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sydthewitch's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.75
I love thrillers and I love trying to guess the twists. I did guess the main twist/reveal on about page 72, but even so, there were even more twists and revelations that I absolutely didn't see coming! As each aha is revealed, the clues and foreshadowing earlier in the book fall into place and make total sense, every detail accounted for.
The characters aren't nece sarily lovable but are deeply imperfect in a relatable way. The author does a great job of depicting CPTSD and other mental health issues.
The characters aren't nece sarily lovable but are deeply imperfect in a relatable way. The author does a great job of depicting CPTSD and other mental health issues.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Addiction
Moderate: Abandonment, Death, Gaslighting, Child death, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Kidnapping, Murder, Stalking, Gun violence, and Violence
kaynisonger's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.75
I had a guess (and was confident) how this book would go, then it was going somewhere I didn’t want, then back to what I originally thought with a little twist.
Overall, loved the storyline and little twists, but it was so predictable from the beginning.
Overall, loved the storyline and little twists, but it was so predictable from the beginning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Child death, Murder, and Suicide attempt
agapemanning's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Blood, Child death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
katharina90's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Slow and predictable. The main character was irritating and unlikeable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Drug abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Domestic abuse, Self harm, and Miscarriage
art_books_chemistry's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I was definitely impressed with the ride that Stacy Willingham took me on. I can't say I loved Chloe, she was definitely a flawed character in many ways, and those flaws were perfect for delivering the story. I did guess the final solution very early in the beginning, which is why I've taken off a quarter star. I haven't taken off more, because I spent the next 10 hours second guessing myself and convinced my original guess was wrong. However, that's the mark of a good thriller, you should never quite know where everything stands. All the clues really were there, some of which were clear, some of which were only obvious in hindsight. I also appreciated that Willingham wrapped up each of her clues and loose ends succinctly at the end without it feeling forced. I will say that I found it to be a bit slow for a little while since we joined Chloe in all her introspection but once we started getting hints and teasers it picked right back up. Then the last two hours or so were a binged rush that I didn't want to turn off.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Child death, Cursing, Death, and Sexual content
liv_brisson's review
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
3.5
I don’t like the “is the MC really a reliable narrator?” Trope. I didn’t like it in in The Wives by Tarryn Fisher and here it’s not as bad, but still frustrating (if you liked that trope in The Wives, then this book is for you).
I have also read so many books with the serial killer father trope and hate the overused & predictable ending of the narrator being the murderer who finishes what he started. This book doesn’t succumb to that end (thankfully lol). The interesting premise that keeps you on your toes is what saves this book from being a DNF/lower rating.
Overall, I’m not mad at it. Though some of the trademark thriller twists & turns were a bit predictable, I did find it quite riveting a lot of the time! Many of the twists and turns were actually unexpected. The end resolve left a bit more to be desired for side character development & tying the ends of side plot lines, but I really enjoyed the last few lines & the full circle moment for the narrator.
I have also read so many books with the serial killer father trope and hate the overused & predictable ending of the narrator being the murderer who finishes what he started. This book doesn’t succumb to that end (thankfully lol). The interesting premise that keeps you on your toes is what saves this book from being a DNF/lower rating.
Overall, I’m not mad at it. Though some of the trademark thriller twists & turns were a bit predictable, I did find it quite riveting a lot of the time! Many of the twists and turns were actually unexpected. The end resolve left a bit more to be desired for side character development & tying the ends of side plot lines, but I really enjoyed the last few lines & the full circle moment for the narrator.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Death, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual harassment
Minor: Blood
thismermaidreads's review
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
2.0
This book starts with an unnecessarily triggering description of a mentally unwell teenage girl. I was able to mentally push past that just to get 80% of the way through the book where the main character does something I CAN’T stand in books and find incredibly unethical. So I know for those reasons I can't rate it higher than a 3...it's getting a two because quite frankly there were just too many oh my God I can't trust these people in her life and like i get it, but also like couldn't she have at least ONE person in her life who could be trustworthy? Oh she did...but yeah they weren't actually so this poor girl (woman) left the book with literally no ONE. Had that plot twist 80% of the way through NOT happened and she at least got a HEA I THINK I could have gotten up to a 3.5 4 star. I just can't with people who use their horrific experiences as a reason to cheat on an otherwise loyal partner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Medical content, Murder, Drug use, Abandonment, Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Violence
missgrangerr's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Insufferable main character who, you guessed it, makes stupid mistake after stupid mistake while not caring who she burns in her path. I predicted the twist from the beginning, however I do have to say there was a bit where I thought I was wrong. Overall the book was slow, predictable, and had no redeeming characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Suicide
perpetually_isolated_being's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child death, and Mental illness
mcarol23's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, Death, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Drug abuse, Murder, and Suicide attempt