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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5⭐️ This hooked my attention right away. Lucinda Berry's stories always captivate me. I was first introduced to her via Saving Noah, which was probably my least favorite story, thus far. I've also read The Perfect Child and its companion novella A Welcome Reunion, and Phantom Limb. I'm also now listening to The Secrets of Us. I think I needed this badly because I'd been reading/listening to some VERY long books this month. The pace of this book is much faster, and the plot/ideas explored are very thought provoking. I know some bare bones psychology behind cults, but none of it has been from the perspective of a trained psychiatrist/psychologist.
The narrative present of being found in Montana with Shiloh is also interesting and I enjoyed the dual timelines being told in tandem. We see how she ends up choosing to escape, but also see how indoctrinated she's become. It's easy for her to be derailed and pulled back in, simply by a picture. It's actually scary. She's indignant that Margot played a part in manipulating her into joining, but then she misleads Abbie, and allows the cult leaders to attempt to abduct her. Honestly, I thought the story could really end with Abbie being forced into the cult. I am glad Dean rescues them, though, and I'm glad Abbie and Scott finally see that Kate is too far gone. It's tragic (and honestly felt a tad too rushed? but also eh, that didn't bother me too much.
That said, Scott and Abbie drove me CRAZY. I also felt so bad for Meredith. Scott is clearly still in love with Kate, or at least who she was when she left him and Abbie for Love International. When he realizes she's willing to kidnap Kate, of course, that shatters his idealized perspective of her. We see him self- flagellate when he realizes that Kate tries to steal Abbie because all the signs are there and he twists Meredith's words and intentions. I get that reckoning with the reality is hard, but omg he drove me crazy. Like, not in a super judgy way but I was still frustrated that it felt so clear to me what was going on and Abbie and Scott were willfully ignoring it? Or at least they were maybe in denial? Also, Abbie thinking her mom was sane and stable enough to care for her and Shiloh was...sooooo problematic. Abbie is only 16, but she also seems remarkably well adjusted, all things considered. Even still some of her naiveté frustrates the shit out of me. When she shows her mom Ray's photo...I knew that was going to be the catalyst for shit hitting the fan and Kate's secret nighttime calls. Meredith's spying on Kate is...questionable, but I do understand why she felt desperate for proof. Kate's behavior was suspicious and her lying was a huge red flag. It's also murky because Meredith and Scott's house was also Kate and Scott's when they were married. I'm honestly kind of surprised that never came up. All we hear are Meredith's insecurities that Scott is more in love with Kate than her. That aspect of the dynamics reminded me of a Taylor Jenkins Reid book called One True Loves of being stuck between two people and how time and life events and trauma change everything. Though, now that I think of it, I don't think Kate was in love with Scott any longer, which is why she didn't bring up her marriage to Scott at all. She's too obsessed with Abner -- I'm hesitant to call it "in love" because she's so brainwashed and abused. But I do feel confident in saying she is not in love with Scott.
Even when she learns that Ray sabotaged any ability for Scott and Abbie to join the cult, she still values his judgment and approval over the safety of her daughter. She's actually kind of crazy. She needs a lot of mental health help. The cult has ruined her life; but also, Meredith points out, Kate made her choices, and even when she learns that Scott and Abbie weren't joining, for whatever reasons, she could've left. I know abusers make it as hard as possible for their victims to leave by isolating them and lying to them. But I do think pointing out that Kate kind of just gave up once she heard Scott thought she and Ray were having an affair felt off. Kate was the perfect victim and Ray sensed it. It's just so messed up! She witnesses Ray allow 3 people to die! And in one instance, Ray shoots a guy and kills him! And yet...she doesn't leave until he wants to take Shiloh (and likely kill her) under the guise that she'll survive if she's meant to because God allows her to. She admits to how upset she is and knows everything the cult does is wrong and terrible, and yet, she still wants to go back. It just goes to show how strong of a hold Ray has over her :(
Omg this was just a prime example of how religion can be abused and abusive. But, I also don't think I'm at a time in my life when I'm villainizing all religion. I have seen the positives of it too. It makes me really sad. When Ray justified Willow, Sam, and Becca's deaths as part of their paths and their souls are free and in heaven and whatever bullshit, I was ready to punch him through my phone. Becca could've been saved if she had had proper medical care!!! Actually, same with Sam. It's INSANE that Becca was dying and suffering and Ray's main priority was getting Sam to submit. Talk about fucked up priorities. But also, makes sense because he's an abuser.
I think this was a phenomenal exploration of how destructive cults are. The reason why I didn't give it a 5⭐️ here is I was so frustrated while listening to this because of all the characters. They were very well written, though. Seeing Ray go from charming and charismatic as he lures Kate in to seeing his facade melt away into the abusive God-like figure he sees of himself was so well done. And seeing how the family is processing Kate's return from all the characters' individual perspectives (though actually not Scott's), and also seeing how Kate is lured into the cult from start to being too far entrenched...a lot happened in under 300 pages and I felt like it was all well-paced.
