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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
This was really well done. It was dark and disturbing and I was hooked from the start. It was a very gripping story. I really enjoyed Robin Roe's other book 'A List of Cages', it's one of my favorites. This wasn't as good as that to me, but still a fantastic read. I'm just such a fan of her writing. This is a YA psychological thriller I would say, so I would recommend going in with caution. The major content warning I would give is child abuse. Sayers is a bit of an unlikable character in the beginning, which I feel was intentional. He's this rich, white kid who has become quite apathetic and has/does some shitty things. And my heart broke for him with everything he had to endure during the course of the novel. It's kind of difficult to articulate my thoughts on this book. I'm really glad I picked it up and I might re-read it at some point.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was great. Beginning was a little bit slow and i was a little bit uninterested in continuing, but once i reached around page 80 I was hooked and couldn’t put it down
Although I really liked the theme of the story overall, the writing style and word choice was interesting to me. There have been many stories that I have read about characters exploring mental health and trauma particularly after extreme hardship, but something about this book felt a lot like a textbook when describing what the main character was going through. All in all though, a good read.
Usually I dislike psychological suspense because there’s no point to it. There was a very real message in this book. It was commentary on privilege and trauma response. I like that there was an emphasis on how children can experience trauma no matter what privilege they come from. This was a dark book to read. Watching this confident and bold boy crumble was honestly so painful. I think some parts of this book felt rushed, especially side character development. I appreciate this book for being immersive and making me think, but I did not enjoy this. My rating is based off purely personal preference.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book ripped my heart out, threw it at a wall, and then put it back in. Finished it in 2 days, which rarely happens with me.
This book is devastating, and what makes it even more heartbreaking is how realistic it is. Even if you don’t read YA, or you don’t like thrillers, this book is a must-read for me. My love for Sayers, Evan, and Penny is immense. I could read four more books about all three of them breaking, healing and supporting each other. The way Sayers’ family and friends treated him like a freak for not immediately healing from 2 years worth of trauma is infuriating.
I wanted to kill Garrett with my bare hands. When Sayers’ mom said he was perfect “before,” I wanted to scream. When Sayers and Penny reunited, I cried. I need Sayers and Evan to be friends for life. This book is insanely good, I cannot recommend it enough.
This book is devastating, and what makes it even more heartbreaking is how realistic it is. Even if you don’t read YA, or you don’t like thrillers, this book is a must-read for me. My love for Sayers, Evan, and Penny is immense. I could read four more books about all three of them breaking, healing and supporting each other. The way Sayers’ family and friends treated him like a freak for not immediately healing from 2 years worth of trauma is infuriating.
I wanted to kill Garrett with my bare hands. When Sayers’ mom said he was perfect “before,” I wanted to scream. When Sayers and Penny reunited, I cried. I need Sayers and Evan to be friends for life. This book is insanely good, I cannot recommend it enough.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thrilling and terrifying. I absolutely loved it all the way through. Relationships are complicated and so is life especially when it doesn't go to plan. Sayer/Daniels story and recovery definitely will stick with me for a while. There is a lot to say about forgiveness, family, privilege and healing in this book. Evan and luke remind me a lot of my own childhood friends. It sucks to be trapped and out of control somewhere you didn't expect to be, and I can relate to how with enough time things become normal even when there is something off.