Scan barcode
findingthefantasticstory's review against another edition
5.0
Wow this was such a great listen! The audiobook was only 9hrs long but it was so fast paced. I was hooked from the start. I really cared for Lily and wanted her to survive. I like how we got the viewpoint of the kidnapped and it wasn’t a whodunnit as we already knew he was guilty. Seeing inside his mind was really disturbing. I knew something was going to happen in the end but I didn’t expect what actually happened! I loved it!!
bookskatlikes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Baby Doll is a story about family, unconditional love and revenge, as Lily and her family are reunited and try to move on and make up for the time lost.
I did get distracted, especially at the beginning of the book. It definitely picked up half way through and overall it was a solid read.
The "big twist" didn't surprise me, but I liked how it ended.
Lots of trigger warnings though, including mentions of rape, abduction, abuse, infidelity, suicide and murder.
I did get distracted, especially at the beginning of the book. It definitely picked up half way through and overall it was a solid read.
The "big twist" didn't surprise me, but I liked how it ended.
Lots of trigger warnings though, including mentions of rape, abduction, abuse, infidelity, suicide and murder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, and Kidnapping
howaverage's review against another edition
5.0
I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
I was hooked on this book from the very first page. This is the first time I've read a story that began with the main character escaping from their captor. The author does a fantastic job of writing each character in a unique way. I could have guessed which character each chapter focused on without being told, simply because each one had their own voice. The story is the perfect length. At no point did I feel like I was reading any sort of filler that was written for the sake of making a longer book. I'm very glad I won this book and had the opportunity to read and enjoy it.
I was hooked on this book from the very first page. This is the first time I've read a story that began with the main character escaping from their captor. The author does a fantastic job of writing each character in a unique way. I could have guessed which character each chapter focused on without being told, simply because each one had their own voice. The story is the perfect length. At no point did I feel like I was reading any sort of filler that was written for the sake of making a longer book. I'm very glad I won this book and had the opportunity to read and enjoy it.
obliviousapple's review against another edition
4.0
Review can be found at www.cherylgemma.com
I purchased this book for £2 with a newspaper, an offer I saw whilst passing through a shop to grab my lunch. I picked it up on a whim after giving it a really quick scan. I thought I couldn’t really go wrong for £2, if it was that bad, I would just donate it. However, I’m really glad I saw this book when I did! I definitely think it should be getting a little bit more hype than it does, it’s a really original concept (to me anyway).
This book explores the story of a girl called Lily who was kidnapped, raped and abused by a man called Rick. At the start of the book, you’re introduced to what happened, Lily’s family and their heartbreak in her disappearance. You learn that Lily has a twin sister, Abby, who has arguably been affected the most by her disappearance.
In the period of time that Rick has held her captive, Lily has had a little girl whom she calls Sky. It is due to this that her drive to escape has increased. One day, Rick makes a mistake which leads to a chance for Lily to escape. Upon escaping, she discovers that she was less than a 10-15 minute walk from her home this entire time, all these years. It’s a bit of salt to the wound, knowing everyone was looking for her and she was under their nose the whole time.
Running back to her old house, she reconnects with her family. She learns a lot of things have changed in her disappearance. This is where the story mainly starts. We learn about Lily’s reintegration back into society, how all those years of torture and neglect have affected her and her daughter, Sky. Sky has never experienced the normal light of day, normal education, normal anything. She is an incredibly polite little girl, but she doesn’t understand why her daddy is gone and why she can’t see him.
As the story moves on, you follow Lily’s fight to get her kidnapper behind bars. She fights with herself a lot, debating whether she will be believed or not. As I said, it was really interesting to me to see the other side of a story like this. Instead of focusing on the actual kidnapping, the years spent down there, what was done to her, we focus on her recovery, her road to freedom, whilst also getting snippets of what happened down there to make her the way she is.
All in all, this was a really gripping story and one that I couldn’t put down. For a debut novel, this was fantastic. The writing style and storyarc were both developed and interesting. I am definitely excited to see what else Hollie Overton has in story for the future.
