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okevamae's review
3.0
Owen and Luna have been inseparable best friends since college. They never dated – they've always just been friends, and close ones. When Owen’s wife turns up dead, police quickly discover that she is not the first murder victim that Owen and Luna have been close to. Luna is sure that Owen had nothing to do with either of these murders – but then she finds out that he’s been keeping secrets from her.
I didn’t really like any of these characters, or connect to them emotionally at all. On a scale of Indifferent to Despise, I’m kind of just vaguely annoyed by them, when I feel anything at all. I kept going because I wanted to know the answers to the various mysteries that the book has intertwined – and the plot was interesting enough. I just didn’t really feel invested in the story because I didn’t connect to the characters, and therefore the emotional stakes of the story didn’t really connect either. I also didn’t really care for the loosey-goosey POV, which was kind of third-person omniscient but also kind of not? In most scenes the POV stuck mostly to one character, but then it would randomly include the thought processes of other people. I’ve never cared for that kind of POV.
That being said, it’s a perfectly fine mystery novel, and people who can connect to it emotionally might enjoy it better than I did.
CW: infidelity, murder, depression, abortion
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t really like any of these characters, or connect to them emotionally at all. On a scale of Indifferent to Despise, I’m kind of just vaguely annoyed by them, when I feel anything at all. I kept going because I wanted to know the answers to the various mysteries that the book has intertwined – and the plot was interesting enough. I just didn’t really feel invested in the story because I didn’t connect to the characters, and therefore the emotional stakes of the story didn’t really connect either. I also didn’t really care for the loosey-goosey POV, which was kind of third-person omniscient but also kind of not? In most scenes the POV stuck mostly to one character, but then it would randomly include the thought processes of other people. I’ve never cared for that kind of POV.
That being said, it’s a perfectly fine mystery novel, and people who can connect to it emotionally might enjoy it better than I did.
CW: infidelity, murder, depression, abortion
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
syreetam's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
bear_reads_books's review
5.0
A fascinating and suspenseful novel by Lisa Lutz
Owen and Luna are completely platonic and codependent best friends since college. Their relationship is unquestioned by everyone they allow into their orbit but it's fairly obvious they're opposites and no one is sure what holds them together.
In the present, they live near each other and are both married. Luna discovers Owen's wife's dead body. And would you believe this isn't the first time someone Owen was with is found dead under mysterious circumstances?
There are secrets and lies aplenty holding them together over the years. Is history repeating itself? Just how well do they really know each other? And how far would you go for a friend?
I loved this book, I thought it was refreshing to read about a man and a woman being friends and never wanting a physical relationship. I will say I would not categorize this as a thriller. It doesn't even go hard on the murder mysteries. It's more about Owen and Luna's bond and about how damaged they are individually.
I personally enjoyed that. And I will say I think their friendship made sense. It was loneliness that drew them to each other. Needing someone that accepts you as you are and doesn't try to dig too deeply is what held them together. I highly recommend this novel and think it will be a hit for sure.
Expected release date: January 25th, 2022
Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the eARC.
Owen and Luna are completely platonic and codependent best friends since college. Their relationship is unquestioned by everyone they allow into their orbit but it's fairly obvious they're opposites and no one is sure what holds them together.
In the present, they live near each other and are both married. Luna discovers Owen's wife's dead body. And would you believe this isn't the first time someone Owen was with is found dead under mysterious circumstances?
There are secrets and lies aplenty holding them together over the years. Is history repeating itself? Just how well do they really know each other? And how far would you go for a friend?
I loved this book, I thought it was refreshing to read about a man and a woman being friends and never wanting a physical relationship. I will say I would not categorize this as a thriller. It doesn't even go hard on the murder mysteries. It's more about Owen and Luna's bond and about how damaged they are individually.
I personally enjoyed that. And I will say I think their friendship made sense. It was loneliness that drew them to each other. Needing someone that accepts you as you are and doesn't try to dig too deeply is what held them together. I highly recommend this novel and think it will be a hit for sure.
Expected release date: January 25th, 2022
Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the eARC.
eagswanson's review
4.0
3.5 rounded up. First, I really enjoyed the writing style. Nothing was overly descriptive and I didn’t find myself skimming paragraphs detailing how water or trees looked. The writing was engaging, funny, and kept me wanting to read more.
But the end? Eh. Not loving the wrap up. Not buying the Irene/phoebe part. He never called? But he did, and was told he had the wrong number. Leo? Gross. Why was Owen at the wedding? The brother doing it 2 decades later? Blah.
But, I was entertained throughout most of the book, and would read more from this author.
But the end? Eh. Not loving the wrap up. Not buying the Irene/phoebe part. He never called? But he did, and was told he had the wrong number. Leo? Gross. Why was Owen at the wedding? The brother doing it 2 decades later? Blah.
But, I was entertained throughout most of the book, and would read more from this author.
anemonemily's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kleonard's review
1.0
Summary: incredibly boring characters may or may not be murderers, drink a lot, aren't interested in anything but themselves. The characters are one-line descriptions without any underlying detail, interests, personality, or charisma. By the end, I didn't care who did what or what happened because the characters are so lacking in, well, everything. The writing is awkward and the plot is poorly constructed, and the ending is in keeping with everything else--a big meh.
jplil's review
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
katbot's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5