Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
I didnt realize it was a story about college-aged kids... if you read it with that in mind, it isnt bad for what it is. some pretty dark themes, but kind of has that YA feel to it too, IMO.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
I feel like this book had so much potential and was once again ruined by Natalie Richards need to make annoying and rediculous main characters.
Abuse is a serious topic, and it's something that should be talked about. But you cannot establish a loving relationship with a brother and two best friends who care about you-- a very strong support system. And then have your female lead (WHO WANTS TO GO INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT) go back to him after promising her friend she wouldn't. The things said about this character make me feel like she shouldn't be so willing to go back to man who gave her 14 stitches.
Then theres the point that she's in highschool. This isn't a long relationship that slowly turned bad, or anything of the sort. Yes there was some complication with the fact he lived with them and was her brother's friend but seeing as the main lesson of the book is killing and mentally harming people is okay, if they were hurting your sibling. It just doesn't make sense that Connor would not say anything and then also let Declan run off into the forest after trying to have an Intevention??
Why would you have an intervention for the abuser rather than the abused? Cleo is the one who needed to have people point out that he wouldn't stop and then maybe connor could say he would kill the guy and have Cleo go all "NOOOOOO my brother, he can't go to jail he needs to get out of our slightly sloppy house?"
You cannot make me belive that their parents who are supposedly never home would have given a single care that he stayed there rent free.
Also I'm sorry if your such a bad swimmer that holding on to a god damned floatie isn't enough to keep you from drowning... I just don't even know what to say about that. Also the fact it's confirmed she'd had swimming lessons just makes everything worse.
Another thing why would her brother who supposedly cares about her more then going to prision plan a rafting trip knowing that she couldn't swim and not black list freaking her abusive Ex.
But whatever I get it the author wanted him to drown.
Secondary issues include but are not limited to-- Aiden not saying anything even though he A. suposedly wasn't in love with him and B. so guilty he sent a video to a virtual stranger showing that stranger's brother dying. Valerie. Her entire non existant character just doesn't make that much sense. all the siblings in this book have two settings-- I'm murdering for my sibling because they are the most important thing in my life and SIbling? what's that?
So no I wouldn't really recomend this also seven dirty secrets is just not really true?
The number of dirty secrets is like four max. If you really want to say there are more I'll give you up to six.
Abuse is a serious topic, and it's something that should be talked about. But you cannot establish a loving relationship with a brother and two best friends who care about you-- a very strong support system. And then have your female lead (WHO WANTS TO GO INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT) go back to him after promising her friend she wouldn't. The things said about this character make me feel like she shouldn't be so willing to go back to man who gave her 14 stitches.
Then theres the point that she's in highschool. This isn't a long relationship that slowly turned bad, or anything of the sort. Yes there was some complication with the fact he lived with them and was her brother's friend but seeing as the main lesson of the book is killing and mentally harming people is okay, if they were hurting your sibling. It just doesn't make sense that Connor would not say anything and then also let Declan run off into the forest after trying to have an Intevention??
Why would you have an intervention for the abuser rather than the abused? Cleo is the one who needed to have people point out that he wouldn't stop and then maybe connor could say he would kill the guy and have Cleo go all "NOOOOOO my brother, he can't go to jail he needs to get out of our slightly sloppy house?"
You cannot make me belive that their parents who are supposedly never home would have given a single care that he stayed there rent free.
Also I'm sorry if your such a bad swimmer that holding on to a god damned floatie isn't enough to keep you from drowning... I just don't even know what to say about that. Also the fact it's confirmed she'd had swimming lessons just makes everything worse.
Another thing why would her brother who supposedly cares about her more then going to prision plan a rafting trip knowing that she couldn't swim and not black list freaking her abusive Ex.
But whatever I get it the author wanted him to drown.
