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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
This book was not at all what I expected, there was a lot of graphic sex, sexual violence and the characters were vile and obnoxious. It was not for me at all, I didn't enjoy it in the slightest.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Frighteningly plausible and sickening, but impossible to put down. I don’t think I’ll be forgetting this book anytime soon.
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
I really enjoyed this. Close to a 5 star, full of suspense and drama. Just wish it went more into what was happening .
if I would rate this, I'd probably give it a three star rating. why am I not rating this? while this book was interesting, it had me hooked and some bits were gruesome to read, it was missing a certain .. je ne sai quoi? (imagine le fou and gaston here lmao) no, but seriously the book is missing something and I don't know what. more of a climax feel? a better ending? (because I feel like the ending was rushed and certain things were done to simply end the story) a better explaination of things? (although that could have been the language barrier)
anyway, no matter what it was missing; my friend is reading it and maybe afterwards, when we discuss it, I'll have a better idea of what I'm missing.
also this is the first book were some scenes took me by surprise and were painful to read through, normally I'm pretty okay with gruesome content but I felt a little sick to the stomach reading one chapter so I'd like to declare a trigger warning for this book: rape, sexual abuse, non-consential sexual content, drug abuse
anyway, no matter what it was missing; my friend is reading it and maybe afterwards, when we discuss it, I'll have a better idea of what I'm missing.
also this is the first book were some scenes took me by surprise and were painful to read through, normally I'm pretty okay with gruesome content but I felt a little sick to the stomach reading one chapter so I'd like to declare a trigger warning for this book: rape, sexual abuse, non-consential sexual content, drug abuse
There's an “I let out a breath I only now realised I’ve been holding” line on page 19 and I think that's all you need to know about this book.
But seriously, the premise of this book is brilliant and I was very interested at the beginning. The reviews said it's dark and weird and twisted and creepy and shocking and let me tell you I love those things.
Unfortunately the book fell very flat.
Underdevelopped characters. Weak and stupid people everywhere. I don't mind the fact that they're all unlikable (well maybe except for Stephen, the son, the only one with a backbone), I don't need to like the characters to enjoy the book, but people here were just plain STUPID. Starting with James, accidentaly putting his weirdo files in the family dropbox. Hardly a criminal mastermind, amirite? Moving on to Julianne, the queen of stupid, typical "fake it until you make it until you can't anymore" wife. Blinded by her looooooove for her weak and stupid husband, too comfy in her posh life to care about anyone but herself and her merino cardigans. Most of the time she gasps, sighs, vomits, faints and cries. Also, don't get me started on her ridiculous outburst at the end. No one with half a brain would do what she's done.
Holly. Oh boy. Sheltered doesn't even cover how clueless she was.
Every woman in this book is stupid and weak and clueless and time-serving, judgemental, jealous. There are no women in position of power. Any kind of power. They're all housewives sipping mimosas and going to John Lewis. Did they all went to Oxford to catch husbands? What is it? 1930? Also this book fails Bechdel test miserably and it makes me sad.
I don't know, but it honestly feels like the author didn't have any good experiences with women.
On other things, the writing is medicore at best. Besides my all time favourite breath that has been held, there are just too many irrelevant details. "Oooh I've been sitting in the kitchen in my cremem jumper, eating carbonarra with a silver firk that had swirls engraved". Ok, tha was obvs not the direct quote but you know what I mean. Do I care what a character has been eating exactly? No, unless it's important bc they will choke on in or throw it at somebody's face.
The onlypositive thing I can say abou it that it's a realy fast read and the switching between the POVs is effortless.
That's all.
But seriously, the premise of this book is brilliant and I was very interested at the beginning. The reviews said it's dark and weird and twisted and creepy and shocking and let me tell you I love those things.
Unfortunately the book fell very flat.
Underdevelopped characters. Weak and stupid people everywhere. I don't mind the fact that they're all unlikable (well maybe except for Stephen, the son, the only one with a backbone), I don't need to like the characters to enjoy the book, but people here were just plain STUPID. Starting with James, accidentaly putting his weirdo files in the family dropbox. Hardly a criminal mastermind, amirite? Moving on to Julianne, the queen of stupid, typical "fake it until you make it until you can't anymore" wife. Blinded by her looooooove for her weak and stupid husband, too comfy in her posh life to care about anyone but herself and her merino cardigans. Most of the time she gasps, sighs, vomits, faints and cries. Also, don't get me started on her ridiculous outburst at the end. No one with half a brain would do what she's done.
Holly. Oh boy. Sheltered doesn't even cover how clueless she was.
