if you can call it that, is that the chapters were titled with the amount of time that Jennifer has left in her 6 week diagnosis, and it ends at exactly six weeks - like clockwork. I understand the author's attempts at adding some context to the story by giving that information in the titles but wonder if there could have been a few extra days added on to add to the mystery - and the realism.
Maybe I'm a sucker for a whodunnit novel but this one had me enjoying the chase the whole way through! For readers who are new to McKenzie's work, I would definitely recommend checking this novel out - it is a great way to pass an afternoon or two!
Jennifer Barnes has just been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour and given only six weeks to live. As readers, we follow Jennifer through her last six weeks and her reflection on her relationships prior in her attempts to figure out who might have been out to get her.
Thank you to Catherine McKenzie, Simon & Schuster Canada, Atria Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow. I can honestly say that I did NOT know what to think for most of this book! Catherine McKenzie did an amazing job at keeping me guessing and second-guessing all of my theories alongside Jennifer. This book really did an amazing job at so many things, including explaining the intricacies and complex nature of familial relationships and deep-seeded trauma. I have to admit that I went into this book nervous that I would not be able to keep track of which triplet was which, but as the novel went on each sister had such a unique voice and storyline that I had no issues identifying the context.
The only criticism I have of this novel, if you can call it that, is that the chapters were titled with the amount of time that Jennifer has left in her 6 week diagnosis, and it ends at exactly six weeks - like clockwork. I understand the author's attempts at adding some context to the story by giving that information in the titles but wonder if there could have been a few extra days added on to add to the mystery - and the realism.
Maybe I'm a sucker for a whodunnit novel but this one had me enjoying the chase the whole way through! For readers who are new to McKenzie's work, I would definitely recommend checking this novel out - it is a great way to pass an afternoon or two!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Medical content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Child abuse and Death
lpdx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Medical content, and Mental illness
pamshenanigans's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
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Buddy read this book with Kriti of Armed With A Book
Overall thoughts:
* It was an okay thriller book, nothing mindblowing, nothing extravagant. The plot twists were delivered slowly and subtly.
* I think the characterization and the conversation surrounding one of the MC's mental illness wasn't divulged effectively or in a more lengthy manner that will make the readers understand better the reasons why she did what she did.
* When the reveals were thrown at me at the latter half of the book, I can't help comparing it to Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Trigger/Content Warnings: cheating, murder, child abuse (view spoiler), death of a loved one
Buddy read this book with Kriti of Armed With A Book
Overall thoughts:
* It was an okay thriller book, nothing mindblowing, nothing extravagant. The plot twists were delivered slowly and subtly.
* I think the characterization and the conversation surrounding one of the MC's mental illness wasn't divulged effectively or in a more lengthy manner that will make the readers understand better the reasons why she did what she did.
* When the reveals were thrown at me at the latter half of the book, I can't help comparing it to Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Trigger/Content Warnings: cheating, murder, child abuse (view spoiler), death of a loved one
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Child abuse, and Death
_thelitlibrarian's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
3.25
3.25 stars
-
TW; Cancer, Mental Illness, Addiction, Terminal Illness, Child Abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Abortion.
-
What would you do if you've found you have six weeks to live? This is the case for Jennifer Barnes who receives some shocking news at a routine doctor's appointment - she has a terminal brain tumor. She decides to throw whatever time she has left with her triplet daughters and her grandsons by her side. During this time, she starts to realize that she might have been poisoned - she turns her attention to her ex who has the motive to want her dead.
I had some high hopes going into this one - I tried so hard to like it but in the ned, it fell a little flat. I was really interested in the 'whodunnit' aspect, trying to piece together all the clues to see if Jennifer was really poisoned or if it was just paranoia in her head. I felt bad for Jennifer during multiple moments in the book, it wasn't as if everyone was on her side when she would claim to have been poisoned, I also couldn't grasp that someone would potentially poison a loved one. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters, but could see how some would like them!
Overall, this proved to be a good mystery that you can binge read. It just didn't do what I was hoping it would do for me, I also had an issue with the whole countdown to death - because realistically no one dies on the day the doctor tells them!
-
TW; Cancer, Mental Illness, Addiction, Terminal Illness, Child Abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Abortion.
