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routergirl's review against another edition
1.0
I really wanted to like this, but it just wasn't for me. The dialogue clunky, the characters cardboard, the plot predictable. The writing was almost juvenile - like VC Andrews level, which left me... Meh.
jai1999's review against another edition
5.0
A book with so many different mysteries and twists within it. This could be the next "it" book.
krystenmoore's review against another edition
4.0
Kept me interested and it was a page-turner, but it was so so dramatic. I liked the ending though. I don’t think it fits any of my categories for the PopSugar reading challenge.
kaleenazagrzebski's review against another edition
3.0
I had trouble giving this one a star rating. Here’s what I liked and what I didn’t like:
This was a super quick read for me. There were a lot of twists thrown at you throughout the book and I just wanted to know what happened.
A little over halfway through, the twists and turns got to be a bit much. I felt like everything was working out too well, and there were about two or three twists too many. It started to become extremely unrealistic (not that fiction books always have to be realistic), but I found myself going, okay, I wanted a good thriller, not a dramatic Lifetime movie.
If you’re looking for a good thriller, there are better ones out there. If you just love this genre, and want something that will keep you on the edge of your seat, even if it is cheesy, then go for it. After just finishing a five star read, maybe I was just expecting more?
This was a super quick read for me. There were a lot of twists thrown at you throughout the book and I just wanted to know what happened.
A little over halfway through, the twists and turns got to be a bit much. I felt like everything was working out too well, and there were about two or three twists too many. It started to become extremely unrealistic (not that fiction books always have to be realistic), but I found myself going, okay, I wanted a good thriller, not a dramatic Lifetime movie.
If you’re looking for a good thriller, there are better ones out there. If you just love this genre, and want something that will keep you on the edge of your seat, even if it is cheesy, then go for it. After just finishing a five star read, maybe I was just expecting more?
jennabuythebook's review against another edition
3.0
This one had a very Harlen Coben-esque feel to it, though not executed quite as brilliantly. The revelations at the end of the novel really saved the story as some of the writing felt too poetic and unrealistic. But overall a satisfying read.
tinydancer124's review against another edition
2.0
Other than being incredibly predictable, there was not a single memorable person in this book. Heather and Laurel were basically the same person, I still don't know who Nate was and I'm pretty sure it was because my mind kept wandering, and Nick was annoying. I wanted to yell at him, "Just get over her already!" Holy Moses.
With that said, I gave it 2 stars because it was a quick, easy read.
With that said, I gave it 2 stars because it was a quick, easy read.
shelfaddiction's review against another edition
4.0
Somebody I Used to Know is a well written, well timed, steady paced mystery. Even though the protagonist isn't a cop, I'd probably throw this into the crime fiction category as well. While this is an adult read with serious content, there isn't any gore, or anything to vulgar, violent, or even scary. While the story is interesting and enjoyable, I found that it didn't really evoke any strong emotion from me. No highs or lows, everything was on an even keel. No jaw dropping shocking moments, no total surprises. That and that alone kept me from giving 5 bookmarks. What can I say? I love my jaw dropping moments.
The protagonist Nick sees a young woman in a store one night that reminds him of his college ex-girlfriend, basically this girl was a dead ringer. That girl later turns up dead and his whole world changes from that point. This novel is told from Nick's point of view and we get to experience his anxiety and borderline obsession with finding out what happened to Marissa. While I find Nick's character believable, I also think he's really sad. To hold onto a girl that dumped you 20 years ago is indeed sad. It's clear he loved her and still loves her, almost to the point that it doesn't make logical sense. The fact that Marissa died young surely was a part of the reason that he held on to the past so tightly. I liked Nick, his character was definitely likeable, relatable and I found myself hoping that he'd get this figured out just so that the man could move on once and for all.
Read the rest of the review on my blog: http://www.shelfaddiction.com/blog/book-review-somebody-i-used-to-know-by-david-bell-giveaway#.VZwQSPlVikr
The protagonist Nick sees a young woman in a store one night that reminds him of his college ex-girlfriend, basically this girl was a dead ringer. That girl later turns up dead and his whole world changes from that point. This novel is told from Nick's point of view and we get to experience his anxiety and borderline obsession with finding out what happened to Marissa. While I find Nick's character believable, I also think he's really sad. To hold onto a girl that dumped you 20 years ago is indeed sad. It's clear he loved her and still loves her, almost to the point that it doesn't make logical sense. The fact that Marissa died young surely was a part of the reason that he held on to the past so tightly. I liked Nick, his character was definitely likeable, relatable and I found myself hoping that he'd get this figured out just so that the man could move on once and for all.
Read the rest of the review on my blog: http://www.shelfaddiction.com/blog/book-review-somebody-i-used-to-know-by-david-bell-giveaway#.VZwQSPlVikr
atirandomness's review
3.0
3.75 stars
Great book. Kept me hooked. Dumb ending. Left be disappointed.
Great book. Kept me hooked. Dumb ending. Left be disappointed.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW
Written by David J. Bell
2015, 432 Pages
Genre: suspense, thriller, mystery, fiction
RATING: ★★1/2
On a trip to the grocery store Nick spots a young girl who looks like and has the same mannerisms as his college girlfriend. But his girlfriend died in a house fire back in college almost 20 years ago so who is this stranger? Nick obsessively in love with Marissa has to know if she is related to her but when he goes up to her she runs off. While thinking about Marissa and her look-alike the police call him to the station - not for trying to see his stepson and bothering his ex-wife as he expects. The young girl was found murdered with Nick's phone number in her pocket. Nick cannot let go of Marissa and what this girl and her death means so he inserts himself in solving the mystery.
I loved the synopsis of this novel and was excited to read this standalone suspense thriller. Unfortunately, I had to give this novel rating as I found Nick very annoying. He has an obsessive personality and really can't let go of anything. He is still pining for ex-girlfriend from college. Yes, she died in a fire but has broken up with him prior to all this. You kind of get to a point like the other characters in the novel where you want to roll your eyes when he mentions Marissa. There are points in the plot where it seems forced so that it can explain the ending. I do think there is potential and will try him again just not so soon.
My Novelesque Blog
Written by David J. Bell
2015, 432 Pages
Genre: suspense, thriller, mystery, fiction
RATING: ★★1/2
On a trip to the grocery store Nick spots a young girl who looks like and has the same mannerisms as his college girlfriend. But his girlfriend died in a house fire back in college almost 20 years ago so who is this stranger? Nick obsessively in love with Marissa has to know if she is related to her but when he goes up to her she runs off. While thinking about Marissa and her look-alike the police call him to the station - not for trying to see his stepson and bothering his ex-wife as he expects. The young girl was found murdered with Nick's phone number in her pocket. Nick cannot let go of Marissa and what this girl and her death means so he inserts himself in solving the mystery.
I loved the synopsis of this novel and was excited to read this standalone suspense thriller. Unfortunately, I had to give this novel rating as I found Nick very annoying. He has an obsessive personality and really can't let go of anything. He is still pining for ex-girlfriend from college. Yes, she died in a fire but has broken up with him prior to all this. You kind of get to a point like the other characters in the novel where you want to roll your eyes when he mentions Marissa. There are points in the plot where it seems forced so that it can explain the ending. I do think there is potential and will try him again just not so soon.
My Novelesque Blog