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kayday12's review against another edition
dark
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? It's complicated
3.25
krjdolan's review against another edition
4.0
I see why this book is an international bestseller, and I think there is a lot of merit in it. That said, I don't know that I necessarily enjoyed it.
Throughout each chapter, I definitely wanted to know, "what's next?" which I suppose is a minimum for a thriller - but it definitely met that minimum!
The good:
Eye popping narrative of a few people's worlds falling apart.
Interesting narrative style
The bad:
Because of the first-person shifting viewpoint, a few chapters were tough to get through in the beginning with the repetitive information. I might have been more sympathetic if it wasn't a thriller, but it slowed the momentum for me.
Throughout each chapter, I definitely wanted to know, "what's next?" which I suppose is a minimum for a thriller - but it definitely met that minimum!
The good:
Eye popping narrative of a few people's worlds falling apart.
Interesting narrative style
The bad:
Because of the first-person shifting viewpoint, a few chapters were tough to get through in the beginning with the repetitive information. I might have been more sympathetic if it wasn't a thriller, but it slowed the momentum for me.
luminous's review against another edition
2.0
Underwhelmed. I have learned that I'm not a fan of stories that are entirely "told" instead of "shown." This book features several characters telling us their version of events. It never feels immediate or gripping. There are never any stakes. At the very, very, very end there's a teensy tiny stakes but it comes and is resolved within like two sentences.
The tween characters are largely not believable, at times sounding both way older and way younger than their years. I never get the sense that a 13 year old is talking. The AIDS threat plot line wasn't believable either. Not a single student in the class told their parents? Right.
I did keep reading because the writing itself was good and generally kept my attention even though it's not a storytelling style I like. It's promising. I liked Penance a lot better, though I wasn't a huge fan of that one either.
The tween characters are largely not believable, at times sounding both way older and way younger than their years. I never get the sense that a 13 year old is talking. The AIDS threat plot line wasn't believable either. Not a single student in the class told their parents? Right.
I did keep reading because the writing itself was good and generally kept my attention even though it's not a storytelling style I like. It's promising. I liked Penance a lot better, though I wasn't a huge fan of that one either.
elena_gabriela's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
5.0
amelessard's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lydloef's review against another edition
3.0
This book was interesting. I enjoyed certain parts of it, like how the plot meandered through different POVs to get to the conclusion. There were a few twists that I didn't see coming. However, the story just felt disjointed and a bit off. I felt like we were missing some of the story. Had the plot been a bit more fleshed out, this could've easily been a favorite. I felt as though I wasn't completely shocked by any of the character's actions because I didn't know them well enough yet. I was still in the getting to know the characters stage when it ended.
Ultimately, while certain parts of this story were quite gripping and compelling, the format (which could've been because it was a translated work) didn't quite click for me. I'm happy I read it, but it's not a favorite.
Also, my expectations for this book were very high going into it, so that may have contributed to my disappointment.
Ultimately, while certain parts of this story were quite gripping and compelling, the format (which could've been because it was a translated work) didn't quite click for me. I'm happy I read it, but it's not a favorite.
Also, my expectations for this book were very high going into it, so that may have contributed to my disappointment.
zombiezami's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Bullying, Death, Child death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Outing, Murder, Violence, Ableism, Torture, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexism, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Animal death, Vomit, Body horror, Animal cruelty, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Toxic friendship, and Misogyny
Minor: Pregnancy, Mass/school shootings, and Transphobia
paperdavid's review against another edition
dark
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
2.5
threehourzsleep's review
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5