Reviews

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

head_dink's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

lady_luckless's review against another edition

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4.0

It’s a good story all said and done but the reading process was difficult and confusing as it makes little sense until the end.

bibliog0blin's review against another edition

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I’ll come back to this one later 

alexandraavdkp's review against another edition

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4.0

I speak without knowing, but after finishing I thought it was a really good representation of the DID.

laura__m's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

yandichih's review against another edition

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2.5

I really wanted to like this book but it's a 2.5 stars.
Where do I even start? 😅

I'm not entirely sure what to make of “The Last House on Needless Street”. I'll be honest; this book left me feeling a bit like a cat stuck in a paper bag — confused, and unsure if I liked it or not.

Let's start with the pacing... I initially found it challenging to become immersed in the story. It was sloooooow and I guess I just prefer books that kick things up a notch. However, credit where it's due, the subject matter is undeniably intriguing and unsettling, and Ward tackles it with a level of finesse, but it didn't save the overall experience for me. I found myself wrestling with the narrative, unable to decide if I should push through or toss it aside. The confusion peaked around the three-quarters mark, and my impatience led me to search for answers. Spoiler alert: that didn't help.

This book definitely has its moments. It's well-executed, but the sluggish pace and my struggle for engagement left me scratching my head. Indeed, I'm still trying to figure out whether the confusion I feel is a testament to the book's brilliance or my own shortcomings as a reader.

Maybe it's just not my cup of tea. 🍵

CW: Child abuse, mental illness/disorder, child death, animal cruelty, and vomit. 

anna0819's review against another edition

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5.0

I didn't know much about this book when I started reading it apart from what was in the short synopsis. Oh. My. God! I can't say too much without risking any spoilers but I will say this. Catriona Ward has created a rich & atmospheric story where the reader can see, hear, smell & taste every moment. Things you thought you were "so clever" to figure out turn out not to be so...For the second half of this book, I felt like I was holding my breath the whole time. I highly recommend this book (I paired the audiobook with the physical book) and can honestly say that this story will stay with me long after I finished reading it.

kaestrong's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

brownsugar39's review against another edition

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

1.0

jerr13's review against another edition

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5.0

WOW! What a wonderfully written story! When you think you have it figured out and have made all of your assumptions you find out you're dead wrong! Such a gripping and original read. I loved it!