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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
slow-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
Overhyped. I didn’t get much out of this other than a depressed mood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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:
Yes
I thought the first part of this book was 5 ⭐. But everything from Caleb offing himself to the end felt like either important chapters were missing; or they didn't know how to handle the story after. It felt rushed and left too much open ended. I know having a mental illness can feel like that but you could have given us something. Plus no epilogue?? Solo books that just end are infuriating! How is the main character in the future? Is he getting help with his trauma? What's his support system now? What repercussions happened after the fight? Does he make peace with his trauma? There is so much unwritten and it makes the book look unfinished. I want to recommend this but I have read books like this that have a complete story.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
OH MY GOD THIS BOOK. I was up until 5 in the morning reading! I did not put it down once I got started and I was furiously turning pages and soaking up Sayers' harrowing story. This is definitely a book that will stick with me. I really appreciate that the author took the time to build up the characters and relationships before the kidnapping and then unpacked what life is like for them all after. While Sayers is the main character, I was also deeply affected by Ethan's story. Like I was tearing up more when I found out about his trauma than over Sayers. A difficult, hard-hitting read but worth it. I read A List of Cages when it first came out, so I was eager to see what Robin Roe would write next, and I was not disappointed. This story also ties in with a recent nonfiction read, What Happened to You?
*Sidenote: Because I binge read before bed, I ended up dreaming about Sayers and woke up totally confused about who I was and where I was - that's how much the story got to me!
*Sidenote: Because I binge read before bed, I ended up dreaming about Sayers and woke up totally confused about who I was and where I was - that's how much the story got to me!
Loved the MC's development and how the story developed, thought there could have been a bit more depth in the kidnapping part. But some things just have to remain a mystery, I guess.
Wow, this was not really what I was expecting but I really enjoyed it. I thought it would be just a straight thriller with not too much depth.
But it was soooo scary/creepy, honestly. Even before Saye gets taken, there's something just... dark about the town they live in, and the way he's floating through life. Of course, he's so unlikeable but it's really Garrett that's the worst.
And then when he actually *gets* kidnapped, I really didn't even know who to believe at first, I was like... is Caleb right!? I didn't want to believe Saye because he was so awful, making fun of Caleb's accent etc. I was like, yeah this is your dad. And then when he starts to fall for it.. AH. and there are so many really skin-crawly parts.... Caleb is really terrifying, even the fact that they couldn't actually watch TV, just listen to it. IDK CHILLS!
But the ending was what really surprised me. I like the callbacks to Psychology class in the beginning, the questions to ask about trauma and kindness. It bothered me that more people weren't trying to put Saye in a real place, like they did with Penny. That was the one thing I was like WTF! get him REAL HELP! But his relationship with Evan was really important.
It reminded me a lot of a YA "Misery" at first, but then really took a dive into other interesting, and really hard-to-talk-about topics.
But it was soooo scary/creepy, honestly. Even before Saye gets taken, there's something just... dark about the town they live in, and the way he's floating through life. Of course, he's so unlikeable but it's really Garrett that's the worst.
And then when he actually *gets* kidnapped, I really didn't even know who to believe at first, I was like... is Caleb right!? I didn't want to believe Saye because he was so awful, making fun of Caleb's accent etc. I was like, yeah this is your dad. And then when he starts to fall for it.. AH. and there are so many really skin-crawly parts.... Caleb is really terrifying, even the fact that they couldn't actually watch TV, just listen to it. IDK CHILLS!
But the ending was what really surprised me. I like the callbacks to Psychology class in the beginning, the questions to ask about trauma and kindness. It bothered me that more people weren't trying to put Saye in a real place, like they did with Penny. That was the one thing I was like WTF! get him REAL HELP! But his relationship with Evan was really important.
It reminded me a lot of a YA "Misery" at first, but then really took a dive into other interesting, and really hard-to-talk-about topics.
Si buscas una lectura ligera, este no es el libro que debes leer. Pero está tan bien escrito que aunque empiezas odiando al protagonista (rico, privilegiado, bully) se te acaba rompiendo el corazón cuando ves por lo que pasa y solo quieres que todo salga bien. Al final es una historia sobre ser humano, y lidiar con un trauma horrible, y agarrarte a las pequeñas cosas que te ayudan a superarlo. Me ha encantado.