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greatexpectations77's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
I was very into this because the story that unfolds and what these kids had to deal with is like Hunger Games-style gnarly. I also thought the relaying of the events through the POVs of each of the characters was really interesting. I felt a really serious tension when everyone was in the beach house, and I felt like it kind of broke when people started leaving. I also, and maybe I wasn't listening closely enough, had a bit of a hard time keeping all of the characters straight, since there were so many.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Toxic friendship, Death, and Car accident
Moderate: Bullying, Grief, Gun violence, Child death, Addiction, Alcohol, Murder, Stalking, and Suicide
Minor: Drug abuse, Animal death, and Gaslighting
minimicropup's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Mysterious, claustrophobic, distressing
We follow seven adults ~10 years after a tragic vehicle accident on a high school field trip. The narrative mainly follows one character in present day, with all the different character POVs given in the past when the accident occurred.
Set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina
Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags🐺🐕:
-The description about how everyone survived is told in reverse flashbacks (so we first figure out how they escaped, then work backwards). This was creative and worked to build suspense and help us identify with the characters.
-There are moments of OTT-ish plot devices near the end. It didn't ruin the story for me but may for some.
-Nitpicking moment: What does "swallowing nothing" mean? I've never read the term until this novel and it wasn't ever explained but re-used to the extent it broke the story a bit b/c of my curiosity. Google tells me it's a neurological disorder, but I doubt multiple characters had it (I think the author meant "gulp").
-Everyone grieves differently, but I had a hard time believing one could gather seven survivors in a isolated region surrounded by water and have everyone just chill with the elephant in the room without at least one person being like "uhh, can we talk about the terrors and also, do so someplace less water-logged?". I guess eventually that occurs to some of them and the these characters may also be the ones more likely to be okay with that dynamic, so it isn't nonsensical. I viewed it more of a peer pressure thing.
Cred Rating 🤷♀️: Plausible realism with suspended disbelief
Mood Reading Match Up:
-Isolated destination thriller
-Spring/early summer vibes
-Survivor, fight-for-your-life trope paired with contemporary fiction of "how are they doing now?"
-Touches of "locked room" potential murder mystery
Content Heads-Up: Vehicle accident (fatalities). Bullying/peer pressure. Suicide.
Format: Kindle
We follow seven adults ~10 years after a tragic vehicle accident on a high school field trip. The narrative mainly follows one character in present day, with all the different character POVs given in the past when the accident occurred.
Set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina
Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags🐺🐕:
-The description about how everyone survived is told in reverse flashbacks (so we first figure out how they escaped, then work backwards). This was creative and worked to build suspense and help us identify with the characters.
-There are moments of OTT-ish plot devices near the end. It didn't ruin the story for me but may for some.
-Nitpicking moment: What does "swallowing nothing" mean? I've never read the term until this novel and it wasn't ever explained but re-used to the extent it broke the story a bit b/c of my curiosity. Google tells me it's a neurological disorder, but I doubt multiple characters had it (I think the author meant "gulp").
-Everyone grieves differently, but I had a hard time believing one could gather seven survivors in a isolated region surrounded by water and have everyone just chill with the elephant in the room without at least one person being like "uhh, can we talk about the terrors and also, do so someplace less water-logged?". I guess eventually that occurs to some of them and the these characters may also be the ones more likely to be okay with that dynamic, so it isn't nonsensical. I viewed it more of a peer pressure thing.
Cred Rating 🤷♀️: Plausible realism with suspended disbelief
Mood Reading Match Up:
-Isolated destination thriller
-Spring/early summer vibes
-Survivor, fight-for-your-life trope paired with contemporary fiction of "how are they doing now?"
-Touches of "locked room" potential murder mystery
Content Heads-Up: Vehicle accident (fatalities). Bullying/peer pressure. Suicide.
Format: Kindle
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Confinement and Bullying
leebeeloves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Drug abuse, Self harm, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Vomit and Bullying
booknerdnative's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, and Death
Minor: Suicide, Racism, Pedophilia, Bullying, Stalking, Violence, and Mental illness
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