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carriesouthard's review against another edition
4.0
kind of a slow start but at about 3/4 of the way through it got really good and could not put it down.
sam_hartwig's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first and still favourite book I've read by Jodi Picoult. I had never read her style before and thought it was refreshingly different. I really enjoyed reading a bit of the past in between each chapter of the normal story, it made me want to read through the story quicker, just to find out what really happened to the young couple. This is a heartbreaking book but worth a read!
lonelyasfranz's review against another edition
1.0
This is a definite candidate for the worst “book” ever. I despised every single character. Not a single one was likable. Literally every single one was completely devoid of morals and common sense. One disGUSting character expressed an enthusiastic willingness to lie under oath in a courtroom, one shot the family dog, one spent an entire day at their job at the library sadistically pointing people in the wrong direction when they asked for her help finding books (again, her JOB, what she was being PAID TO DO), even going so far as to send someone who needed to use the bathroom to some rank storage closet. All because one person dared to commit the egregious crime of - I can scarcely bring myself to say it - having a daughter (!!!).
The poor little girl probably failed her assignment, and I would believe it if someone told me the man ended up peeing himself.
You’re a librarian, for God’s sake! People put their trust in you. You’re supposed to help them, supposed to bring enlightenment and joy to their lives, not manipulate, confuse, and harm them! I can’t help but wonder what Jodi would think if, instead of pointing someone to the requested collection of her books, a librarian sent them over to the sociology section, where they would find some nice books on empathy and the need of order in civilization. I’ll eat my head if her primitive brain isn’t too maliciously indifferent to grasp those concepts, though.
And again, these are the protagonists, the people we’re supposed to be rooting for. Instead, I loathed them so much I spent the quarter or so of the book I actually read wishing they would all end up homeless in Boston.
I swore to myself that I would never read another Jodi Picoult “book” after Plain Truth, and I actually managed to keep that promise, DNFing at page 148. Plain Truth was annoying, but it wasn’t really bad. The Pact, however, is a disgrace to literature. Not a single character was a good person, or a decent person, or even a neutral person. This book gave me a thorough disdain for Picoult, and I shudder at the thought that I devoted any time or energy to reading her other “books”. Anyone willing to make their protagonist as evil as Chris must be twice as awful. He was basically a copy of Matt from Nineteen Minutes. The difference is that Matt was killed off, while old Kill ‘Em All Chris was celebrated and called a hero.
That’s revolting, and I would give anything to have the time I spent reading this garbage back. This thing is literally just kindling, not a “love story” at all- he brought about the death of his girlfriend. How is that love???
If I had a physical copy of it, I would absolutely burn it. I hate that I’m being forced to give it even one star. Jodi Picoult can take a long walk off a short pier. I’m done with her and her sick head.
Also, as a side note, why is she so obsessed with hara-kiri? She mentions it multiple times, for no apparent reason.
I just remembered: one of the protagonists contradicted their lawyer and argued they knew more than him because they “watch legal shows on T.V.” ????????????
The poor little girl probably failed her assignment, and I would believe it if someone told me the man ended up peeing himself.
You’re a librarian, for God’s sake! People put their trust in you. You’re supposed to help them, supposed to bring enlightenment and joy to their lives, not manipulate, confuse, and harm them! I can’t help but wonder what Jodi would think if, instead of pointing someone to the requested collection of her books, a librarian sent them over to the sociology section, where they would find some nice books on empathy and the need of order in civilization. I’ll eat my head if her primitive brain isn’t too maliciously indifferent to grasp those concepts, though.
And again, these are the protagonists, the people we’re supposed to be rooting for. Instead, I loathed them so much I spent the quarter or so of the book I actually read wishing they would all end up homeless in Boston.
I swore to myself that I would never read another Jodi Picoult “book” after Plain Truth, and I actually managed to keep that promise, DNFing at page 148. Plain Truth was annoying, but it wasn’t really bad. The Pact, however, is a disgrace to literature. Not a single character was a good person, or a decent person, or even a neutral person. This book gave me a thorough disdain for Picoult, and I shudder at the thought that I devoted any time or energy to reading her other “books”. Anyone willing to make their protagonist as evil as Chris must be twice as awful. He was basically a copy of Matt from Nineteen Minutes. The difference is that Matt was killed off, while old Kill ‘Em All Chris was celebrated and called a hero.
That’s revolting, and I would give anything to have the time I spent reading this garbage back. This thing is literally just kindling, not a “love story” at all- he brought about the death of his girlfriend. How is that love???
If I had a physical copy of it, I would absolutely burn it. I hate that I’m being forced to give it even one star. Jodi Picoult can take a long walk off a short pier. I’m done with her and her sick head.
Also, as a side note, why is she so obsessed with hara-kiri? She mentions it multiple times, for no apparent reason.
I just remembered: one of the protagonists contradicted their lawyer and argued they knew more than him because they “watch legal shows on T.V.” ????????????
abbywebb's review against another edition
3.0
I recently realized that I never wrote a review for this one...
This was another quick read by Picoult with the typical courtroom drama. Although I didn't find the storyline to be particularly fascinating, it was an interesting read at the moment. But obviously it wasn't that memorable as I am having difficulty reviewing this book only 6 weeks later...
As usual, it wasn't the best book I've read by Picoult but it was certainly not the last. Can't wait to read House Rules!
This was another quick read by Picoult with the typical courtroom drama. Although I didn't find the storyline to be particularly fascinating, it was an interesting read at the moment. But obviously it wasn't that memorable as I am having difficulty reviewing this book only 6 weeks later...
As usual, it wasn't the best book I've read by Picoult but it was certainly not the last. Can't wait to read House Rules!
cpociask's review against another edition
3.0
I relate to Chris in that I, too, faint whenever I get too stressed
kecskestimi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
niedwns_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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? No
4.0
bettyjowerthmann's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Jodi Picoult is amazing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, and Suicide
suzeclark's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mpimental's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0