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3.15 AVERAGE
3.15 AVERAGE
I’ve had a day to mull this book over and yet I’m still not even sure how to rate it. It was an interesting setup, and was very up and down in the excitement of wanting to keep reading and then thinking it was a little repetitive and moving slowly. The last quarter of the book becomes a whodunit, in which the author is able to continue to spin the story so that you keep guessing who did it. That part was fun. Am I glad I read this one? I think so. Were any of the characters likeable? Not really. Was I glad when I finished it and could move on to the next book? Yes, please.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Brilliant as always from Sarah Pinborough. A great story and a whole host of really despicable characters.
Definitely not Sarah Pinborough's best, but not terrible either. Having seen many negative reviews about this book, I was somewhat skeptical going into this read. I was hoping that I was going to enjoy it but I wasn't holding my breath. The good news is that I quite enjoyed this one. Here's a brief summary of my thoughts:
What I liked:
* I thought that the first 70% of this book was really interesting and I was gripped by the way the story was developing, and the different relationships that were being formed
* It was clear at all times that the story was building and that something disastrous was going to happen. I enjoyed that feeling of suspense.
* Lots of secrets and plenty of domestic drama.
* The pacing was fairly good, and the story moved along. For the most part, I didn't feel bored and I was interested in seeing where things were going because it wasn't always clear.
What I didn't like:
* The last 30% seemed to veer off track and suddenly there were so many characters coming into the picture, and events from the past coming to light, most of which just came straight out of the blue.
* Many of the characters were unlikable, and all of them were privileged, wealthy and very superficial. I didn't form strong bonds with any of them.
* The voodoo elements didn't bother me particularly, but I just failed to see what they really added to the story.
* This story lacked a real OMW moment, and there wasn't really much of a twist. The reveal at the end about who-dunnit was pretty boring and didn't come as that much of a surprise.
Overall, this was an average read. I didn't feel like I'd wasted my time, nor did I feel rewarded for the hours spent reading this book. It was okay.
What I liked:
* I thought that the first 70% of this book was really interesting and I was gripped by the way the story was developing, and the different relationships that were being formed
* It was clear at all times that the story was building and that something disastrous was going to happen. I enjoyed that feeling of suspense.
* Lots of secrets and plenty of domestic drama.
* The pacing was fairly good, and the story moved along. For the most part, I didn't feel bored and I was interested in seeing where things were going because it wasn't always clear.
What I didn't like:
* The last 30% seemed to veer off track and suddenly there were so many characters coming into the picture, and events from the past coming to light, most of which just came straight out of the blue.
* Many of the characters were unlikable, and all of them were privileged, wealthy and very superficial. I didn't form strong bonds with any of them.
* The voodoo elements didn't bother me particularly, but I just failed to see what they really added to the story.
* This story lacked a real OMW moment, and there wasn't really much of a twist. The reveal at the end about who-dunnit was pretty boring and didn't come as that much of a surprise.
Overall, this was an average read. I didn't feel like I'd wasted my time, nor did I feel rewarded for the hours spent reading this book. It was okay.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.25 stars - I enjoy Sarah’s writing and her capacity to blend the supernatural and contemporary elements of literature into a believable tale of wonder. My only issue with this book was the pacing, which at times left me unsure of my connection with the story. I enjoyed the characters and the inability to foresee the conclusion which is a common theme in Sarah’s writing. Part 4 was exponentially faster in pace and twists than the first 3 parts, which teeter between being a romance, drama, and suspense novel. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would continue to read this author’s other releases because they entertain me. Consider checking this out if you are a fan of Behind Her Eyes or other books such as The Girl on the Train and The Woman in the Window.
Ugh! The writing itself is fine. But the ending left me bored. A lot of the book left me bored.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I got into a three-week reading slump because of this mess of a book
Marcie is Jason’s second wife, but she knows she will always be an outsider, her hard-won life is ready to unravel at any minute. Jason’s boss William returns from a trip to London with a new wife, who is beautiful and reckless. Nobody can take their eyes off her, including Jason. Marcie will not be replaced so easily. What will she do to keep her life of luxury?
This was a fantastic read. A little slow to begin with but it soon had me hooked in and I found myself turning the pages quicker to find out the ending, and boy it was worth it! A story about secrets, past events that people want hidden with glamour and a bit of sex thrown in. I loved it!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher HarperCollins UK for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was a fantastic read. A little slow to begin with but it soon had me hooked in and I found myself turning the pages quicker to find out the ending, and boy it was worth it! A story about secrets, past events that people want hidden with glamour and a bit of sex thrown in. I loved it!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher HarperCollins UK for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
2.5 just because the very end was kinda alright but there were just too many “yikes” moments for my liking.