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jessethereader's review against another edition
4.0
I still don't feel experienced enough in the mystery thriller genre to be recommending books within the it... but I thought this was a solid read! The thing that I liked about this book is that it doesn't rely on surprising reveals. You're fed the things that would normally be used as plot twists pretty early on, which left me pretty stumped with how things would develop. The author managed to keep me engaged and eager to learn more as the story progressed. The past and present structure worked really well in this scenario, helping me understand how things landed where they did with the early reveals.
daphnaios's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
throw the whole child away.
syyysruska's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
filiparferreira's review against another edition
5.0
Esta história arrepiante e delirante é impossível de largar, vai-nos enrolando, enfurecendo, deixando na dúvida, eriçando os pelos da nuca, uffff...
rngsnapdragon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
tonyinco's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
cachou's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
3.5
not_a_username's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
⚠️the review has spoilers!⚠️
It got repetitive after a while. The entirety of the book is the main character trying to piece together his memories to understand what happened during the night but he does so at random points in the narrative, most of the time he just gets a plot convenient hallucination that gives him a hint to proceed.
Honestly the overuse of flashbacks and halluciations got me rolling my eyes at times(the mom with the "joker" smile was particularly cringy)
I was waiting for some kind of big twist by the end of the book that would have made the 300 pages worth it but no– everything you know about the character by page 50 is literally all you need to know to understand why he did what he did, maybe if the book were shorter it would have been better.
Also Hea-jin as a character seems to only be in the story to take the blame in the epilogue(which I also didn't like that much)
It got repetitive after a while. The entirety of the book is the main character trying to piece together his memories to understand what happened during the night but he does so at random points in the narrative, most of the time he just gets a plot convenient hallucination that gives him a hint to proceed.
Honestly the overuse of flashbacks and halluciations got me rolling my eyes at times(the mom with the "joker" smile was particularly cringy)
I was waiting for some kind of big twist by the end of the book that would have made the 300 pages worth it but no– everything you know about the character by page 50 is literally all you need to know to understand why he did what he did, maybe if the book were shorter it would have been better.
Also Hea-jin as a character seems to only be in the story to take the blame in the epilogue(which I also didn't like that much)
clavishorti's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
3.0
Drenched in an eerie metallic scent, twenty-six-year-old Yu-Jin awakens to a cryptic phone call from his brother, unraveling a harrowing mystery. A stylish Seoul duplex becomes the haunting backdrop as Yu-Jin discovers his mother’s lifeless body, triggering a desperate three-day quest to uncover the chilling truth about that fateful night. In The Good Son by Jeong You-Jeong, where memories blur and seizures cast shadows, the urgent question echoes: Who can you trust when even yourself is a mystery?
Exploring the pages of Jeong You-Jeong’s The Good Son, I found a captivating blend of psychological thriller and mysterious elements. Despite initially sensing the direction of the narrative, suspicions about certain characters and uncertainties create layers of inner intelligence, inviting deep engagement.
Delving into the English translation by Kim Chi-Young, I felt connected to the clarity of sentences and expressions that flowed seamlessly. The ease of capturing the core of the story allowed me to fully immerse myself without grappling with language barriers. While the narrative at the outset induces a touch of boredom and occasionally falls into wordiness, over time, I found myself captivated and absorbed in the increasingly profound journey of the story.
With this initial gradual pace, I began to wonder if it was intentional to provide a stage for the development of the main character, Yu-Jin. The author’s decision to build the narrative slowly becomes a kind of clever tactic, paving the way for a more in-depth exploration of Yu-Jin’s psychological complexity.
As the plot unfolds, my interest reaches its zenith, creating emotional tension and an irresistible curiosity. One aspect that makes The Good Son shine is how the author successfully presents Yu-Jin’s internal debate with himself. This exposition reveals psychological intricacies in a brilliant manner, drawing the reader into a biting psychological struggle, creating unexpected dimensions of darkness. Thus, as I delve into layer after layer of the story, it’s not just about reading; it’s about feeling the emotional vibrations and inner intelligence permeating through every page.
Despite not encountering truly special elements, the reading journey in The Good Son by Jeong You-Jeong remains satisfying, akin to navigating through corridors of psychological brilliance. Perhaps, with bolder execution, particularly in the context of the psychological thriller genre, this story has the potential to create a more profound impact. An enticing invitation beckoning readers to explore deeper and more challenging psychological layers suggests that the true mystery may not have fully unfolded yet.
Exploring the pages of Jeong You-Jeong’s The Good Son, I found a captivating blend of psychological thriller and mysterious elements. Despite initially sensing the direction of the narrative, suspicions about certain characters and uncertainties create layers of inner intelligence, inviting deep engagement.
Delving into the English translation by Kim Chi-Young, I felt connected to the clarity of sentences and expressions that flowed seamlessly. The ease of capturing the core of the story allowed me to fully immerse myself without grappling with language barriers. While the narrative at the outset induces a touch of boredom and occasionally falls into wordiness, over time, I found myself captivated and absorbed in the increasingly profound journey of the story.
With this initial gradual pace, I began to wonder if it was intentional to provide a stage for the development of the main character, Yu-Jin. The author’s decision to build the narrative slowly becomes a kind of clever tactic, paving the way for a more in-depth exploration of Yu-Jin’s psychological complexity.
As the plot unfolds, my interest reaches its zenith, creating emotional tension and an irresistible curiosity. One aspect that makes The Good Son shine is how the author successfully presents Yu-Jin’s internal debate with himself. This exposition reveals psychological intricacies in a brilliant manner, drawing the reader into a biting psychological struggle, creating unexpected dimensions of darkness. Thus, as I delve into layer after layer of the story, it’s not just about reading; it’s about feeling the emotional vibrations and inner intelligence permeating through every page.
Despite not encountering truly special elements, the reading journey in The Good Son by Jeong You-Jeong remains satisfying, akin to navigating through corridors of psychological brilliance. Perhaps, with bolder execution, particularly in the context of the psychological thriller genre, this story has the potential to create a more profound impact. An enticing invitation beckoning readers to explore deeper and more challenging psychological layers suggests that the true mystery may not have fully unfolded yet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Car accident
michividal's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0