Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - She's Not Sorry

Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica

16 reviews

grumpyreading's review against another edition

3.75

dark mysterious 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: Complicated

💜 She’s Not Sorry by Mary Kubica 💜

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Single mom and nurse Meghan Michaels treats a comatose teen, Caitlin, after a mysterious fall. When evidence suggests it wasn’t a suicide, Meghan gets too close—and soon realizes she and her daughter may be in danger.

This was a fun read! I liked the premise and was surprised by one detail, thought the other twists were quite predictable. I do feel like a lot was going on and there were multiple different mysteries, but they worked well together and I’d recommend this.

Read this if you like:

twists
family drama
hospital settings

Vibes: 👩‍⚕️💉🌁✉️

Song that matches the vibe: Look What You Made Me Do by Taylor Swift

Full review including content warnings on my StoryGraph.

Content Warnings

meeklovestoread's review against another edition

3.5

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I don't even know where to start. Okay, so this is my third book by the author in the span of a couple of years. I read "Local Woman Missing" in 2022 and LOVED it! Then, probably a few months later, I read "Just the Nicest Couple" and thought it was just alright. I've been wanting to read from this author again for a while, so I decided to bite the bullet and just pick this one up.

I don't know if it's just me, but thrillers have really been letting me down this year. Like 90% of the ones I've been reading have been sitting in the 3-star realm. Like, I can't even say the last time I read an adrenaline-pumping thriller. So, I was really hoping this book would be my saving grace.

Okay, so I'd say that the first 65-68% of this book is just straight build-up. We learn about Meghan, her relationship with her ex-husband, daughter, coworkers, a bit about her past, her job as an ICU nurse, etc. In addition to that, we get an intro of the plot, how she met this woman (Nat) who was her childhood acquaintance from highschool 20 years ago, this patient in her unit she's assigned to as well as her strange family, the murders going on in her state that have her and other women on edge, etc. You'd think that would be enough to excite you, but it isn't. There are a lot of plot threads in this book, and considering how short it is, I feel like some of them didn't have time to marinate as long as they should have to truly feel impactful to the story.

Going back to what I said previously, it's around the 65%-68% where the story started changing pace and getting "good". We finally find out the big twist in the story. I can't decide if the twist was good or not, considering the way it was executed.

The part where we find out Caitlin is Nat was good. I kinda thought that at the beginning of the book, but decided against it because of the way the story was told. And this is where the problem begins, because manipulating time as a twist can either be genius or sloppy. Finding out that Nat is the woman in the ICU and that Meghan is the one who pushed her begs a lot of questions on her character's thought process. But I would have to reread the book to see if her actions line up with what she already knows.

I understand why people would love it, though. I saw it as it was coming, but like I said before, twists like this can be tricky to execute.

Speaking of the twists, again, lots of things were happening during this part of the story.

Luke being the serial killer rapist guy. No shocker there. Again, if you read the number of thrillers I have, you know that you can never trust thriller men. That twist was meh to me, like I saw it coming. He was so unhinged, though. Kidnapping her daughter and holding her at gunpoint. Sheesh!

And before that we find out this

how Sienna knew her dad wasn't her dad, so instead of being a reasonable person and just talking to her mother about it, she goes all psycho crazy and locks her mother downstairs in a basement and sends her hate mail notes. Like why?! It just doesn't seem like something a teenager would do. And she's a bit crazy for that. She was so extreme for what?! The author blames it on a teenager simply lashing out, but like I said, she was willing to have her mother die for that. Again, very extreme considering they both agree to not tell the dad anyway.

Lots happening in this bit, but I still feel like certain questions and red herrings are just left in the dirt to be unanswered. Like, what about Caitlin's parents? It was hinted at that they were suspicious and potentially malicious, and that's just dropped.

Are they not worried about the fact that were just told their daughter was alive, and then late,r when they come back just find out she's died and it was the ICU nurse's fault.

