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kelsey24's review against another edition
5.0
Really intriguing mystery! While I had a hunch about a few plot lines, overall the author still kept me guessing. The characters were interesting and well-developed. Definitely recommend!
kmarieemerson's review against another edition
4.0
I would give it 3.5 stars but I don't have that option. I think it was a fun mystery to follow along with and try to solve. I enjoyed the characters and I especially enjoyed the dog who was A peripheral character throughout the story. But I love the fact that he was a rescue dog and kind of had his own story to go with it.
throwmeabook's review against another edition
2.0
Check out this and other reviews at my blog https://throwmeabook.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/somebody-i-used-to-know-by-david-bell/
While at the store picking up groceries, Nick Hansen runs into a young girl who is the spitting image of his college girlfriend Marissa Minor. Although twenty years have passed since he saw her last, it is as if she were there in front of his eyes once again. The only catch is that Marissa was killed in a campus fire all those years ago. So who is this girl? When she is found the next day, murdered in a hotel room with Nick’s name and address in her pocket, and with the police watching his every move, Nick is determined to uncover the truth. With the help of his friend and investigator, Laurel Davidson, Nick soon discovers that what he knew as reality all these years just crumbles leaving a big gaping hole filled with lies and deceit.
I always find it difficult to rate and review books where I really liked the storyline and plot twists but was so distracted from the enjoyment of the book by the author’s writing style and character portrayal. The writing was painfully straightforward, bare bones, lacking much needed descriptors and embellishments. What would have made this a kickass little mystery/thriller would have been to infuse some intensity and emotion, to create some much needed thrills and chills.
As far as Nick goes, I understand he’s been traumatised and hurt. Losing your one true love at such a young age and under such tragic circumstances is not easy, but then creates a strong yet vulnerable character, a likable character not a blubbering mass of desperation that you just want to shake some sense into.
Somebody I Used to Know was not a bad book, and reading the other reviews on Goodreads I totally understand why so many people rated it highly. It is not my intent to discourage anyone from reading Somebody I Used to Know, because how much you like or dislike a book is totally based on personal taste. It just didn’t push the buttons that needed pushing and simply put just wasn’t for me at this moment in time.
Thank you to NetGalley and The Penguin Group for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
While at the store picking up groceries, Nick Hansen runs into a young girl who is the spitting image of his college girlfriend Marissa Minor. Although twenty years have passed since he saw her last, it is as if she were there in front of his eyes once again. The only catch is that Marissa was killed in a campus fire all those years ago. So who is this girl? When she is found the next day, murdered in a hotel room with Nick’s name and address in her pocket, and with the police watching his every move, Nick is determined to uncover the truth. With the help of his friend and investigator, Laurel Davidson, Nick soon discovers that what he knew as reality all these years just crumbles leaving a big gaping hole filled with lies and deceit.
I always find it difficult to rate and review books where I really liked the storyline and plot twists but was so distracted from the enjoyment of the book by the author’s writing style and character portrayal. The writing was painfully straightforward, bare bones, lacking much needed descriptors and embellishments. What would have made this a kickass little mystery/thriller would have been to infuse some intensity and emotion, to create some much needed thrills and chills.
As far as Nick goes, I understand he’s been traumatised and hurt. Losing your one true love at such a young age and under such tragic circumstances is not easy, but then creates a strong yet vulnerable character, a likable character not a blubbering mass of desperation that you just want to shake some sense into.
Somebody I Used to Know was not a bad book, and reading the other reviews on Goodreads I totally understand why so many people rated it highly. It is not my intent to discourage anyone from reading Somebody I Used to Know, because how much you like or dislike a book is totally based on personal taste. It just didn’t push the buttons that needed pushing and simply put just wasn’t for me at this moment in time.