-
What would you do if you've found you have six weeks to live? This is the case for Jennifer Barnes who receives some shocking news at a routine doctor's appointment - she has a terminal brain tumor. She decides to throw whatever time she has left with her triplet daughters and her grandsons by her side. During this time, she starts to realize that she might have been poisoned - she turns her attention to her ex who has the motive to want her dead.
I had some high hopes going into this one - I tried so hard to like it but in the ned, it fell a little flat. I was really interested in the 'whodunnit' aspect, trying to piece together all the clues to see if Jennifer was really poisoned or if it was just paranoia in her head. I felt bad for Jennifer during multiple moments in the book, it wasn't as if everyone was on her side when she would claim to have been poisoned, I also couldn't grasp that someone would potentially poison a loved one. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters, but could see how some would like them!
Overall, this proved to be a good mystery that you can binge read. It just didn't do what I was hoping it would do for me, I also had an issue with the whole countdown to death - because realistically no one dies on the day the doctor tells them!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Mental illness, Addiction, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, and Abortion
ashley_books_cats_judo's review
dark
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
soobooksalot's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Reading a good thriller is like an interrogation in your imagination. Was it this person? Did they do that? And was it because of this?
Six Weeks To Live was all that and more.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for my eARC for review!
Jennifer Gagnon is dying of a brain tumour and has been given six weeks to live. Lab results from a year prior note an acutely high level of lead in her blood, of unexplained etiology.
Are these findings related, and how did the lead get in her system?
This is such an interesting concept for a thriller, backed by a unique family dynamic. The Gagnon family is made up of adult triplet daughters and an estranged cheating husband - lots of personalities to get to know, and secrets hidden from the past.
This is my second book by Canadian author Catherine McKenzie and she certainly knows how to spin the suspense - the tension literally starts on the first page and doesn't let up.
Do check this one out! Recommended!
Released on April 20.
Six Weeks To Live was all that and more.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for my eARC for review!
Jennifer Gagnon is dying of a brain tumour and has been given six weeks to live. Lab results from a year prior note an acutely high level of lead in her blood, of unexplained etiology.
Are these findings related, and how did the lead get in her system?
This is such an interesting concept for a thriller, backed by a unique family dynamic. The Gagnon family is made up of adult triplet daughters and an estranged cheating husband - lots of personalities to get to know, and secrets hidden from the past.
This is my second book by Canadian author Catherine McKenzie and she certainly knows how to spin the suspense - the tension literally starts on the first page and doesn't let up.
Do check this one out! Recommended!
Released on April 20.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Mental illness, and Medical content
Minor: Abortion, Infertility, and Infidelity
pomoevareads's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Imagine finding out you have only six weeks to live while also believing someone else has caused this. This is the predicament Jennifer finds herself in when she is diagnosed with brain cancer. Rather than spend the little time remaining living her life she gets fixated on the fact that she believes someone, namely her ex husband, set out to poison her.
Jennifer has three adult triplets born as a set of identical twins and one fraternal twin. As children they garnered the spotlight in the media for their rare birth and were offered commercial spots and trips to Disney World. When a set of quintuplets were born a few years later, the spotlight dimmed on the three sisters. It was also around this time that the girls were sent to live with their grandmother Bea for six months while Jennifer recovered from an illness. Now adults, the siblings are brought into the puzzle of their mother’s diagnosis.
I really enjoyed this book and was impressed with the author’s ability to give each sibling a distinct voice. The pace was steady with no real climaxes but still satisfying. The chapters are uniquely named after song titles which I thought was very clever. The culmination and ending were not shocking but the why was interesting.
In the beginning of the story there is a brief mention of some of the horrible side effects of brain cancer including difficulty finding words and personality changes. I expected to see the symptoms increase throughout the story but they seem to have been forgotten a bit and only came about in some scenes of self doubt. I was expecting personality changes to be part of the main plot and possibly the twists, if you will, but this is not what the author chose to do.
This book could be very triggering for individuals dealing with cancer, post partum depression or significant mental health difficulties. I don’t want to be too specific as it would spoil the story some.
Overall I was very happy to have read this book which I devoured over a couple of days. The writing quality is superb and I would not hesitate to recommend it to others.
Thank you to @netgalley and @simonschusterca for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Six Weeks to Live publishes April 20, 2021.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Mental illness, Death of parent, and Child abuse
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