Spoiler
Berry manages to pack a lot of detail and nuance into Kate's experience with being drawn into the cult by Ray/Abner (the cult's charismatic, delusional, and abusive leader) and the years of brainwashing and programming she ingests. She's lied to, physically abused, and manipulated. She's also forced to be an accomplice to multiple instances of manslaughter (if not some degree of murder, like in Sam's case).The narrative present of being found in Montana with Shiloh is also interesting and I enjoyed the dual timelines being told in tandem. We see how she ends up choosing to escape, but also see how indoctrinated she's become. It's easy for her to be derailed and pulled back in, simply by a picture. It's actually scary. She's indignant that Margot played a part in manipulating her into joining, but then she misleads Abbie, and allows the cult leaders to attempt to abduct her. Honestly, I thought the story could really end with Abbie being forced into the cult. I am glad Dean rescues them, though, and I'm glad Abbie and Scott finally see that Kate is too far gone. It's tragic (and honestly felt a tad too rushed? but also eh, that didn't bother me too much.
That said, Scott and Abbie drove me CRAZY. I also felt so bad for Meredith. Scott is clearly still in love with Kate, or at least who she was when she left him and Abbie for Love International. When he realizes she's willing to kidnap Kate, of course, that shatters his idealized perspective of her. We see him self- flagellate when he realizes that Kate tries to steal Abbie because all the signs are there and he twists Meredith's words and intentions. I get that reckoning with the reality is hard, but omg he drove me crazy. Like, not in a super judgy way but I was still frustrated that it felt so clear to me what was going on and Abbie and Scott were willfully ignoring it? Or at least they were maybe in denial? Also, Abbie thinking her mom was sane and stable enough to care for her and Shiloh was...sooooo problematic. Abbie is only 16, but she also seems remarkably well adjusted, all things considered. Even still some of her naiveté frustrates the shit out of me. When she shows her mom Ray's photo...I knew that was going to be the catalyst for shit hitting the fan and Kate's secret nighttime calls. Meredith's spying on Kate is...questionable, but I do understand why she felt desperate for proof. Kate's behavior was suspicious and her lying was a huge red flag. It's also murky because Meredith and Scott's house was also Kate and Scott's when they were married. I'm honestly kind of surprised that never came up. All we hear are Meredith's insecurities that Scott is more in love with Kate than her. That aspect of the dynamics reminded me of a Taylor Jenkins Reid book called One True Loves of being stuck between two people and how time and life events and trauma change everything. Though, now that I think of it, I don't think Kate was in love with Scott any longer, which is why she didn't bring up her marriage to Scott at all. She's too obsessed with Abner -- I'm hesitant to call it "in love" because she's so brainwashed and abused. But I do feel confident in saying she is not in love with Scott.
Even when she learns that Ray sabotaged any ability for Scott and Abbie to join the cult, she still values his judgment and approval over the safety of her daughter. She's actually kind of crazy. She needs a lot of mental health help. The cult has ruined her life; but also, Meredith points out, Kate made her choices, and even when she learns that Scott and Abbie weren't joining, for whatever reasons, she could've left. I know abusers make it as hard as possible for their victims to leave by isolating them and lying to them. But I do think pointing out that Kate kind of just gave up once she heard Scott thought she and Ray were having an affair felt off. Kate was the perfect victim and Ray sensed it. It's just so messed up! She witnesses Ray allow 3 people to die! And in one instance, Ray shoots a guy and kills him! And yet...she doesn't leave until he wants to take Shiloh (and likely kill her) under the guise that she'll survive if she's meant to because God allows her to. She admits to how upset she is and knows everything the cult does is wrong and terrible, and yet, she still wants to go back. It just goes to show how strong of a hold Ray has over her :(
Omg this was just a prime example of how religion can be abused and abusive. But, I also don't think I'm at a time in my life when I'm villainizing all religion. I have seen the positives of it too. It makes me really sad. When Ray justified Willow, Sam, and Becca's deaths as part of their paths and their souls are free and in heaven and whatever bullshit, I was ready to punch him through my phone. Becca could've been saved if she had had proper medical care!!! Actually, same with Sam. It's INSANE that Becca was dying and suffering and Ray's main priority was getting Sam to submit. Talk about fucked up priorities. But also, makes sense because he's an abuser.
I think this was a phenomenal exploration of how destructive cults are. The reason why I didn't give it a 5⭐️ here is I was so frustrated while listening to this because of all the characters. They were very well written, though. Seeing Ray go from charming and charismatic as he lures Kate in to seeing his facade melt away into the abusive God-like figure he sees of himself was so well done. And seeing how the family is processing Kate's return from all the characters' individual perspectives (though actually not Scott's), and also seeing how Kate is lured into the cult from start to being too far entrenched...a lot happened in under 300 pages and I felt like it was all well-paced.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
slow-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s funny how this is a combination of the last two books. Cults and multiple love interests. I enjoyed it on audio. Towards the end I saw the twist coming but it still made me sad. I read some of the other reviews talking about how Kate was too intelligent to fall for a cult but I think that’s the point of cults. There’s plenty of real life examples of successful smart people falling prey to cult leaders so I believed that part of the plot. Not the best thriller but I enjoyed it more than I thought
mysterious
tense
fast-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
dark
medium-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
every character in this book was a big dumb dummy. none of them were likable. would not consider this thrilling at all. the only interesting parts were the flashback povs but there was nothing new that you haven’t already heard before in any of the other hundreds of cult stories out there. the “twist” at the end i couldn’t even feel bad for the daughter because she was yet again being a dummy. what would’ve been a twist was if kate was in on the whole thing but her just being brainwashed still and like a lost cause was just so disappointing and felt like a waste of time.