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bookph1le's review
3.0
3.5 stars
This book was so pulpy, and I was totally on board with it. I can't even begin to count all the cliches, and, really, nothing about it much surprised me, but it was just such a juicy read. I think what really made it was the fact that the characters mostly knew they were deluding themselves, yet they'd fall back on all their convictions to justify their delusions. It was refreshing to read a book like that, because too many of the thrillers I read rely on characters being oblivious to things that seem like they ought to be ridiculously obvious. I feel like this book gets that, and so it shows WHY the characters want to keep deceiving themselves, and that's what made them human. After all, we're all very good at talking ourselves into believing what's most comforting to us, even when we're presented with abundant evidence as to our own stupidity/gullibility.
I don't want to be spoiler-y, but there were two things I really didn't like about this book: for the most part, the dialogue was terrible, and I hated the very last part of the book. It was unnecessary and added a facet that didn't need to be there. Otherwise, this was a sensationalist, not especially creative thriller that nevertheless kept me turning pages
This book was so pulpy, and I was totally on board with it. I can't even begin to count all the cliches, and, really, nothing about it much surprised me, but it was just such a juicy read. I think what really made it was the fact that the characters mostly knew they were deluding themselves, yet they'd fall back on all their convictions to justify their delusions. It was refreshing to read a book like that, because too many of the thrillers I read rely on characters being oblivious to things that seem like they ought to be ridiculously obvious. I feel like this book gets that, and so it shows WHY the characters want to keep deceiving themselves, and that's what made them human. After all, we're all very good at talking ourselves into believing what's most comforting to us, even when we're presented with abundant evidence as to our own stupidity/gullibility.
I don't want to be spoiler-y, but there were two things I really didn't like about this book: for the most part, the dialogue was terrible, and I hated the very last part of the book. It was unnecessary and added a facet that didn't need to be there. Otherwise, this was a sensationalist, not especially creative thriller that nevertheless kept me turning pages
faithemt's review against another edition
3.0
good book and very fast paced....but very similar to other books in this genre with private prep schools as the setting.
Full review is here:
https://goldintheclouds-faith.blogspot.com/2023/06/2023-book-review-23-she-was-quiet-one.html
Full review is here:
https://goldintheclouds-faith.blogspot.com/2023/06/2023-book-review-23-she-was-quiet-one.html
2uysynb1z's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I just did not find any of this to be a mystery except which sister died. It seemed obvious who the killer was fairly early.
thephdivabooks's review against another edition
4.0
A dark and twisted book about the complexities of sisterhood and the scandals that can rock a small community! This is my first book I’ve read by Michele Campbell, though I have been wanting to read her first book, It’s Always the Husband, and I really loved it! I read a Q&A with Campbell where she talks about the inspiration behind her first book being her fascination with the concept of frenemies and what the implications are for that type of relationship as they mature. In this book we see the concept of frenemies escalate, as the love and jealousy between two sisters compounds into a complex relationship that ultimately ends in tragedy and scandal.
What would the mash-up term for sister frenemies be?? I need to put some thought into this…
Sisterhood is a fantastic and terrifying relationship for a thriller. Sisters love more intensely and also fight more intensely than even best friends do. The bond of sisterhood can so easily be tainted by jealousy. The sisters in this book, Bel and Rose, are fascinating! They both admire and covet a quality in the other, and neglect to appreciate the things about themselves that are enviable.
About the Book
In the wake of their parents’ deaths, teenage twin sisters Bel and Rose are sent by their grandmother to the prestigious boarding school where their parents met, The Odell School. Though the school is full of opportunities, Bel and Rose are having trouble adjusting to the social pressures of boarding school. Rather than drawing the sisters closer together, the school intensifies their ongoing rivalry, ultimately ending in tragedy.
Sarah and Heath seem like the perfect couple: attractive, married with two young kids, former students at The Odell School, and current teachers and dorm supervisors at the school. But all isn’t as perfect as it seems. A group of senior girls has a bet that one of them will seduce Heath by graduation. Heath would never cheat on Sarah, and yet Sarah can’t help but wonder if there is something Heath is keeping from her. Does she really know her husband?
And then scandal rocks The Odell School—one of the sisters has been murdered, and the list of suspects is as long as the school roster. Who had a grudge against the sisters??
Reflection
Given that Bel and Rose are teenagers and the setting is a boarding school, I did wonder if this would verge on a Young Adult novel. It didn’t at all though! While young adult readers may enjoy this book, this is definitely an adult fiction/suspense book. The settings were so fun to read about! Campbell herself lives in a New England college town, so she writes about the school and town very effectively.
Poor Bel and Rose! If these sisters could learn to support one another instead of fighting, what a difference it would make! Of course, in the wake of personal tragedy and the pressures of the social system in the boarding school, these sisters never had a chance. Their rivalry is quickly intensified by the opinions of those around them. The things that make them each unique—Bel’s beauty and Rose’s intelligence—become the weapons they throw at one another. Talk about frenemies!!
Sarah and Heath’s storyline was fascinating. The doubts that they harbor, unspoken in an effort to support one another, almost overwhelm them. Theirs is a marriage that has survived some major hurdles, but what they face this year at The Odell School is beyond anything they’ve experienced. Beware of teenagers with an agenda!!!
This book is not one filled with twists, though the epilogue has a nice little twist that left me smiling as I finished the book. This is a book that is driven by the darkness and suspense of a scandal and the unraveling of a fragile social system as secrets come to light.
