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katelynjaynexx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jennhamilton1's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Such a promising premise but wow the writing is so bad. I was frustrated by the incomplete plot development. Does Gil have the hots for Chloe or doesn’t he? It’s alluded to but would be way more interesting if the author had explored that further. Gil is already unlikeable so why not add to it. Would have also helped to add a little more context about why Matthew may have offed his parents. I was so mad when the conversation about his activities in Albania was cut off. Like is Matthew truly a piece of shit or is Gil just a man child who fell asleep beside the pool with a hangover and failed to watch his own children?
fictionaddictions_amanda's review against another edition
2.0
Thanks to Penguin Random House for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the idea for this book and I liked the writer's writing, but this book was a disappointment for me.
I did not like the characters.
The POV character, Gil, is a middle-aged man with a wife and 2 daughters. The whole family is naive and not in touch with reality. It feels like the author was trying to make the reader like this family, or relate to this family, by bringing up news propaganda they believed in, but it made them just seem stupid.
The nephew of the PO character, Matthew, is supposed to seem like a pyscho, and I know some psychos can be very intelligent, but Matthew's intelligence makes the other characters look so stupid that he was actually the most likable character.
I am guessing that the author is trying to portray Matthew as a rich, privileged, know-it-all jerk, and Gil as a nice, regular family man that watches the news. However, this did not work out. Matthew is the only character that has any intelligence, and Gil just seemed bitter and jealous.
It is possible that the author was trying to have all morally-grey characters so you wouldn't know who to believe, but if that is the case, it didn't work either because it made the characters boring.
I liked the idea for this book and I liked the writer's writing, but this book was a disappointment for me.
I did not like the characters.
The POV character, Gil, is a middle-aged man with a wife and 2 daughters. The whole family is naive and not in touch with reality. It feels like the author was trying to make the reader like this family, or relate to this family, by bringing up news propaganda they believed in, but it made them just seem stupid.
The nephew of the PO character, Matthew, is supposed to seem like a pyscho, and I know some psychos can be very intelligent, but Matthew's intelligence makes the other characters look so stupid that he was actually the most likable character.
I am guessing that the author is trying to portray Matthew as a rich, privileged, know-it-all jerk, and Gil as a nice, regular family man that watches the news. However, this did not work out. Matthew is the only character that has any intelligence, and Gil just seemed bitter and jealous.
It is possible that the author was trying to have all morally-grey characters so you wouldn't know who to believe, but if that is the case, it didn't work either because it made the characters boring.
marieintheraw's review against another edition
5.0
You ever read something and go "damn" because that was me after this psychological thriller. Like how are you a debut?
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
nikki_in_niagara's review against another edition
4.0
A professor, Gil, 's sister and her husband have been killed in a car accident and he has been left the guardianship of her 17-year-old son. But Matthew is a monster and almost killed Gil's youngest daughter when he was nine and the professor hasn't spoken to his sister since. He now seems much changed. He's charming and smart but when Matthew joins Gil's creative writing course his stories are frightening and Gil decides to discover Matthew's secrets on his own.
This was a terrific read. The end was predictable but it was an intense ride getting there. Matthew is a sinister kid, and I love "creepy kid" stories. This was a popcorn thriller for me. I had to put my life on hold when I got to the last quarter to see how it all played out. Recommended.
This was a terrific read. The end was predictable but it was an intense ride getting there. Matthew is a sinister kid, and I love "creepy kid" stories. This was a popcorn thriller for me. I had to put my life on hold when I got to the last quarter to see how it all played out. Recommended.
bear_reads_books's review against another edition
5.0
Gil really doesn't like his nephew. And yet, he's agreed to take Matthew in after his parents are killed in an accident. From the moment he picks him up at the airport, he's suspicious of the boy and dreads bringing him into his home. He's never forgiven or forgotten an incident involving Matthew that resulted in harm towards his youngest daughter.
Gil is the narrator and he is constantly judging Matthew's words and actions. Though the boy seems to have mellowed and is nice to his family, he refuses to trust Matthew has changed. He believes every smile is actually a sneer, everything he says and does has an ulterior motive.
Is Matthew truly dangerous or is Gil just paranoid? The tension never lets up as Gil attempts to constantly keep track of Matthew's whereabouts, certain he's up to something. Matthew also seems to taunt him by taking Gil's writing class and creating fiction that might be based on things he's done and could do.
Gil becomes desperate to prove Matthew is dangerous but every bit of possible evidence is circumstantial at best. Is Matthew a monster or is Gil blinded by the past? Gil doesn't come across as completely reliable and Matthew is never completely trustworthy. So you're never sure what to expect or just how far Gil will go to take his nephew down.
I read over 70% of A Flaw in the Design in one sitting then picked it back up the very next night and finished it. So I was definitely into it. Though you're along for the ride on Gil's one track mind, the story never lags or becomes boring. I was hooked from beginning to surprising end. I for one am hoping we get a sequel.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the e-ARC.
Review also at A Good Mystery
Gil is the narrator and he is constantly judging Matthew's words and actions. Though the boy seems to have mellowed and is nice to his family, he refuses to trust Matthew has changed. He believes every smile is actually a sneer, everything he says and does has an ulterior motive.
Is Matthew truly dangerous or is Gil just paranoid? The tension never lets up as Gil attempts to constantly keep track of Matthew's whereabouts, certain he's up to something. Matthew also seems to taunt him by taking Gil's writing class and creating fiction that might be based on things he's done and could do.
Gil becomes desperate to prove Matthew is dangerous but every bit of possible evidence is circumstantial at best. Is Matthew a monster or is Gil blinded by the past? Gil doesn't come across as completely reliable and Matthew is never completely trustworthy. So you're never sure what to expect or just how far Gil will go to take his nephew down.
I read over 70% of A Flaw in the Design in one sitting then picked it back up the very next night and finished it. So I was definitely into it. Though you're along for the ride on Gil's one track mind, the story never lags or becomes boring. I was hooked from beginning to surprising end. I for one am hoping we get a sequel.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the e-ARC.
Review also at A Good Mystery
stephregnier8's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
onceuponthesewords's review against another edition
2.0
Oh man, this book took me almost 2 months to get through. I was so excited when I saw this in the store because both the cover and synopsis were intriguing, but since day 1 of picking up this book, I could never get into it. I even switched to the audiobook to see if it’d be any better, but I ended up having to renew that audiobook 3 different times because I had zero motivation to continue reading this book. The storyline was promising, but the execution wasn’t quite there. The characters were highly unlikable and immature, and although I enjoyed the ending more than I thought I would, I’m not sure if it was worth reading the other 95% of this story. :(