I purchased this book for £2 with a newspaper, an offer I saw whilst passing through a shop to grab my lunch. I picked it up on a whim after giving it a really quick scan. I thought I couldn’t really go wrong for £2, if it was that bad, I would just donate it. However, I’m really glad I saw this book when I did! I definitely think it should be getting a little bit more hype than it does, it’s a really original concept (to me anyway).
This book explores the story of a girl called Lily who was kidnapped, raped and abused by a man called Rick. At the start of the book, you’re introduced to what happened, Lily’s family and their heartbreak in her disappearance. You learn that Lily has a twin sister, Abby, who has arguably been affected the most by her disappearance.
In the period of time that Rick has held her captive, Lily has had a little girl whom she calls Sky. It is due to this that her drive to escape has increased. One day, Rick makes a mistake which leads to a chance for Lily to escape. Upon escaping, she discovers that she was less than a 10-15 minute walk from her home this entire time, all these years. It’s a bit of salt to the wound, knowing everyone was looking for her and she was under their nose the whole time.
Running back to her old house, she reconnects with her family. She learns a lot of things have changed in her disappearance. This is where the story mainly starts. We learn about Lily’s reintegration back into society, how all those years of torture and neglect have affected her and her daughter, Sky. Sky has never experienced the normal light of day, normal education, normal anything. She is an incredibly polite little girl, but she doesn’t understand why her daddy is gone and why she can’t see him.
As the story moves on, you follow Lily’s fight to get her kidnapper behind bars. She fights with herself a lot, debating whether she will be believed or not. As I said, it was really interesting to me to see the other side of a story like this. Instead of focusing on the actual kidnapping, the years spent down there, what was done to her, we focus on her recovery, her road to freedom, whilst also getting snippets of what happened down there to make her the way she is.
All in all, this was a really gripping story and one that I couldn’t put down. For a debut novel, this was fantastic. The writing style and storyarc were both developed and interesting. I am definitely excited to see what else Hollie Overton has in story for the future.
whatsclairereading's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
danielleangellakis's review against another edition
2.0
DNF at 47%. No. Just... no. Weak storyline, terrible writing, cliches... No. Didn't enjoy it. Waste of time.
aly36's review against another edition
4.0
This book to me was a little dark but different from what I read normally. This book could be a little too true to life from reading some headlines in today's world. But I enjoyed the book. I think the story scared me out a little and I like that is a good thriller. * I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
blurrybug's review against another edition
3.0
3,5
It was a read that sucks you in, but I had a problem with the constant romance appearing.
In my opinion it was not needed at all I feel like a girl kept captive and abused for 8 years would not be on the track for romance within the first 3 days of her escape... I get the view of wanting to go back to how things were before, but it seemed put in there because "It's a book for teens it needs a romance"
I enjoyed how the villain of the book was written a narcissistic beloved guy who could sweet talk an eskimo into buying snow. It's a fresh air of the "mistreated loner wolf" stereotype we frequently see in these type of books.
I enjoyed it but every time the romantic elements showed I got annoyed. I wanted the focus to be on the development of her as a victim rising and though that does mean moving on in all aspect even a romance but within a few days of escape just meh...
It was a read that sucks you in, but I had a problem with the constant romance appearing.
In my opinion it was not needed at all I feel like a girl kept captive and abused for 8 years would not be on the track for romance within the first 3 days of her escape... I get the view of wanting to go back to how things were before, but it seemed put in there because "It's a book for teens it needs a romance"
I enjoyed how the villain of the book was written a narcissistic beloved guy who could sweet talk an eskimo into buying snow. It's a fresh air of the "mistreated loner wolf" stereotype we frequently see in these type of books.
I enjoyed it but every time the romantic elements showed I got annoyed. I wanted the focus to be on the development of her as a victim rising and though that does mean moving on in all aspect even a romance but within a few days of escape just meh...