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bookedandbusy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Gun violence
Moderate: Terminal illness and Cancer
Minor: Racism and Fire/Fire injury
annamorgan27's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Child abuse, Murder, Cursing, Death, and Domestic abuse
boomwormbrittany's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I thought this was a pretty interesting thriller/mystery novel to read. I really like Simone St. James writing and it seems to get stronger as she continues on writing. However I did find that this book, although supposed to be set in 1995, didn't really strongly show that part of the story well. Besides mentions of a few 1995 events, it wasn't very clear the time period and this could have taken place in any time.
I also found myself sometimes annoyed with April as a main character because she would always allude to this "deep dark past secret" she had but it all really led up to nothing at all. Same goes with Eddie and his discharge from the military. I thought that they could have been fleshed out more as characters and a couple as I didn't believe their chemistry.
Also the explanation of the cause of the murders and the "twist" I had already guessed before about halfway through this book so I wasn't really surprised by it. I also thought this could have been strengthened better as well.
Overall, I thought this was just an okay book, not one I really loved or hated. If you are interested in picking it up, I would encourage you to give it a try.
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Minor: Toxic relationship
throwback682's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Murder
lifeonasofa's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
‘And on that long-ago summer night, my mother had taught me that in order to survive, you sometimes have to cut and run. Leave people behind. Just go’ Simone St James 🏃🏼♀️
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.25 Stars
Super fun, 90s style horror. For starters, this redesign by @evernightbooks is ICONIC. It really matches the small town honeymooners vibe of the story. 📻
The start hooked me. Who doesn’t love a horror that starts with getting lost on a dark spooky road? A gruesome victim, an eerie atmosphere 👻 it was a strong opening.
Simone did a great job at making me suspicious of everyone in town, including our main characters, they felt untrustworthy. It’s a super fun summer read, I found it so easy to blast through. 👌🏻
All that said, the writing was a bit YA and slow in the middle. I wouldn’t say I was scared at any point, especially as it unravelled quite early on. For me, paranormal horrors have to be SO well written and suspenseful in order to remain scary. 🙈
Moderate: Blood, Death, and Murder
queergoth_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Terminal illness
michelle_mightbereading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Blood
Minor: War
hannahshardbacks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Violence and Murder
luverbyrd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Minor: Violence, Terminal illness, and Murder
shesflippinpages's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Car accident, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Kidnapping, Violence, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Gaslighting, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Stalking