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andra_k's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Alcoholism
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual assault
obliquity's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-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
2.0
This one was a bit of a slog to get through. I've read a few slightly shorter and faster paced books recently, so had others not said the same thing in their reviews, I might have thought that this had amplified the effect. I agree that everything seems to happen right at the beginning or right at the end, with a lot of repetitive rambling in between. It was repetitive in action, in the same bad decisions being made, but also in specific thought. Cassie likes to recap everything that's happened so far in her head to pad out paragraphs. She likes it a lot. To the point that I wonder if the author actually expected people to put it down for extended periods of time.
This is, of course, wild speculation, but it almost feels like a deadline loomed with an expected wordcount, and the author either lost interest partway through or just ran out of time to meet it in any other way. It's something I've seen before, but mostly in less experienced writers - I've even done it myself, back closer to when I started out, and it surprises me that somebody who has published this much has done so at this point in their career. Maybe it's just a stylistic choice, but it's not one that I enjoy.
As much as the middle dragged - and it really, really did - the ending felt very rushed. Shorter chapters, faster pace. Okay, that makes sense. But I would have liked a little more detail in the rounding up of things. The epilogue was pretty short and set two years later, and I feel like some of the stuff that might have been interesting to see immediately after the final chapter would have been more interesting to read that most of the rest of the book. I like characters learning lessons, working their way through things, but in all of these struggles, she didn't seem to actually learn anything on-page at all.
Elena was more interesting to read, and I think she and Ani were about the only characters I actually liked.I was pretty annoyed at Elena being killed off, actually, and her killer not only instantly turning without a thought, but Cassie's acceptance of and trust in him was also irritating. Why give us a twist character, only to add a "just kidding! He's actually a good guy!" a couple of pages later? It felt like a copout.
This is, of course, wild speculation, but it almost feels like a deadline loomed with an expected wordcount, and the author either lost interest partway through or just ran out of time to meet it in any other way. It's something I've seen before, but mostly in less experienced writers - I've even done it myself, back closer to when I started out, and it surprises me that somebody who has published this much has done so at this point in their career. Maybe it's just a stylistic choice, but it's not one that I enjoy.
As much as the middle dragged - and it really, really did - the ending felt very rushed. Shorter chapters, faster pace. Okay, that makes sense. But I would have liked a little more detail in the rounding up of things. The epilogue was pretty short and set two years later, and I feel like some of the stuff that might have been interesting to see immediately after the final chapter would have been more interesting to read that most of the rest of the book. I like characters learning lessons, working their way through things, but in all of these struggles, she didn't seem to actually learn anything on-page at all.
Elena was more interesting to read, and I think she and Ani were about the only characters I actually liked.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Addiction, Alcoholism, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content and Gun violence
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual assault, Suicide, Rape, and Animal death
zombiezami's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Stalking, Addiction, Blood, Alcoholism, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Outing, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Sexual content, Infidelity, Cursing, Death of parent, Vomit, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Gun violence, Animal death, Abandonment, Torture, and Suicide
matildaesandell's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This story is very picturesque, like you can imagine it in your head, which I guess is why they made it into a TV show. But I don’t really get the hype, because until the last like 50-100 pages it was a bit of a slog. the ending definitely boosted the rating for me, it was pretty dang good
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Rape
hmih's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol
semeyers's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book was kind of just....fine. I mostly enjoyed the time I spent reading it, but it is definitely more of a "beach read" than one I felt truly immersed in.
As others have echoed, Cassie is an extremely flawed and (IMO) a downright annoying main character. Many of the actions she takes are so nonsensical that it had me frustrated and ready to put the book down. In fact, most of the characters are so one-note that I found it difficult to get truly attached or into the mindset of any of them. There was only one character that was interesting and her story is glossed over for the most part and then ends abruptly for seemingly no reason she is killed off, but it really seemed like the author just wanted to add some gratuitous murder/description of gore and nothing else. She could have lived and provided a much more interesting ending. . The ending is also fairly unbelievable, and not in a good way. I can see why the show was pushed more into being a dark comedy.
All that being said, the plot does keep moving and there is a genuinely interesting twist at the end, so if you are looking for a quick read this might be worth grabbing.
As others have echoed, Cassie is an extremely flawed and (IMO) a downright annoying main character. Many of the actions she takes are so nonsensical that it had me frustrated and ready to put the book down. In fact, most of the characters are so one-note that I found it difficult to get truly attached or into the mindset of any of them. There was only one character that was interesting and her story is glossed over for the most part and then ends abruptly for seemingly no reason
All that being said, the plot does keep moving and there is a genuinely interesting twist at the end, so if you are looking for a quick read this might be worth grabbing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Gore, Alcoholism, and Murder
Minor: Rape and Stalking
amandalawrance's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The ending I did not see coming, definitely had me fooled and made the book that much better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Murder
chassard's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I found Cassie so infuriating. I know her behavior moved the story forward, but wow it was tough to get through all her completely irrational and destructive decisions. I felt it gave an interesting view on flight attendants, but not one that was super realistic. Not sure why she’s so dirt poor when she’s senior and flying internationally. I think the story was interesting, but I think it could have been told in a more gripping way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Murder
steviaplath's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Violence, Sexual content, and Murder
emilyyyytug's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Murder