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readuntilthelastpage's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
Moderate: Infertility, Violence, and Stalking
amberjackonski's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Child death and Infertility
laurenlo29's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Gore, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Infertility, and Car accident
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
meagreads's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
ckloiland's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death and Car accident
anyepagan's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Car accident, and Murder
Moderate: Child death
briangevine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
"The Last Word" is a fast-paced thriller that follows Emma Carpenter and her golden retriever, Laika, as Emma house sits for a woman named Jules in a beachfront property. With nothing else to do, Emma spends her days reading, and after she posts a negative review of a book, she feels like she is being stalked by the author. Can her and Laika make it through the night alive, or will she become just like the victims in the author's gruesome horror novels?
In true Taylor Adams fashion, this book is graphic, gruesome, and really made me uncomfortable at times. I was so anxious throughout my reading experience because I kept waiting for something to happen to Laika and I was distraught. My anxiety hindered my enjoyment of the novel because I CANNOT read about an animal dying, and I was so worried the whole time.
Emma is a complex character, and I enjoyed reading from her perspective most of the time. Some of her rationale felt a little too convenient to propel the story forward, but I really enjoyed uncovering why she was running away from her life. I also adored her love for Laika. She did everything to save her dog, and I loved seeing their interactions together.
The big twist of who Kane, the author turned stalker, was turned out kind of interesting, but I also felt like I saw it coming.
My favorite aspect of this novel is that Taylor Adams presented this timely discourse about whether an author should be on review platforms. On the one hand, an author could use reviews to help them better hone their craft and listen to what their readers want from them in the future. On the other hand, a review platform is supposed to be safe place for readers to share their thoughts. I really enjoyed seeing this idea manipulated into a story.
Taylor Adams is definitely talented at what he does, and I will continue to pick him up in the future!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
cyndi1966's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Infertility, Stalking, Car accident, and Murder
Minor: Child death