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jessiethesleepykoala's review
4.0
This book was very enjoyable. It was not as much a mystery as I thought it would be - it was backloaded more than I was expecting - but I think the mystery was probably the part I liked the least in the end. It wasn’t bad, but was really bizarre, and by that point I was enjoying just following the life of Lily and Spenser without the need for something more.
The scenes about Lily’s cancer and her chemo were really hard to read and definitely gave me an appreciation for how much people have to go through with the treatment and a fear of ever having to go through it myself. I know there have been big advances in medicine since the turn of the century and chemo is not quite what it once was, but it was still so hard to read and my heart aches for those who have the endure it.
By far the most interesting mystery in the book I found was to do with Lily’s family history - that was quite the story and it felt very unique and fitted to the actual characters and the story being told, and wasn’t a carbon copy backstory or just playing on tropes. I was curious when I read the back of the book how her family would become so intertwined with the overall narrative and this book definitely did not disappoint.
Definitely four stars for me. Would read again.
The scenes about Lily’s cancer and her chemo were really hard to read and definitely gave me an appreciation for how much people have to go through with the treatment and a fear of ever having to go through it myself. I know there have been big advances in medicine since the turn of the century and chemo is not quite what it once was, but it was still so hard to read and my heart aches for those who have the endure it.
By far the most interesting mystery in the book I found was to do with Lily’s family history - that was quite the story and it felt very unique and fitted to the actual characters and the story being told, and wasn’t a carbon copy backstory or just playing on tropes. I was curious when I read the back of the book how her family would become so intertwined with the overall narrative and this book definitely did not disappoint.
Definitely four stars for me. Would read again.
lonelyfangirlirl's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
gracebikes's review
3.0
Yeeesh drama for the sake of drama, but it was a fun ride.
Read it a couple of weeks for the laughs and sheer absurdity of it.
Read it a couple of weeks for the laughs and sheer absurdity of it.
brookesophie22's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-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
3.0
erinlovescats's review
1.0
I slogged through until the end but omg this was not good. The characters have extremely awful personalities and habits...the situations they find themselves in are just ludicrous...and in the end, the mystery is solved and the truth is simply bizarre.
Lily’s character did develop somewhat but not enough to save this one for me.
I liked the way this author used language. I might try something else if hers and hope that the plot is less wacky and the characters are less despicable.
Update: I tried describing this book to someone and when you say it out loud, it’s even more ludicrous. I do think it would make a decent Lifetime movie though!!! And that wouldn’t take 19 hours of your life to get the resolution. Lol
Downgrading my rating to one star because it was pretty awful.
Lily’s character did develop somewhat but not enough to save this one for me.
I liked the way this author used language. I might try something else if hers and hope that the plot is less wacky and the characters are less despicable.
Update: I tried describing this book to someone and when you say it out loud, it’s even more ludicrous. I do think it would make a decent Lifetime movie though!!! And that wouldn’t take 19 hours of your life to get the resolution. Lol
Downgrading my rating to one star because it was pretty awful.
klb72's review
5.0
Loved it, read until 2am, just couldn't get enough. Lily is so flaky, Spencer such a great character. Plot had heaps to offer too with lottery win, missing flatmate, alcoholic mother and cancer. Will have to reread Tully and seek out Paullina's other books.
authorheatherw's review
3.0
I've heard high praise about the author's The Bronze Horseman series so I decided to try out this book before reading her other work. I liked the book, but it felt like one thing after another with Lily's life. A new drama around every corner and I felt like they were only distractions from the murder mystery plot I was actually interested in reading. Plus the book is 600 pages long (and felt very, very long at times). There were high points and I did enjoy not only the murder mystery, but the romance. Although I didn't love this book, I'm looking forward to reading one of the author's historical romances.
oomenseyeball's review against another edition
3.0
*3 stars*
This book made me tense. I didn't cry, but the enormity of problems and questions made it impossible to put down.
This book made me tense. I didn't cry, but the enormity of problems and questions made it impossible to put down.