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withlivjones's review
dark
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? No
3.0
A really interesting take on the supernatural genre, featuring a gripping plot packed with surprising twists. I thought that the mystery and the gradual reveal of information was very well done. Honestly, if Leeds (yes, he’s literally named after the city in England) was in any way a likeable character, I would have easily rated this book at least 4 stars, but he’s not even i likeable in a way that’s fun to read - he just makes terrible decisions out of selfishness and then sulks about them - and that really made it difficult to root for him and the romance in the novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Death
Moderate: Blood, Gun violence, Sexual content, Drug use, Infidelity, and Stalking
Minor: Death of parent and Eating disorder
kat_rowlen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow they really had me in the first half I’m not going to lie. This books made me feel every emotion under the sun, and the ending left me stunned! One of Colleen Hoovers best works! Leeds is a terrible boyfriend, however, and really made me angry. I wanted to throw this book a few times and I don’t say that lightly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Gun violence
Moderate: Infidelity, Eating disorder, and Gaslighting
vibinqvio's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
well… what should I say? First of all: ghosts aren’t my cup of tea.
The hair scene… WHAT💀 the gaslighting, the infidelity… hell nah💀 the twists were alright, not phenomenal. Wouldn’t recommend😍
The hair scene… WHAT💀 the gaslighting, the infidelity… hell nah💀 the twists were alright, not phenomenal. Wouldn’t recommend😍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Kidnapping, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Eating disorder
skygray's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
What is this goofy-ass book LMAOOO
Despite being advertised as a “paranormal thriller,” there is nothing remotely thrilling or scary about Layla. Thanks to Hoover’s bare-bone descriptions, the setting and mood lack any sort of character that might lend itself to a spooky atmosphere. And speaking of character...our “hero,” Leeds Gabriel is flat, uninteresting, and unsympathetic. Leeds did so many horrible things in this book, and despite the fact that he recognized what he was doing was wrong (in many repetitive internal monologues), he never took action or changed his ways. All his bad decisions are brushed away at the end by cop-out plot twists that “justify” him. Meanwhile, our titular character, Layla, is a superficially-written manic pixie dream girl. None of the other side characters were remotely interesting, and the plot twists were predictable and quite frankly laughable. I only read this book because I challenged myself to read the lowest and highest-rated Colleen Hoover books on Goodreads; if not for that, I wouldn’t have finished it. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but It Ends With Us was an infinitely better novel.
Despite being advertised as a “paranormal thriller,” there is nothing remotely thrilling or scary about Layla. Thanks to Hoover’s bare-bone descriptions, the setting and mood lack any sort of character that might lend itself to a spooky atmosphere. And speaking of character...our “hero,” Leeds Gabriel is flat, uninteresting, and unsympathetic. Leeds did so many horrible things in this book, and despite the fact that he recognized what he was doing was wrong (in many repetitive internal monologues), he never took action or changed his ways. All his bad decisions are brushed away at the end by cop-out plot twists that “justify” him. Meanwhile, our titular character, Layla, is a superficially-written manic pixie dream girl. None of the other side characters were remotely interesting, and the plot twists were predictable and quite frankly laughable. I only read this book because I challenged myself to read the lowest and highest-rated Colleen Hoover books on Goodreads; if not for that, I wouldn’t have finished it. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but It Ends With Us was an infinitely better novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Gun violence, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Eating disorder
violetbentbackwards1036's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Gun violence, Murder, Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
ioanabooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Torture, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
meeklovestoread's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
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? No
2.75
I literally just finished this book about half an hour ago and I'm still contemplating on what I just read. This book was soooooo odd. And not in a good way. Don't get wrong it was very addictive and easy to read just like all of Colleen Hoover's books. I blinked and I was on page 200. But it being a page-turner doesn't negate just how underwhelmingly strange this book was. I'd like to say that I did like the format from which it was told.
This story is told through alternating time perspectives in which Colleen shifts from Leeds (the main character) telling the events that lead them here then shifts to the regular chapters where he explains to the "detective" what has transpired. So basically we're in his thoughts the whole book.
