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lilacs_book_bower's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Death, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Gun violence, Car accident, Child death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Bullying, and Child abuse
With thrillers like this, there are always a lot of CWs, so please check them before reading, if necessary. This book was a solid mystery, but St James's novels (of the two I have read, at least), are more about the characters and how they solve the mystery and their own traumas, rather than shocking last minute reveals. The solutions are not really that surprising. I couldn't help but comparing this to the author's book, The Broken Girls, and this one felt like a lesser (and less interesting) version. There are a LOT of surface level similarities with the character types, a spooky building, even careers of the the heroine and hero. The two main characters here were semi-decently fleshed out, but the other minor characters really weren't. I read it in literally one sitting, but more just to be done with it, rather than that I couldn't put it down. All the same, I would still give St. James another try. This was solid (and The Broken Girls was very well-done and memorable).honeywine's review
- 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? Yes
3.5
There are ghosts, which I love, and the main character is likable and relatable. I’d recommend this book to people who like darker stories and paranormal sprinklings.
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Blood, Death of parent, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Stalking, Rape, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Confinement, Child death, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Pedophilia, Torture, and Car accident
tlynn_07_14_21's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beth Greer gave me some serious Evelyn Hugo vibes, but darker.
Lily Knowles 100% Lisa vibes from Girl, Interrupted.
Even the MC, Shea is lugging around some darkness.
If you're into Thrillers, this should be on your tbr.
Graphic: Car accident, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Murder, Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence
odrib's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Alcoholism, and Blood
Moderate: Child death, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Child abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Grief, Bullying, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Sexism, and Car accident
amandas_bookshelf's review
- 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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Classism, Death, Murder, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Moderate: Cursing, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, and Rape
Minor: Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Infertility
kris386's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Drug use, Murder, Mental illness, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying and Suicide
basicbookstagrammer'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
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, Death of parent, Murder, Child abuse, Gore, Bullying, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
theidlereader's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Car accident, Drug use, and Gun violence
Minor: Rape, Pedophilia, Bullying, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse
gholdreith's review
- 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? It's complicated
2.0
This book is 100% plot driven. The characters all have trauma, and some even show growth but they are very two dimensional. The plot is not especially complex or compelling, it’s just withholding of information and drives the reader to continue out of a dearth of information rather than a compelling story. I kept waiting for it to get interesting and for the next reveal to be complex but I was never satisfied.
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Gore, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Murder