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charnyboy's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
p0stm0rtem's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
harry_lemon's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
5⭐
As of writing this review, the only thing I want to do is go lie down...
I'm not fully sure how I feel about the book in its entirety, so I'll stick to the facts: the writing is exceptionally well done, the characters are multi-layered and intriguing, the plot is twisty and very surprising.
I have many thoughts about plot points and motivations, etc., but overall I'm very happy with this read purely because it kept me interested. You know the writing and story is good that you don't want to put the book down, and fear when you're going to pick it up next. For a debut novel, Parks-Ramage did an amazing job of telling a powerful story that is both uncomfortable, but important and poignant. I can't wait to see what he does next.
As of writing this review, the only thing I want to do is go lie down...
I'm not fully sure how I feel about the book in its entirety, so I'll stick to the facts: the writing is exceptionally well done, the characters are multi-layered and intriguing, the plot is twisty and very surprising.
I have many thoughts about plot points and motivations, etc., but overall I'm very happy with this read purely because it kept me interested. You know the writing and story is good that you don't want to put the book down, and fear when you're going to pick it up next. For a debut novel, Parks-Ramage did an amazing job of telling a powerful story that is both uncomfortable, but important and poignant. I can't wait to see what he does next.
the_eggelstone's review
2.0
This turned out to be a completely different book from what I expected. Instead of a somewhat raunchy thriller with a gay ‚Get Out‘ Set-up, this book deals with so many topics, that it cannot always keep everything up in the air.
I‘ve you‘ve read the blurb (which you most likely will have) you know the basic plot line and there are very few surprises or twists in it to keep you engaged:
A young penniless writer gets involved with an older, richer and more successful playwright, who takes him on a seemingly perfect summer trip to the Hamptons. But what follows is a perverse powerplay of abuse, rape and betrayal.
So far so gritty. The last third feels like an overlong epilogue where the #Metoo movement, conversion therapy and suicidal and traumatized homosexuals are all jumbled together.
The topics touched were probably too hefty for this debut, I didn’t feel the characters were well crafted or believable at all and the mix of genres and writing styles was not really convincing.
What bugged me the most was the very bleak and negative portrayal of homosexuality per se. There was not one queer character who wasn‘t either a pervy old sugar daddy or a traumatized self-loathing gay. Adding some strange religious undertones that cemented a negative view on homosexuality - it just felt very off.
So neither a great thriller nor a convincing social comment on gay culture, this debut fell flat on many levels. Disappointing.
I‘ve you‘ve read the blurb (which you most likely will have) you know the basic plot line and there are very few surprises or twists in it to keep you engaged:
A young penniless writer gets involved with an older, richer and more successful playwright, who takes him on a seemingly perfect summer trip to the Hamptons. But what follows is a perverse powerplay of abuse, rape and betrayal.
So far so gritty. The last third feels like an overlong epilogue where the #Metoo movement, conversion therapy and suicidal and traumatized homosexuals are all jumbled together.
The topics touched were probably too hefty for this debut, I didn’t feel the characters were well crafted or believable at all and the mix of genres and writing styles was not really convincing.
What bugged me the most was the very bleak and negative portrayal of homosexuality per se. There was not one queer character who wasn‘t either a pervy old sugar daddy or a traumatized self-loathing gay. Adding some strange religious undertones that cemented a negative view on homosexuality - it just felt very off.
So neither a great thriller nor a convincing social comment on gay culture, this debut fell flat on many levels. Disappointing.
labriejames's review
2.0
Sometimes. You wish you didn’t read something. I’m so disturbed. This isn’t really a thriller- reads more like a fake memoir and is super depressing. There is also a ton of religious references as well- like testimonial. I took me a month to wade through this.
hollyn_middle's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alex9's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
hvacha's review
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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
4.0
benbingley's review
5.0
Honestly … quite devastating. Really pessimistic; big lead up to ultimately mean nothing, but in a really heart wrenching kinda way that was written so smoothly. The ending was not what I wanted but was still happy with how things turned out … I think?