Okay so first Leeds starts to explain how he and Layla (the love interest) met. And honestly to me I wasn't really feeling their relationship. It just consumed of them making lovey-dovey comments and having sex. It felt very one-dimensional/surface level. I felt pretty indifferent towards their initial encounter too. It was pretty insta-lovey as most of her books are. My only problem with insta-love is that we don't really don't get the lore of why a character is attracted to that specific person. Like I'm feeling their connection.
Anyways afterwards we started getting the plot of the story and the crazy things that were happening. And then about 85% we just get twist after twist after twist. We find out that Willow is actually Sable, and that she took over Layla's body in the moments in which the two souls were in a state of limbo I guess. Because not only did Layla get shot by Sable, but Leeds also shot Sable when defending Layla . But oh wait, nope turns out Willow isn't Sable. And apparently Willow is Layla and Sable is occupying Layla's body which is actually Willow's body because Willow is Layla. Confusing right. That's how I felt while reading this Especially because to me I don't think the author did a good job in making us believe her "twist" was true. Honestly it felt like the author was picking at things from her arsenal because a lot of the twist seemed too far fetched to me (maybe that was her intention). I just didn't like her execution.
Also, the "big twist" of the book was NOT GOOD! It felt like she was trying to justify Leeds actions. Like finding out that Willow is in fact Layla and not Sable. That Sable took over Layla's body and Layla's just been walking in a state of limbo for the past several months. And because of that it just explains why Leeds felt such a strong connection towards Willow, the ghost, because Willow is actually Layla. And their love is so strong that he was able to "find her". And because we now know this that just justifies him almost drugging "Layla", cheating on her, depriving her of her sleep, tying her up and holding her captive, GASLIGHTING her, and most infamously him letting "Willow" take over her body without her consent. Especially considering he didn't know what he knew now when he was committing those actions. He just knew that he was in love with a ghost and was willing to do whatever he could to keep this "ghost" in his life.
She does know how to romanticize abuse. Honestly I just felt like those "big twists" towards the end fell flat because Leeds and Layla's relationship wasn't this soulmate type relationship that the author was leading us to believe. Overall this book was okay, but I'm not saying I'd recommend it though.
This story is told through alternating time perspectives in which Colleen shifts from Leeds (the main character) telling the events that lead them here then shifts to the regular chapters where he explains to the "detective" what has transpired. So basically we're in his thoughts the whole book.
Okay so first Leeds starts to explain how he and Layla (the love interest) met. And honestly to me I wasn't really feeling their relationship. It just consumed of them making lovey-dovey comments and having sex. It felt very one-dimensional/surface level. I felt pretty indifferent towards their initial encounter too. It was pretty insta-lovey as most of her books are. My only problem with insta-love is that we don't really don't get the lore of why a character is attracted to that specific person. Like I'm feeling their connection.
Anyways afterwards we started getting the plot of the story and the crazy things that were happening. And then about 85% we just get twist after twist after twist.
Also, the "big twist" of the book was NOT GOOD! It felt like she was trying to justify Leeds actions. Like finding out
She does know how to romanticize abuse. Honestly I just felt like those "big twists" towards the end fell flat because Leeds and Layla's relationship wasn't this soulmate type relationship that the author was leading us to believe. Overall this book was okay, but I'm not saying I'd recommend it though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Infidelity
Moderate: Mental illness, Eating disorder, and Medical content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
sarah2438's review
1.0
This was so bad lol I thought it couldn't get any worse and then the twist with Sable and the attempts at explaining the paranormal just became too much. Leeds is a straight up psycho and this book is a case in point of why the ends DON'T always justify the means.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Eating disorder
charhollyx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A wild, wild ride. CoHo did an excellent job with her first paranormal romance and I ate up EVERY word. So many twists, so mysterious with the tension building each chapter and more unanswered questions rising. I loved it.
A few grammar errors which happens on kindle unlimited but I didn’t mind that one bit. Great story!
A few grammar errors which happens on kindle unlimited but I didn’t mind that one bit. Great story!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Eating disorder, and Suicide attempt
anniehendricks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Gun violence, Torture, Eating disorder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Murder, Medical trauma, Death, Mental illness, Infidelity, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol