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gillian0231's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
3.5
While I really enjoyed the whole concept of the book, not only the alternating timelines but exploring the complexities of toxic family dynamics, I don't think it was done really well. Overall, the book had a really strong start. At first I was a little confused with the changing timelines, but once I get into the rhythm, I really liked it. The writing was very good, the mysteries were layered and kept me guessing, and the characters, while not entirely likeable, were very realistic and interesting.
However, the closer we got to the end the more I was getting worried the ending would not be good. I was unfortunately correct. I really wish there could have been a connection between the two timelines. Obviously some big plot points happened in both stories, but it really just seems like the author had two different ideas for the mystery, couldn't chose between the two, and just decided to write both in the same book. I think a part of this disconnect is that we never get Esme's POV. The entire story is from Jane's POV, so everything we know about Esme is through Jane's perceptions of her. We never get Esme's inner thoughts or too much motivations for her actions besides what she eventually tells Jane. Because of this, Esme (in both timelines) seems really one dimensional and incredibly unlikable to the point that I really liked the ending of the Gone timeline. There is also a very stark difference in her personalities in the two timelines so it just seems so unrealistic that both endings are the same person. If we had gotten even just one chapter from Esme's POV explaining just a little bit of her feelings and actions, I think both personalities and endings could have been so more cohesive.
Maybe the whole point of the story is that one small action can lead to wildly different endings, but if that was the case it was not done well. It was a fast-paced book, which I really enjoy in mysteries, and I didn't want to put it down at times. There was so much potential that was so close to being fulfilled.
However, the closer we got to the end the more I was getting worried the ending would not be good. I was unfortunately correct. I really wish there could have been a connection between the two timelines. Obviously some big plot points happened in both stories, but it really just seems like the author had two different ideas for the mystery, couldn't chose between the two, and just decided to write both in the same book. I think a part of this disconnect is that we never get Esme's POV. The entire story is from Jane's POV, so everything we know about Esme is through Jane's perceptions of her. We never get Esme's inner thoughts or too much motivations for her actions besides what she eventually tells Jane. Because of this, Esme (in both timelines) seems really one dimensional and incredibly unlikable to the point that I really liked the ending of the Gone timeline. There is also a very stark difference in her personalities in the two timelines so it just seems so unrealistic that both endings are the same person. If we had gotten even just one chapter from Esme's POV explaining just a little bit of her feelings and actions, I think both personalities and endings could have been so more cohesive.
Maybe the whole point of the story is that one small action can lead to wildly different endings, but if that was the case it was not done well. It was a fast-paced book, which I really enjoy in mysteries, and I didn't want to put it down at times. There was so much potential that was so close to being fulfilled.
courthrilly's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nrskelley's review
mysterious
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
3.25
How much do our decisions affect the way our lives turn out? Would one decision change it all? Those are the main questions that this book leaves the reader asking themselves!
Jane, the FMC, has a decision to make…..does she brave her fear of driving in storms and pick up her flighty sister Esme? Or does she finally put her foot down and say no.
Told with alternating timelines in each chapter, the author shows us what might have happened based on those two choices. I actually really enjoyed this style of writing. It kept things fresh!
What I didn’t enjoy was the character development. Esme and Jane honestly were not very likable characters. I think the use of the alternating timelines hindered the characters for me. Honestly, that’s just my own issue. I tend to struggle with non-likeable characters.
Overall, I’m glad I gave this a read, and I’ll definitely give this author’s future works a chance!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Jane, the FMC, has a decision to make…..does she brave her fear of driving in storms and pick up her flighty sister Esme? Or does she finally put her foot down and say no.
Told with alternating timelines in each chapter, the author shows us what might have happened based on those two choices. I actually really enjoyed this style of writing. It kept things fresh!
What I didn’t enjoy was the character development. Esme and Jane honestly were not very likable characters. I think the use of the alternating timelines hindered the characters for me. Honestly, that’s just my own issue. I tend to struggle with non-likeable characters.
Overall, I’m glad I gave this a read, and I’ll definitely give this author’s future works a chance!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
thenextgenlibrarian's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.25
Kit Frick’s outstanding adult thriller debut released this week!