I read this book with some of my book besties, Kendall and Holly—we had such a fun time reading and discussing this book! I am excited to see what other readers think. It is completely salacious fiction!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Michele Campbell for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.
What would the mash-up term for sister frenemies be?? I need to put some thought into this…
Sisterhood is a fantastic and terrifying relationship for a thriller. Sisters love more intensely and also fight more intensely than even best friends do. The bond of sisterhood can so easily be tainted by jealousy. The sisters in this book, Bel and Rose, are fascinating! They both admire and covet a quality in the other, and neglect to appreciate the things about themselves that are enviable.
About the Book
In the wake of their parents’ deaths, teenage twin sisters Bel and Rose are sent by their grandmother to the prestigious boarding school where their parents met, The Odell School. Though the school is full of opportunities, Bel and Rose are having trouble adjusting to the social pressures of boarding school. Rather than drawing the sisters closer together, the school intensifies their ongoing rivalry, ultimately ending in tragedy.
Sarah and Heath seem like the perfect couple: attractive, married with two young kids, former students at The Odell School, and current teachers and dorm supervisors at the school. But all isn’t as perfect as it seems. A group of senior girls has a bet that one of them will seduce Heath by graduation. Heath would never cheat on Sarah, and yet Sarah can’t help but wonder if there is something Heath is keeping from her. Does she really know her husband?
And then scandal rocks The Odell School—one of the sisters has been murdered, and the list of suspects is as long as the school roster. Who had a grudge against the sisters??
Reflection
Given that Bel and Rose are teenagers and the setting is a boarding school, I did wonder if this would verge on a Young Adult novel. It didn’t at all though! While young adult readers may enjoy this book, this is definitely an adult fiction/suspense book. The settings were so fun to read about! Campbell herself lives in a New England college town, so she writes about the school and town very effectively.
Poor Bel and Rose! If these sisters could learn to support one another instead of fighting, what a difference it would make! Of course, in the wake of personal tragedy and the pressures of the social system in the boarding school, these sisters never had a chance. Their rivalry is quickly intensified by the opinions of those around them. The things that make them each unique—Bel’s beauty and Rose’s intelligence—become the weapons they throw at one another. Talk about frenemies!!
Sarah and Heath’s storyline was fascinating. The doubts that they harbor, unspoken in an effort to support one another, almost overwhelm them. Theirs is a marriage that has survived some major hurdles, but what they face this year at The Odell School is beyond anything they’ve experienced. Beware of teenagers with an agenda!!!
This book is not one filled with twists, though the epilogue has a nice little twist that left me smiling as I finished the book. This is a book that is driven by the darkness and suspense of a scandal and the unraveling of a fragile social system as secrets come to light.
I read this book with some of my book besties, Kendall and Holly—we had such a fun time reading and discussing this book! I am excited to see what other readers think. It is completely salacious fiction!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Michele Campbell for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.
paulabrandon's review against another edition
1.0
Bel and Rose Enright are sent to Odell boarding school after the death of their mother. Bel immediately falls in with the bad girls, while Rose does her best to study hard and do well. Tensions between the twin keeps on escalating. When the bad girls and Bel develop a competition over who can sleep with hunky new teacher Heath Donovan first, it leads down a dangerous path to murder.
I'm not sure why this book exists.
It holds zero suspense and zero surprises. The only "mystery" is which twin got murdered, which gets resolved after 300 pages. The killer's identity is obvious and I'm not sure it's even meant to be a surprise.
I don't read adult thrillers to read about teenagers. A very large part of this book is about the usual YA stuff: the mean girls, pranks, high school crushes, high school drama and the like.
If I want to read about teenagers, I'll buy a YA book. Some of them are pretty good. Or pick up one from my 80s and 90s collection.
This was pointless. Too much of it was tiresome teen drama, and the only non-teen perspective we get is from Heath's wife, Sarah, and unfortunately, she's the weak, pathetic, simpering moron female character we get faaaaar too often in this genre.
This one stinks. Quietly chuck it in the trash or delete it off your Kindle. It's a complete waste of time.
I'm not sure why this book exists.
It holds zero suspense and zero surprises. The only "mystery" is which twin got murdered, which gets resolved after 300 pages. The killer's identity is obvious and I'm not sure it's even meant to be a surprise.
I don't read adult thrillers to read about teenagers. A very large part of this book is about the usual YA stuff: the mean girls, pranks, high school crushes, high school drama and the like.
If I want to read about teenagers, I'll buy a YA book. Some of them are pretty good. Or pick up one from my 80s and 90s collection.
This was pointless. Too much of it was tiresome teen drama, and the only non-teen perspective we get is from Heath's wife, Sarah, and unfortunately, she's the weak, pathetic, simpering moron female character we get faaaaar too often in this genre.
This one stinks. Quietly chuck it in the trash or delete it off your Kindle. It's a complete waste of time.
sare1125's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, and Bullying
lacewing's review
mysterious
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? Yes
1.75
saracox's review against another edition
4.0
I really like a psychological thriller. And I am drawn to books like this. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The pace is just perfect and it holds your attention throughout. I loved most of the characters, although I felt at times that the wife's personality was a bit clouded - she seems like she should be an intelligent women, but then there are moments where that seems to fail her. I was very surprised at the end when it turns out that Heath was actually seeing more than one pupil - that I did not expect and loved that little twist. There were points when I actually wasn't sure who killed the sister - Cody, Heath, Mrs Darcy, the list goes on.