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clodaghs_library's review against another edition
5.0
Started and Finished in one day!
J P Pomare does it again
In an exclusive to Audible, I was gripped for the whole time. Honestly I never see his endings coming and I can spend the whole time thinking it’s one thing but it’s never what I can imagine
If you can, you should
10/10
J P Pomare does it again
In an exclusive to Audible, I was gripped for the whole time. Honestly I never see his endings coming and I can spend the whole time thinking it’s one thing but it’s never what I can imagine
If you can, you should
10/10
princessfee's review against another edition
4.0
After reading a couple reviews first, I wasn't too sure where this would go but I liked it. Was short and so many home places around Lou and family.
confessions_of_a_bookaholic's review
2.0
It's the middle of the pandemic in Melbourne, and as the third wave of virus hits the government calls a lockdown giving inhabitants until 8pm to return home and stay there. When Lou's son Samuel doesn't make it home she is sure something must have happened to him. He doesn't call her and isn't answering his phone, but Lou can't go to the police because she is hiding something herself, and Samuel must never find out her secrets.
This was not my favourite listen in recent times. The characters aren't remotely likeable, and really all of the events of the book are ultimately of their own making so it's hard to feel any sympathy for them.
The early parts of the book focus on Lou freaking out because her adult son didn't come home and didn't call her. She seems completely unreasonable, and the way she interacts with her ex husband had my eyes rolling. It becomes clear towards the end of the book why she acts the way she does, but to be honest even that twist seemed so far fetched that I couldn't buy in to it.
Thankfully it's a short read and moves at a decent pace so it didn't drag.
This was not my favourite listen in recent times. The characters aren't remotely likeable, and really all of the events of the book are ultimately of their own making so it's hard to feel any sympathy for them.
The early parts of the book focus on Lou freaking out because her adult son didn't come home and didn't call her. She seems completely unreasonable, and the way she interacts with her ex husband had my eyes rolling. It becomes clear towards the end of the book why she acts the way she does, but to be honest even that twist seemed so far fetched that I couldn't buy in to it.
Thankfully it's a short read and moves at a decent pace so it didn't drag.
indoorg1rl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As the third wave of the virus hit, Melbourne inhabitants were given until 8 pm to get to their homes. When Lou's son, Samuel, didn’t arrive home by nightfall, she began to panic.
He didn’t answer his phone and his social media channels were inactive. Lou couldn’t go to the police, because she had secrets of her own. She had to find her son herself and bring him home.
I was super excited to read this one, having read all J. P. Pomare’s backlist. I was a bit worried when I saw this was actually a short story, as this wasn’t my usual cup of tea. The smaller number of pages generally couldn’t give me enough time to fall in love with the characters. I shouldn’t have, because I ended up loving this!
I flew through the pages. Lou’s worries were relatable and yes the lockdown background gave me some flashbacks to my own experience around that time! I loved the plot, Lou’s relationship with Samuel, and despite of only making scarce appearances, I loved Samuel’s chapters. I thought they were clever! Once I knew what was happening, I went back to the beginning and read Samuel’s chapters only, and I had some aha moments!
(Thanks to Hachette Australia for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
bookb1itch's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Grief, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child death and Kidnapping
Minor: Car accident
This was very handy on a recent sleepless night - although it kind of reinforced the sleeplessness! i keep reading the word "propulsive" in reviews and I think that might apply here. Short but challenging, with narrators who are not necessarily believable and a setting in our very recent past - a long Melbourne COVID lockdown. Highly recommended, but not for lovers of "fluffy bunny" stories. Hard to say any more without giving away some carefully plotted twists.theresey01's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lee_readsbooks's review
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
4.0
booksweread's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0