🚗
Jane Connor aka the plain Jane of her family, has a decision to make: pick up her sister in Manhattan during a thunderstorm when driving gives her terrible anxiety due to a car accident she was in as a teen or tell Esme to find her own ride home. What happens next is Jane’s life splits in two: the choice she made when she A) picks up her sister and B) refuses. We get to see the history of the two women’s relationships, their family dynamic and past relationships of Jane’s until it all comes crashing to two endings that couldn’t be more different from one another.
☔️
I love a good Sliding Doors trope so this was right up my alley. Every time I thought the story was going to go one way, I’d get whiplash as it switched in another direction. I’m so thrilled for Kit, as this was such an amazing adult debut and I WANT MORE! The Split released this week: congrats!
CW: car accident, alcoholism, drug overdose, hospitalization, Alzheimer’s, death, drunk driving, cheating, abuse, kidnapping, prison
🚗
Jane Connor aka the plain Jane of her family, has a decision to make: pick up her sister in Manhattan during a thunderstorm when driving gives her terrible anxiety due to a car accident she was in as a teen or tell Esme to find her own ride home. What happens next is Jane’s life splits in two: the choice she made when she A) picks up her sister and B) refuses. We get to see the history of the two women’s relationships, their family dynamic and past relationships of Jane’s until it all comes crashing to two endings that couldn’t be more different from one another.
☔️
I love a good Sliding Doors trope so this was right up my alley. Every time I thought the story was going to go one way, I’d get whiplash as it switched in another direction. I’m so thrilled for Kit, as this was such an amazing adult debut and I WANT MORE! The Split released this week: congrats!
CW: car accident, alcoholism, drug overdose, hospitalization, Alzheimer’s, death, drunk driving, cheating, abuse, kidnapping, prison
yangelareads's review
3.0
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Copy provided by Atria Books.
Jane Connor is resigned to being the “plain Jane” of her family—pragmatic and dependable—so unlike her beautiful and impetuous younger sister Esme. When Esme calls Jane during a flash summer storm, announcing she is left her high-society husband, Jane is shocked to learn her sister wishes to stay with her. Could this be an opportunity for them to become close again? The only catch: Esme needs a ride from the city to their small Connecticut hometown, and Jane is terrified of getting on the highway because of what she did when they were teens. Jane must either let Esme stand on her own two feet for once or jump to her flighty younger sister’s rescue—and her choice cleaves her life in two.
The Split captivatingly explores how little we know the ones we love and how one small choice can change everything. I was indeed very intrigued by this one and the parallel universes, and I really liked Frick's writing style from reading one of her previous book. But the book is more plot driven than character and I think that is where this book lacked for me. I just needed a good balance. The book was also written in two chapters at a time, first following one path, then the other, which was rather confusing for me. I wished that the book would of come together at the end, but sadly that did not happen. I also thought the big reveal was too realistic. There were many reveals in the book that was unbelievable for me. There was also a lot of repetition as the main character experiences the same exact thought in the different timeline. This was definitely an interesting sliding door trope and concept, but I did not dislike this book, but it did not end up holding my attention.
Jane Connor is resigned to being the “plain Jane” of her family—pragmatic and dependable—so unlike her beautiful and impetuous younger sister Esme. When Esme calls Jane during a flash summer storm, announcing she is left her high-society husband, Jane is shocked to learn her sister wishes to stay with her. Could this be an opportunity for them to become close again? The only catch: Esme needs a ride from the city to their small Connecticut hometown, and Jane is terrified of getting on the highway because of what she did when they were teens. Jane must either let Esme stand on her own two feet for once or jump to her flighty younger sister’s rescue—and her choice cleaves her life in two.
The Split captivatingly explores how little we know the ones we love and how one small choice can change everything. I was indeed very intrigued by this one and the parallel universes, and I really liked Frick's writing style from reading one of her previous book. But the book is more plot driven than character and I think that is where this book lacked for me. I just needed a good balance. The book was also written in two chapters at a time, first following one path, then the other, which was rather confusing for me. I wished that the book would of come together at the end, but sadly that did not happen. I also thought the big reveal was too realistic. There were many reveals in the book that was unbelievable for me. There was also a lot of repetition as the main character experiences the same exact thought in the different timeline. This was definitely an interesting sliding door trope and concept, but I did not dislike this book, but it did not end up holding my attention.
bookishblondegirl's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75