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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
A few thoughts about Oliver
• definitely a cancer
• just f**k ur mum already ????? (Probably still breastfeeds)
• 100% treats andrew tates word as law
• definitely a cancer
• just f**k ur mum already ????? (Probably still breastfeeds)
• 100% treats andrew tates word as law
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
medium-paced
3/5 ★
——
I liked the setting of this book. I was expecting a classic “whodunnit” type of story, and in many ways it delivered that. The book is very fast-paced since it takes place over one night, which worked well, but the middle section dragged. At times the plot felt repetitive, endless, and even a bit boring.
I didn’t enjoy Red as the main character. She often came across as insecure, and it was frustrating when she held back information or chose not to say things that could have moved the story forward. Personally, I would have spoken up in many of those situations. Her constant memory problems also made it hard to connect with her. Her inner monologue was repetitive, circling endlessly around her mother or how worthless she felt. I can understand why readers who relate to that might sympathize with her, but I wish she had been given more personality. Small details she noticed, like the RV being exactly 31 feet, felt like they were supposed to mean something, especially given her unreliable memory, but in the end they didn’t, which was anticlimactic. The only moment that really pulled emotion from me was when she was voted out of the RV.
I did appreciate that all the characters were flawed and that suspicion shifted from one to another throughout the story. I know Oliver gets a lot of hate, but I actually thought he was one of the few rational characters. In fact, he probably acted the most like I would have in that situation. If the story had been told from his point of view, I think more readers would have agreed with him. On the other hand, Arthur and Simon felt underdeveloped. Simon seemed intended as comic relief but mostly came off as childish.
The mafia/Arthur twist was surprising, but mainly because it felt unrealistic. I don’t think the mafia would ever have handled things the way the book described. While that unpredictability did keep me guessing, it also broke believability. What I did enjoy was how Catherine LaVoy manipulated the game into a win–win situation, that was clever.
The ending itself was fine. It wrapped up with a letter from Arthur to Red, leaving the story open-ended in a way that worked well. I also liked the gradual reveal of what happened to Red’s mom, it was built up carefully and landed effectively.
——
I liked the setting of this book. I was expecting a classic “whodunnit” type of story, and in many ways it delivered that. The book is very fast-paced since it takes place over one night, which worked well, but the middle section dragged. At times the plot felt repetitive, endless, and even a bit boring.
I didn’t enjoy Red as the main character. She often came across as insecure, and it was frustrating when she held back information or chose not to say things that could have moved the story forward. Personally, I would have spoken up in many of those situations. Her constant memory problems also made it hard to connect with her. Her inner monologue was repetitive, circling endlessly around her mother or how worthless she felt. I can understand why readers who relate to that might sympathize with her, but I wish she had been given more personality. Small details she noticed, like the RV being exactly 31 feet, felt like they were supposed to mean something, especially given her unreliable memory, but in the end they didn’t, which was anticlimactic. The only moment that really pulled emotion from me was when she was voted out of the RV.
I did appreciate that all the characters were flawed and that suspicion shifted from one to another throughout the story. I know Oliver gets a lot of hate, but I actually thought he was one of the few rational characters. In fact, he probably acted the most like I would have in that situation. If the story had been told from his point of view, I think more readers would have agreed with him. On the other hand, Arthur and Simon felt underdeveloped. Simon seemed intended as comic relief but mostly came off as childish.
The mafia/Arthur twist was surprising, but mainly because it felt unrealistic. I don’t think the mafia would ever have handled things the way the book described. While that unpredictability did keep me guessing, it also broke believability. What I did enjoy was how Catherine LaVoy manipulated the game into a win–win situation, that was clever.
The ending itself was fine. It wrapped up with a letter from Arthur to Red, leaving the story open-ended in a way that worked well. I also liked the gradual reveal of what happened to Red’s mom, it was built up carefully and landed effectively.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not my favourite of her books, but I really do love the way she forms her characters. Not as expected of an ending, and I think Holly Jackson does always leave you wanting more info at the end. Is that part of the charm????? Idk??????? She writes a good secondary antagonist fr, we have Oliver.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
Minor: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes