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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
This was really demented...the parents in this are some of the most horrible people I've ever read about in my life. The mystery/thrill of this novel was pretty non-existent. I was curious but never eager or sitting on the edge of my seat. I think there were some obvious trails the author wanted us to follow with the intention of swerving away and shocking us with a reveal but it didn't really work. Some of the hints and clues gave away some of the revelations in the end but it wasn't especially thrilling. The only good person in this book is Eric (the husband). Fern was fine and you begin to understand her more as the book goes along and you discover the root of her anxiety. Decent read. Not bad but not great.
Fern Douglas is a school caseworker, dedicated to helping the kids in her school system. Fern was the daughter of a neglectful artist mother, Mara, and a cruel to the point of abusive professor of psychology, Ted, who used Fern as part of his experiments on fears. Fern’s psychology was obviously massively effected by this, resulting in a multitude of phobias and anxiety disorders, yet she is still attached to her father, giving up her summer break to help him pack up his house. Meanwhile, Astrid Sullivan, appears to have been abducted after publishing her memoir, mirroring her abduction when she was 14 years old. Astrid starts appearing in Fern’s nightmares where they are both abducted and held prisoner, making Fern wonder if this is truly a nightmare..or if it’s a memory? I think what I enjoyed the most about this book was the psychological/social work aspect to it. I loved seeing how Fern grew up from her traumas to help other traumatized kids, assuring them that it isn’t and wasn’t, their fault. I appreciated the obvious non-ethical situations/experiments that Ted put Fern through and how it affected her life.
So many times I thought I had figured out this book. I thought I knew who took Astrid, what Fern's role was in that first disappearance, why Astrid may have been taken again. And then second guessed what I thought.
This book is about Fern, who is dealing with a lot of anxiety, when she sees a news report on a woman, Astrid, who's been kidnapped for a second time. She recognizes Astrid, but doesn't know why. Astrid was kidnapped 20 years ago, from a town close to where Fern grew up, and when Fern returns to her hometown to help her retired, physiologist, father pack for a move, and begins to read Astrid's memoir about her first disappearance, Fern starts remembering things that might help solve the original kidnapping, and in turn help save Astrid now.
This book was really good. It grabbed my attention and, like I mentioned, kept me guessing the whole way through. In the end, I had figured it out at one point, but then kept reading and changed my 'guess'. I really enjoyed this book!
This book is about Fern, who is dealing with a lot of anxiety, when she sees a news report on a woman, Astrid, who's been kidnapped for a second time. She recognizes Astrid, but doesn't know why. Astrid was kidnapped 20 years ago, from a town close to where Fern grew up, and when Fern returns to her hometown to help her retired, physiologist, father pack for a move, and begins to read Astrid's memoir about her first disappearance, Fern starts remembering things that might help solve the original kidnapping, and in turn help save Astrid now.
This book was really good. It grabbed my attention and, like I mentioned, kept me guessing the whole way through. In the end, I had figured it out at one point, but then kept reading and changed my 'guess'. I really enjoyed this book!
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A good read that was pretty easy to figure out even when you are not trying. But despite that, I enjoyed it. The author threw out several diversions to "who did it". The characters give you a lot to consider as well.
This book definitely deals with some dark topics, but I was very interested in finding out what happened. Our main character, Fern, is an unreliable narrator (and she even says this in the book). She struggles with anxiety and spiraling thoughts. I really enjoyed her character progression through the book, and I'm pleased with where her character development ends up. While I did guess things correctly, I felt like there were some twists and red herrings that had me questioning whether or not I was right.
I really don't have many negatives to say, other than that this book may not be for all readers. There are definitely content warnings for abuse and terrible parent/child relationships.
Overall, I thought this was a fast-paced, engaging book. If the content warnings aren't triggering for you, I'd definitely recommend it!
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway from the publisher - thank you! All opinions are my own.
I really don't have many negatives to say, other than that this book may not be for all readers. There are definitely content warnings for abuse and terrible parent/child relationships.
Overall, I thought this was a fast-paced, engaging book. If the content warnings aren't triggering for you, I'd definitely recommend it!
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway from the publisher - thank you! All opinions are my own.
i didn’t expect this twist but i couldn’t stand any of the characters