Scan barcode
donovar2's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Great story and the ladt few chapters are dark and intense. But it is a very slow book which takes a long time laying the foundations of the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Drug abuse
Moderate: Infidelity, Child abuse, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual content and Abandonment
bakedparmesan's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis:
Joe starts out as typical Joe- obsessed with a woman he knows nothing about. Although this time he is "refusing" to stalk her as he has previously, he will not kill for love this time around. Although, he does inevitably play a part in the deaths of 3 (maybe 4) characters without having to do the dirty work himself. He locks Melinda in his basement and she kills herself, making him have to dispose of the body where he is caught and blackmailed by the Quinn's PI. He plants heroin all over Mary Kay's house and manipulates her husband back into his self-loathing ways, leading him to overdose on pills that he did actually purchase himself. And he eventually moves Mary Kay and her daughter Nomi into his house, where Seamus's jealousy gets the better of him. He locks Joe up in his forest cabin where he is killed by Oliver who comes to rescue Joe and frames the whole thing as a "hunting accident". Joe proposes to Mary Kay, they have a wedding, Nomi comes on to Joe at the wedding. He tries to avoid her but she confronts him thinking that he is actually in love with her and not her mother. Turns out Seamus was a pedophile and not jealous of his romantic relationship with Mary Kay, but rather his non-existent one with underage Nomi. Mary Kay comes home during their discussion, Nomi accuses Joe of coming on to her, but proceeds to share how she had been abused by Seamus for years. Her anger causes her to push her mother (wearing socks) down the hardwood stairs. Mary Kay is unconscious and Joe is convinced that Nomi is a psychopath who doesn't feel empathy for what she's done. Epilogue rolls and Joe is in Florida at his new bookshop/wine bar? Mary Kay was in a coma and Nomi texts to tell they're pulling the plug tomorrow. Joe follows Love's mom (who now has custody of their son since Love shot Joe in the head and then turned the gun on herself) on Instagram to see photos of his son and her dad has cancer (possibly hinting at a Netty-Joe-Forty reunion upon his death?). Book ends in typical Joe fashion, a new woman enters his bookstore and he is intrigued.
Thoughts:
The book took an odd turn, but I enjoyed it. It was unexpected, but with the wrap up at the end, not that far fetched (for a thriller novel of course). I think in the end, it all made sense with the mixed/confused signals interpreted on everyone's behalf.
Recommend?
Yes, I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed the Netflix series. I like how the show diverged from the original books' plots and became its own thing (I think Netflix did good with making-it-for-TV). I would also recommend this to anyone who likes a dark, 1st person narrator. The author has a way of writing like a total incel but making it just funny enough to be able to read it. But seriously, You will hate Joe while reading this book, he's gross.
Synopsis:
Thoughts:
The book took an odd turn, but I enjoyed it. It was unexpected, but with the wrap up at the end, not that far fetched (for a thriller novel of course).
Recommend?
Yes, I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed the Netflix series. I like how the show diverged from the original books' plots and became its own thing (I think Netflix did good with making-it-for-TV). I would also recommend this to anyone who likes a dark, 1st person narrator. The author has a way of writing like a total incel but making it just funny enough to be able to read it. But seriously, You will hate Joe while reading this book, he's gross.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking and Blood
Minor: Child abuse and Drug abuse
ellaticonstellation's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Confinement, Blood, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Addiction, Child abuse, and Toxic friendship
aligmich's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.75
A bit repetitive of the previous two books, I still did enjoy Joe’s latest adventures - especially as we entered its final pages. I have to say it got a little too unbelievable towards the end and wrapped up a little quickly, but the characters are ever so compelling and the circumstances intriguing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Suicide
saharamars's review against another edition
dark
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Child abuse
caidyn's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Oh, Joe, Joe, Joe. What will we do with you? Another book, another woman in your life. Joe is just so fascinating to read about. In some ways, this book was predictable. It was Joe up to his usual antics, but add in the fallout of the second book and then the leftovers from book one. So, it was a fun read for me. I'd pick it up after my shift and read for a bit before going to sleep. And I really enjoyed it! The dynamics were different in this and some new elements were added in, but it felt like slipping back into a familiar world.
I still have a few extra things to say. For one, I really hope that this book was because Caroline wanted to write it rather than it being about the show... since the third season has been announced and, well, it'll be based on this book. Second, I hope that she doesn't keep pumping out these books and ends them at some point because I think there's only so much more she can do with Joe. That's my more constructive feedback because I enjoy these books, but I don't want to get tired and annoyed by too many coming out and her not letting go of Joe.
Oh, Joe, Joe, Joe. What will we do with you? Another book, another woman in your life. Joe is just so fascinating to read about. In some ways, this book was predictable. It was Joe up to his usual antics, but add in the fallout of the second book and then the leftovers from book one. So, it was a fun read for me. I'd pick it up after my shift and read for a bit before going to sleep. And I really enjoyed it! The dynamics were different in this and some new elements were added in, but it felt like slipping back into a familiar world.
I still have a few extra things to say. For one, I really hope that this book was because Caroline wanted to write it rather than it being about the show... since the third season has been announced and, well, it'll be based on this book. Second, I hope that she doesn't keep pumping out these books and ends them at some point because I think there's only so much more she can do with Joe. That's my more constructive feedback because I enjoy these books, but I don't want to get tired and annoyed by too many coming out and her not letting go of Joe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Stalking, and Suicide
More...