Reviews

I Did It For You by Amy Engel

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abookwormwithwine's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I Did It for You by Amy Engel took a minute to get going, but when it did, I was here for it! I blew through this in one day because I couldn't wait to find out what Greer would discover. It managed to be very atmospheric, and it is definitely character-driven, so it is a bit on the slower side, but I thought the pacing was just right and I was fully invested in Greer and the story. I had no idea how this was going to play out, and while I can't say I was SUPER surprised when the climax hit, I wasn't disappointed by it either.

This is my first time reading Engel, but it has me itching to go back to The Roanoke Girls and The Familiar Dark which I will no longer be putting off! I Did It for You was perfect for audio as well, and I adored having 3 different narrators. Sean Patrick Hopkins, Amanda Stribling & Jennifer Pickens all did a fantastic job with their parts, and I would highly recommend the audiobook for maximum enjoyment. This made me feel very unsettled while I was listening to it, and you will want to make sure to stick it out for the twists and turns.

Thank you to the publishers for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

kitaweta's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

corinne82's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced

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

2.0

🎧 This started off strong but just dragged on for way too long with not much going on. I had it pretty much figured out very early on which was a pity. It lacked the usual twists and turns and the overall storyline just fell flat as far as storylines go. Not sure it’ll be one I’ll remember. Unfortunately this one just didn’t work for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review #IDidItForYou

flobrown's review against another edition

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mysterious 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? No

3.5

books_in_badgerland's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

This cover 😍 and the synopsis convinced me to pre-order this book. The recent Killing the Tea episode featuring Amy Engel solidified my decision to pick it up next!

I Did It For You immerses readers into the small town of Ludlow, Kansas as Greer Dunning returns home seeking more information about her sister’s murder and a recent copycat.

This is a complex story, and it’s definitely my style. Engel’s writing and message clicked with me. While this is a popular trope, the characters and their individual stories felt unique. Their relationships created a challenging and reflective experience that will stick with me.

As a former defense attorney, Amy Engel has seen “villains” from a different perspective than most of us. She wove this experience into I Did It for You.

“To the men and women I defended. Some of your cases were heartbreaking, some were infuriating, some were horrifying, but each one taught me that every person is more than the worst thing they’ve done. I’m forever grateful for that lesson.” - from Engel’s acknowledgments

⭐️RATING⭐️: I really liked it! It’s a slower yet consistently paced book that kept me engaged. I’m looking forward to reading The Roanoke Girls and The Familiar Dark even more now! (4⭐️)