Are we never gonna find out who took Meghan's $10K? In addition,

Caitlin's motivations for anything that she's ever done are never explained. Like, she went after Meghan for what? Cuz she was intimidated that her current boyfriend still has the hots for his ex-wife?! Huhhhhhhh?????? Her character was just so flat. I wanted more.

And what about the brother, Caitlin's brother? He was a red herring, too. We never heard from him again.

And I guess Meghan just gets away with murdering Caitlin. Which is fine, but like still. The way it was done. It was just an afterthought after the whole Luke situation. And probably should've mentioned this before, but why would she tell a stranger her 16-year secret? It makes no sense.

Also, last one, but the dad. I hated how that was left open-ended. I don't think he was involved, but I hate open-ended endings like that cuz how I'm left contemplating something that should've been answered. Also, this is pretty minor, but it is mentioned at the beginning of the book that Meghan already knows her husband has a girlfriend (ch. 3), but then later on in the book, she acts surprised when her daughter tells her. (ch. 14). Same timelines, too. I don't know. It was just such a weird discrepancy, considering her knowing or not knowing adds nothing to the book. Overall, this book was fine, but I will say that if it weren't for the latter half, this book would've been a 3-star. I will try her again one more time to see. I hear "The Other Mrs." by her is good, and if that doesn't work out, I fear I might be done with this author and her books. They're not bad, but they're just not spectacular enough for me to continue if my next read from her doesn't pan out.

Spice Rating:🫑/5 (nothing crazy, just brief mentions)

Oh, also, the author wrote "on fleek" in her book. No! No! No!😭

Content Warnings

ksedlack's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

tayreads10's review against another edition

3.0

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

*Spoilers* This book had so much potential and I LOVED Local Woman Missing, but this just fell flat for me. The twists just didn't hit like they should've. The storyline was super confusing when Part 2 rolled around. It was like the past and present were happening at the same time? What? That had me hung up thinking how it didn't make sense. The ending was she got away with it? When the dad was a high powered attorney? Where did her $10k go? So many open ended questions that didn't add up.

Content Warnings

syazahaniss's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I had zero expectations going into this book so I was pleasantly surprised to find that I ended up liking it.

The pacing was on the slower side than I normally prefer, maybe medium-paced, and as with thrillers, required a good amount of buildup and context establishment before all the excitement starts. During this part, I thought it was interesting enough that I kept on reading (some people might have given up), but I did think it was borderline draggy.

But the author had this talent of writing in a way that is not only very detailed and clear, it also evokes suspense and at times, jump scares the hell out of you – so that was fun and really kept me turning the pages quickly. And once all the revelations kicked in, the story got even more exciting.

I think some might find the story confusing because there seemed to be too many things going on at once (the divorce, the patient, the rapist, etc) but by the end of the book, everything was mostly explained and concluded nicely, save for a few lingering questions I had.

This book reminded me of why I love thrillers so much. Definitely might consider reading it.

Content Warnings

whiskeywoman79's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Fiction / Thriller / Mystery / Suspense / Psychological Thriller
⭐⭐.5 /5

TW: Suicide, talk of suicide, mental illness, DV, cheating-ish, talk of SA, murder

What was that?! I read this one because it was a read-along for a book club back in July and my Libby hold just came up. I am floored that so many people love this book.

I understand redirecting our attention everywhere, but when those diversions cause plot holes!! There was just so much filler. I want to be guessing as I read, not confused.

What kind of mother is she!? There is a serial rapist, in the city, and even worse her neighborhood, and is leaving her 16-year-old daughter home alone OFTEN with a broken door? Multiable times the door wasn't even properly closed when she got home!!! What's with the daughter being oblivious to all the dangers going on around her? Being 16 doesn't explain that, I have been 16 and raised 4 kids who were all 16 once. She, like her mother, doesn't;t seem to have a self-preservation bone in their body, or common sense... until...

Content Warnings

bedwellbooks's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I really liked this book because I was always kept guessing on what was happening. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because the ending left me with more questions, and didn’t wrap up the mystery, which I hate!!!! I know it’s supposed to leave you hanging on purpose but UGH!!!

Content Warnings