Every woman in this book is stupid and weak and clueless and time-serving, judgemental, jealous. There are no women in position of power. Any kind of power. They're all housewives sipping mimosas and going to John Lewis. Did they all went to Oxford to catch husbands? What is it? 1930? Also this book fails Bechdel test miserably and it makes me sad.
I don't know, but it honestly feels like the author didn't have any good experiences with women.
On other things, the writing is medicore at best. Besides my all time favourite breath that has been held, there are just too many irrelevant details. "Oooh I've been sitting in the kitchen in my cremem jumper, eating carbonarra with a silver firk that had swirls engraved". Ok, tha was obvs not the direct quote but you know what I mean. Do I care what a character has been eating exactly? No, unless it's important bc they will choke on in or throw it at somebody's face.
The onlypositive thing I can say abou it that it's a realy fast read and the switching between the POVs is effortless.
That's all.
dark
slow-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
TW: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Trafficking
I thought this was going to be a typical mystery/thriller read due to the cover, but the cover was totally misleading and has absolutely no relation to the book (I think the cover might have changed now). I would consider this book as more general fiction with a tiny hint of a psychological thriller.
I do admit that the writing was excellent! This book is told in different POVs and different timelines. At first, I was confused as to why I was reading the background character development of a random character, but it eventually made sense and I loved how those two storylines intertwined. Speaking of POVs, the story was mostly character development (especially Holly’s character) and contained not much action. I would consider this a medium-paced book.
In addition, most of the characters were despicable, as they were part of an elite group of spoil rich brats. The book contained a lot of discussions around social issues and sex. It definitely gave me Jeffrey Epstein Vibes. The storyline is very dark and disturbing, with graphic descriptions.
The book didn’t conclude how I would have wanted it to, I don’t understand why there were so many backstories, but the conclusion to those storylines and backstories was missing.
I was initially thinking of rating this book at 3.5, but I was actually entertained at a certain point and even ended up reading from 30% to 65% in one sitting. So that to me, signifies I didn’t completely hate this novel.
I might pick up another B.P. Walter book at some point! It wasn’t terrible, just not my typical mystery/thriller book.
Thank you to Avon Books UK for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book via NetGalley. As usual, my reviews are my honest and unbiased opinions.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking
I received a free copy of "A Version of the Truth" from Avon Books UK in exchange for my honest review.
I'm not really sure what this book was trying to be. Was it a thriller? A commentary on the MeToo movement? A coming of age story? The author tried to fit too many ideas into one lackluster and disappointing read. There were graphic and salacious scenes just for the shock factor. You can include graphic content in a tasteful way, but this wasn't an example of that.
The dual timelines didn't help propel the story and only tangentially tied together at the very end. The ending was overly dramatic and unbelievable. The epilogue didn't offer hardly any closure and left the story unresolved. Wasn't a fan of this one.
I'm not really sure what this book was trying to be. Was it a thriller? A commentary on the MeToo movement? A coming of age story? The author tried to fit too many ideas into one lackluster and disappointing read. There were graphic and salacious scenes just for the shock factor. You can include graphic content in a tasteful way, but this wasn't an example of that.
The dual timelines didn't help propel the story and only tangentially tied together at the very end. The ending was overly dramatic and unbelievable. The epilogue didn't offer hardly any closure and left the story unresolved. Wasn't a fan of this one.
*** I received an advanced e-copy from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
This book goes back and forth between when the characters were all at the university and present day almost 30 years later. Something unspeakable happened to Holly at a party back then, something that has haunted her to this day. Julianne was one of the ones that Holly tried to turn to for help, but Julianne didn't know, or didn't want to know, what had happened. Now, Julianne has discovered the truth for herself and her world has turned upside down. Now she is at the proverbial crossroads; does she bury her head back in the sand or does she help Holly expose this terrible truth?
I really enjoyed this book. My only complaint was that it took most of the book before it really explained the correlation between then and now, so at times it felt like it was dragging a little or focusing a little too much on the past. It was dark and twisty and had a shocking ending, which makes it perfect for all of those suspense fans out there. I say it is definitely a must-read.
This book goes back and forth between when the characters were all at the university and present day almost 30 years later. Something unspeakable happened to Holly at a party back then, something that has haunted her to this day. Julianne was one of the ones that Holly tried to turn to for help, but Julianne didn't know, or didn't want to know, what had happened. Now, Julianne has discovered the truth for herself and her world has turned upside down. Now she is at the proverbial crossroads; does she bury her head back in the sand or does she help Holly expose this terrible truth?
I really enjoyed this book. My only complaint was that it took most of the book before it really explained the correlation between then and now, so at times it felt like it was dragging a little or focusing a little too much on the past. It was dark and twisty and had a shocking ending, which makes it perfect for all of those suspense fans out there. I say it is definitely a must-read.