Secondary issues include but are not limited to-- Aiden not saying anything even though he A. suposedly wasn't in love with him and B. so guilty he sent a video to a virtual stranger showing that stranger's brother dying. Valerie. Her entire non existant character just doesn't make that much sense. all the siblings in this book have two settings-- I'm murdering for my sibling because they are the most important thing in my life and SIbling? what's that?
So no I wouldn't really recomend this also seven dirty secrets is just not really true?
The number of dirty secrets is like four max. If you really want to say there are more I'll give you up to six.
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I won’t lie it took me a while to read. That's literally it, idk what else to say
If you hold up a lot of this story to the light of logic, it falls apart. I was quite disappointed.
I thought it was quite easy to figure out who was behind everything because if it wasn't them, they had no reason to be included in the story. They felt trivial and forced.
My biggest issue was how Connor and Jack felt like tokens for "diversity." Connor's race was only brought up as an explanation as to why he would give Cleo shit for calling the cops, race was never brought up for anyone else again in the story -- it felt like a detail that was only added to seem more diverse. Same with Jack -- not only did he add absolutely NOTHING to the entire story, him being gay was completely irrelevant. Obviously, race and sexuality don't have to serve a purpose but the way they were added into this story felt gross and like they only severed the purpose of being tokenized.
Most of the characters felt like they were based on nothing more than stereotypes -- really generic ones.
I really wanted this story to be better since it had a similar plot to my favorite book but it fell short. I think this book would be a good introduction book to more thriller/mystery books but outside of that, it's not worth the read in my opinion.
I thought it was quite easy to figure out who was behind everything because if it wasn't them, they had no reason to be included in the story. They felt trivial and forced.
My biggest issue was how Connor and Jack felt like tokens for "diversity." Connor's race was only brought up as an explanation as to why he would give Cleo shit for calling the cops, race was never brought up for anyone else again in the story -- it felt like a detail that was only added to seem more diverse. Same with Jack -- not only did he add absolutely NOTHING to the entire story, him being gay was completely irrelevant. Obviously, race and sexuality don't have to serve a purpose but the way they were added into this story felt gross and like they only severed the purpose of being tokenized.
Most of the characters felt like they were based on nothing more than stereotypes -- really generic ones.
I really wanted this story to be better since it had a similar plot to my favorite book but it fell short. I think this book would be a good introduction book to more thriller/mystery books but outside of that, it's not worth the read in my opinion.
It's been almost a year since an ill-fated trip where 7 left and only 6 came back. It's been almost a year to the day and it's Cleo's birthday. She's up and getting ready and showering - when she comes out from the shower there's a new package sitting on her bathroom counter.
There's only a handful of people who have access to the house and know it's her birthday. After she texts and asks them all, no one admits to it so she opens it to find. . .it's a riddle sending her on a treasure hunt - one that feels just slightly ominous. When her best friend, Hope, arrives and they quickly find a second, Cleo is more than just a little unnerved.
I found the mystery fast paced and the read very quick. The tension was well placed, between the hunts but also the ominous sightings and odd songs and phone calls. The twist was easy to guess but I enjoyed the journey to the reveal. I wish the ending had bin just a bit longer, I'd loved just a smidge more closure but it was enough for me to say I definitely enjoyed this one! This is a go-to author for me to know I'll get a quick, well done mystery!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
There's only a handful of people who have access to the house and know it's her birthday. After she texts and asks them all, no one admits to it so she opens it to find. . .it's a riddle sending her on a treasure hunt - one that feels just slightly ominous. When her best friend, Hope, arrives and they quickly find a second, Cleo is more than just a little unnerved.
I found the mystery fast paced and the read very quick. The tension was well placed, between the hunts but also the ominous sightings and odd songs and phone calls. The twist was easy to guess but I enjoyed the journey to the reveal. I wish the ending had bin just a bit longer, I'd loved just a smidge more closure but it was enough for me to say I definitely enjoyed this one! This is a go-to author for me to know I'll get a quick, well done mystery!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.