Thank you to NetGalley and The Penguin Group for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
courtthebookgirl's review against another edition
4.0
I've been in a bit of a book slump lately, so this was the perfect antidote. This was a quick read, well-written with decent character development, and an enjoyable mystery. I had a few of the major surprises figured out early, and was also a little annoyed that some of the surprises were actually essentially given away by the author early on, but that didn't deter my enjoyment. I read this cover-to-cover in two sittings, and will absolutely check out other books by Bell.
boleary30's review against another edition
2.0
I loved his first two books, but this one was a disappointment. So many wasted pages of investigating things that do not matter. This book could have been half as long and then it would have been much better. So many characters that do not develop and you really don't care about them one way or another. If something good happens to them you do not get happy for them and if something bad happens to a character you are not mad or think it serves them right. The mystery itself has a ton of holes in it and no twists that after you read them you say to yourself "Wow, that was cool, I did not see that coming!" The whole story was ho-hum from beginning to end.
rseykora's review against another edition
2.0
I anticipated a suspenseful story, but it was more of a complicated mystery.
chrissymcbooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
Nick Hansen has been head over heels in love with a dead girl for as long as he can remember.
So many years ago, Marissa was killed in a tragic house fire. Although the details surrounding the incident were always sketchy, one thing was completely and totally clear to Nick -- Marissa was the love of his life and she was taken from him way too early.
So, imagine his utter shock when he encountered a young girl who looked eerily similar to Marissa. And, imagine his horror upon learning that this mystery girl had been found dead... with David's phone number in his pocket.
Thus begins the adventure and mystery of Somebody I Used to Know, a thriller that details Nick's journey to discovering the truth about that terrifying fire -- and about the beautiful stranger who inspired such intense memories of Marissa.
Overall, I really appreciated the intrigue of the storyline -- and, I can't deny that the story really captured my attention and kept me interested in getting to the bottom of the mystery at hand.
On the flip side -- and I can't go too much into detail here, for fear of spoiling the story -- all of the characters just felt utterly despicable and selfish to me as a reader... which really made it harder for me to relate to the characters or to feel entirely invested in their story.
If you're seeking an interesting mystery full of twists and turns, I would probably say that Something I Used to Know might just fit your bill. Just be prepared to encounter a cast of characters that you're likely to loathe -- and an ending that really did nothing impressive.
I did receive a review copy of Something I Used to Know, but all thoughts are my own and are uninfluenced by the manner in which the work was received.
So many years ago, Marissa was killed in a tragic house fire. Although the details surrounding the incident were always sketchy, one thing was completely and totally clear to Nick -- Marissa was the love of his life and she was taken from him way too early.
So, imagine his utter shock when he encountered a young girl who looked eerily similar to Marissa. And, imagine his horror upon learning that this mystery girl had been found dead... with David's phone number in his pocket.
Thus begins the adventure and mystery of Somebody I Used to Know, a thriller that details Nick's journey to discovering the truth about that terrifying fire -- and about the beautiful stranger who inspired such intense memories of Marissa.
Overall, I really appreciated the intrigue of the storyline -- and, I can't deny that the story really captured my attention and kept me interested in getting to the bottom of the mystery at hand.
On the flip side -- and I can't go too much into detail here, for fear of spoiling the story -- all of the characters just felt utterly despicable and selfish to me as a reader... which really made it harder for me to relate to the characters or to feel entirely invested in their story.
If you're seeking an interesting mystery full of twists and turns, I would probably say that Something I Used to Know might just fit your bill. Just be prepared to encounter a cast of characters that you're likely to loathe -- and an ending that really did nothing impressive.
I did receive a review copy of Something I Used to Know, but all thoughts are my own and are uninfluenced by the manner in which the work was received.
ehoefer's review against another edition
3.0
I received a proof copy of "Somebody I Used to Know." I enjoyed the plot and pacing of this thriller. The last 100 pages started to feel a little too neat and forced - less clever than the rest of the novel. However, it was still a fun summer read and something I would recommend to friends by the pool.
thestarman's review against another edition
2.0
2 stars. Good premise and some moderate twists--but gets increasingly far-fetched as it goes.