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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Overall: I'm glad I listened to the audiobook, it was good! (And probably prevented me from DNFing before the crazy began...) It had its fun moments as well! I wish this book had been shorter, leaving less space for puttering about, awkward "romance" moments, and a lot fewer weird character behaviors. I think that is my main takeaway: the characters didn't character right (with one exception, ew) and there was too much character-ing that ended up hurting the story more than helping it.
Pros: Once it gets going (over a hundred pages in) it gets going! Captain Creep Leo was well-written and I enjoyed his character arc, despite hating him~ Real life creeping in was also a fun touch, I wish it happened more!
Cons: Speaking of hating Captain Creep, reading from his perspective was deeply disgusting. So, good job writing him, but at the same time, ew I did not enjoy that. Very slow start, heavy-handed Australian reminders (I mean email corrections of American terminology (that weren't always accurate...) and Freddie reminding us she's Australian even when we Know, even when it's not relevant), some purple parts that I almost drowned in, but not too too many. A bunch of names were introduced at the very end that had me going, huh? Who? What? Waxing poetic about the art of writing/receiving praise for writing from characters (necessary evil, but omg did it happen too many times.)
IDKHowtoFeels: I know she had to have Captain Creep at the end, but he felt like a last minute thought; also, his actions toward Freddie during the book were more creepy stalker than genuine friend! Why have him kind of crush on Freddie?? That went no where, and the grocery box with no note just to upstage Cain? The same with the cupcakes? Why not have a friendly note? He seems like a villainous presence and at the end my reading buddy (Hi Annie!) and I were second guessing if Book Leo had been committing heinous acts in the background Too many of these characters exhibit stalker-ish behaviors and everybody is just cool with that?? Also, Marigold being able to do anything with no consequences: And one more thing! Did Whit beat his mom up or did she lie for him. Because... it feels like she's lying for him (why is she so convinced she saw Cain?) but the book tells us Whit beat her.
Pros: Once it gets going (over a hundred pages in) it gets going! Captain Creep
Cons: Speaking of hating Captain Creep, reading from his perspective was deeply disgusting. So, good job writing him, but at the same time, ew I did not enjoy that. Very slow start, heavy-handed Australian reminders (I mean email corrections of American terminology (that weren't always accurate...) and Freddie reminding us she's Australian even when we Know, even when it's not relevant), some purple parts that I almost drowned in, but not too too many. A bunch of names were introduced at the very end that had me going, huh? Who? What? Waxing poetic about the art of writing/receiving praise for writing from characters (necessary evil, but omg did it happen too many times.)
IDKHowtoFeels: I know she had to have Captain Creep at the end, but he felt like a last minute thought; also, his actions toward Freddie during the book were more creepy stalker than genuine friend!
Spoiler
taking off her shirt to be wholly naked from the hips up and everybody is just cool with that?? Stalking Whit??? Being insanely jealous of Freddie with no evidence????
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
No
Gonna be honest, I'm a bit disappointed with this one..
The synopsis is super misleading imo. It makes it seem like the story is gonna take place in the library most of the time, but that's just not true. They're let out of the library halfway through the first chapter.
Also, the story of a woman getting murdered in the library is a red herring for the actual story, which is that the author of the library story is working with the police/fbi to get evidence and convict a serial killer. While it is a cool premise, and is done very well, I still feel betrayed enough by the synopsis that this meta plot doesn't really make up for it.
The synopsis is super misleading imo. It makes it seem like the story is gonna take place in the library most of the time, but that's just not true. They're let out of the library halfway through the first chapter.
Also, the story of a woman getting murdered in the library is a red herring for the actual story, which is that the author of the library story is working with the police/fbi to get evidence and convict a serial killer. While it is a cool premise, and is done very well, I still feel betrayed enough by the synopsis that this meta plot doesn't really make up for it.
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I really loved the way this story was told, it added an extra layer of mystery and intrigue. It was cool to have the perspective of someone else reading the story chapter to chapter and how the editing changed up some details.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not a bad little who-dun-it. A little slow, but not long enough to make a difference. The double-plot was a little off-putting at the beginning, but not terrible.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes