Scan barcode
m_elissa_m's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.5
cassidychivers's review against another edition
3.0
Another solid short story from Kealan Patrick Burke. Like always his character work is insane and I cared about the protagonist which like in this short of a story is shocking.
This one is very domestic and psychological. I did enjoy it but something just held me back from loving it. It also has the odd moments that I love from Burke.
This one is very domestic and psychological. I did enjoy it but something just held me back from loving it. It also has the odd moments that I love from Burke.
samlo_books's review against another edition
5.0
This one was creepy all the way through. The plot twist was nuts I didn’t quite see it swinging that way but damn. So good.
ddrosche's review against another edition
5.0
With spooky season in full swing I couldn’t not read a book by Kealan Patrick Burke, the king of horror novellas. I’ve had this book for a while, saving it for this month. Let me tell you, it was well worth the wait. True to style, Burke packs a punch in a little over 200 pages. Without going into too much detail this book was not what I was expecting but definitely better. Sometimes the true horror in life is inside our own homes, or heads. And that ending?!
em_harring's review
2.0
This is alright. The writing is a bit stilted at times (especially when the main character is dreaming), and some of the actions needed more room to build––particularly the ending. It was just okay.
vikingwolf's review
2.0
This didn't turn out to be what I was expecting at all. I was expecting the nightmare monster to start chasing her in reality as well as her dreams or maybe her dad coming to stalk her but it wasn't anything like that at all. Gillian is struggling with nightmares about the abuse her father inflicted on them both and it is starting to cause problems in her relationships with her husband Chris and kids Sam and Jenny. Sleeping all day and not being there for her family cause so many problems that she decides to go and confront her father about the past but doesn't get much closure. Instead the nightmares begin to change, manifesting Gillian's deep fears that Chris is going to become her father.
Basically the story is a psychological plot about a woman who has never really dealt with the horrors of her past and what happened to her brother. Now that the nightmares are seeping into her reality, she is starting to have a breakdown with hallucinations and constant fear. She is obsessed with seeing her father but he still denies any wrongdoing, and with Chris confessing to a dark secret, her damaged mind struggles to cope and she loses her grip on what is real. It has a pretty shocking twist that I never saw coming and I was pretty appalled by it, but in a good way. The story itself is well written as we see Gillian struggle with both her past and her present. The only reason for the low star rating is that it personally isn't my kind of story and I was expecting things to go in a different direction. I am intrigued to read more by the author though.
2.5 stars.
Basically the story is a psychological plot about a woman who has never really dealt with the horrors of her past and what happened to her brother. Now that the nightmares are seeping into her reality, she is starting to have a breakdown with hallucinations and constant fear. She is obsessed with seeing her father but he still denies any wrongdoing, and with Chris confessing to a dark secret, her damaged mind struggles to cope and she loses her grip on what is real. It has a pretty shocking twist that I never saw coming and I was pretty appalled by it, but in a good way. The story itself is well written as we see Gillian struggle with both her past and her present. The only reason for the low star rating is that it personally isn't my kind of story and I was expecting things to go in a different direction. I am intrigued to read more by the author though.
2.5 stars.
jim_bar's review against another edition
3.0
Jack & Jill is a thrilling novel that showcases the intense aftermath of childhood abuse. The effects it has on the main character's family in this short novella leaves you questioning what's really going on.
In the beginning, the MC is not someone I would personally root for. Over time, however, I learned why she is the way she is. From there, I gained insight, understanding, and hope for victory.
Are her actions completely justifiable? No. Do they reflect her past? Yes. Does her family really understand her? Eh. There is an attempt, some contempt, and obliviousness but no one really grasps what she's struggling with. They know she has dreams, but it seems as though no one knows the full depth of them. The MC does keep a lot to herself as she speaks inside her mind a number of times.
That is where things get a bit more tumultuous—inside her mind. And that is where I must place text behind a spoiler tag.
At any rate, this was a mind-warp of a book. Very well-written.
In the beginning, the MC is not someone I would personally root for. Over time, however, I learned why she is the way she is. From there, I gained insight, understanding, and hope for victory.
Are her actions completely justifiable? No. Do they reflect her past? Yes. Does her family really understand her? Eh. There is an attempt, some contempt, and obliviousness but no one really grasps what she's struggling with. They know she has dreams, but it seems as though no one knows the full depth of them. The MC does keep a lot to herself as she speaks inside her mind a number of times.
That is where things get a bit more tumultuous—inside her mind. And that is where I must place text behind a spoiler tag.
Spoiler
I found the ending very sad. She even questioned if she was right or not. Her husband cheated on her, but she killed him for more than that. It was something from a dream that may not have been true, and I can't feel satisfied in the sense that he had it coming. Instead, her reality and her dreams collided, and she did something irreparable because she didn't seek help in time to keep her worlds apart. All that to say, her husband was scummy, but killing him kind of proved his point.At any rate, this was a mind-warp of a book. Very well-written.
literaryloft's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Rating: 3.5 rounded to 4
❗️REVIEW HAS SPOILERS❗️
This book was a rollercoaster of emotions, and while I read it very quickly, I found it confusing at times, especially at the end. Like, did she kill her brother to protect him? Are we supposed to believe her husband really did those things to their daughter (BTW I don't think he did) he was an asshole at times and messed up at the end by cheating but I don't think he was messing with the daughter. And who was the person reading the paper by the cemetery while her and her brother rolled down the hill? A protector? Because at the end, she is now the person reading the paper, and she feels like she is protecting her kids. Idk even with all of that, I thought it was a good read lol