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campreadkarin's review against another edition
dark
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? It's complicated
3.0
pages_and_papercrafts's review against another edition
4.0
A gripping story that explores the gray areas of consent, power and trauma. A few young adult women vacationing on a Greek island develop a working relationship with two men. Told in a then and now format in Rachel’s point of view, there is definitely no lack of drama as she unfolds the truth of what really happened and the implications of their time there years later. There are plenty of trigger warnings including: references to Sex Trafficking, rape, drugs, grooming and age gap relationships.
campychick001's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
*Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the copy of this book*
At seventeen years old, Rachel and her best friend decide to travel before starting their college career. When they end up on a beautiful Greek island, Rachel wants to stay in this paradise beyond their intended travel date. The main impetus for this decision is largely due to the whirlwind romance she embarks on with a wealthy, much older, man named Alastair. Drawn into the party lifestyle of alcohol and drugs, her naiveté and the glamor of the picturesque landscape and lifestyle prevent her from seeing the reality of the situation. Fifteen years later she is back in London and married, but she can't help to think back on the glory days and her first love, Alastair. The events of that summer have completely changed her and prevent her from enjoying her current life. She is soon forced to face the facts of what truly happened that summer.
This story was very straightforward and alluded to a mysterious occurrence that changes everything. However, it was very evident what was happening from the beginning - there were absolutely no plot twists. This book was quite long yet felt like nothing of import really happened in the bulk of the story. It was very hard to champion for the main character - which left me so conflicted because she absolutely was a victim. I understand the reasoning for the portrayl of the main character - trauma rewriting memories to mask/protect from the truth - but I felt like her actions as an adult (and some during her young adult life) were quite unredeemable. I do think the author did a good job of depicting Alastair as an evil and conniving predator and how abuse, especially at that pivotal time from childhood to adulthood, can have lasting repercussions on the victim.
At seventeen years old, Rachel and her best friend decide to travel before starting their college career. When they end up on a beautiful Greek island, Rachel wants to stay in this paradise beyond their intended travel date. The main impetus for this decision is largely due to the whirlwind romance she embarks on with a wealthy, much older, man named Alastair. Drawn into the party lifestyle of alcohol and drugs, her naiveté and the glamor of the picturesque landscape and lifestyle prevent her from seeing the reality of the situation. Fifteen years later she is back in London and married, but she can't help to think back on the glory days and her first love, Alastair. The events of that summer have completely changed her and prevent her from enjoying her current life. She is soon forced to face the facts of what truly happened that summer.
This story was very straightforward and alluded to a mysterious occurrence that changes everything. However, it was very evident what was happening from the beginning - there were absolutely no plot twists. This book was quite long yet felt like nothing of import really happened in the bulk of the story. It was very hard to champion for the main character - which left me so conflicted because she absolutely was a victim. I understand the reasoning for the portrayl of the main character - trauma rewriting memories to mask/protect from the truth - but I felt like her actions as an adult (and some during her young adult life) were quite unredeemable. I do think the author did a good job of depicting Alastair as an evil and conniving predator and how abuse, especially at that pivotal time from childhood to adulthood, can have lasting repercussions on the victim.
caldridge's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
beeeeonka's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
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? No
3.25
eeefah's review against another edition
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
2.5
jessicabax's review against another edition
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
3.0
lucyeve24's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
morethanmylupus's review against another edition
3.0
If you remember the feeling of foreboding isolation during the early covid lockdowns, then you have a good idea of the vibe of this book. In addition to that, we have a very skeevy older man hitting on a teenage girl vibe, with on-screen SA also included. I found this to be a heavy, hard read. The MC was hard to relate to. A lot of the things she did simply didn't make sense to me. I kept trying to find ways to understand why she made those choices, but I never quite made it there. This was a difficult, sad read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault