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dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
i just finished this book and i am absolutely not okay. the story is told in two alternative pov’s—the first pov follows a girl who wakes up in a ditch on the side of the road and is found by a police officer, but she doesn’t remember anything, not even her name. but then a man comes in the police station claiming she is his daughter, mary, and he has proof. and the second pov revolves around drew, whose life changed weeks ago after his girlfriend, lola, disappeared. he hasn’t been 100% truthful about the last night he saw her, not with anyone, not even the police, and now the guilt is eating away with him. making matters worse, the whole town, even the people he considered friends, seem to think he is responsible for her disappearance.
“everything feels far away, like the whole world took a step back, and i can’t reach anything that makes sense anymore.”
this is one of the novels that offers a superb depiction of a dark mystery. i was also impressed to know that this book is megan lally’s debut novel. the plot was skillfully constructed, and the writing style alongside the pacing was also commendable. yes, there were some dull stretches in the first half that caused to pause occasionally, but u believe it was partly my fault as i read the story during a reading slump, making it hard for me to engage and i sometimes find it uninteresting. however, things improved significantly when i read the second half. one thing i truly appreciated was the team-up between drew, autumn, and max in uncovering the truth behind their friend’s disappearance. i found several parts and characters quite hilarious—especially max and his one-liners that made me genuinely laugh. while there were funny moments, much of the content in this book is too unsettling and impactful for me. the entire plot evoked a range of emotions i didn't anticipate experiencing from a book.
overall, i rated this book 3.5 stars. although i struggled to appreciate the first few chapters, the storyline’s concept still captivated me, and the ending damaged me in inexplicable ways. it was a profoundly tragic, dark, and devastating read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Death, Stalking
Minor: Gore, Miscarriage, Blood