Scan barcode
chasingpages1's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Violence, Animal death, Death, Gore, Grief, Infertility, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Car accident, Child death, Murder, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Vomit
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Mass/school shootings, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Gaslighting, Medical content, Addiction, Excrement, and Eating disorder
rosemaryandrue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I picked up this book because it amused me that someone would take the unfortunately true tales of authors coming after readers who've left negative reviews on their books (generally online, but at least in one case physically
This is a quick, fast-paced read, and I enjoyed the various twists and turns as 'H.G. Kane's' motives and Emma's backstory became clearer. The writing is very visual - at points I could imagine scenes like in a movie, down to the lighting choices the director would make. Laika the golden retriever is adorable (and mercifully survives). I liked how the author played with how we perceive stereotypes and turns them on their head when you least expect it, and the semi-comic tone that emerged at times.
However, I did think that the pacing was irritatingly slow, sometimes killing the taut feeling of suspense when the story could least afford it. The last third of the book, especially, was not as gripping due to the plethora of twists that were thrown our way one after another. I might have liked the book better if it were shorter.
Graphic: Gore, Stalking, and Violence
snuggleberry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Moderate: Car accident and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Stalking, Child death, and Gore
kimveach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Alcoholism, Car accident, Grief, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Violence, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
4.5
"Coincidences are fine in real life. But in fiction, they're bad writing."
Iāve been meaning to try his books for years now, and of course there was no way that I was going to resist the blurb of The Last Word for long. I love books with bookish angles, and what is more fascinating AND terrifying than a thriller read where an author slash killer goes after a person leaving him a one star review? And while things can be said about the plot being over the top and you definitely have to suspend your belief, I personally didnāt care because I was too busy enjoying the ride. This was exactly the dark, twisted and exhilarating read I needed! There is just something about the writing style that makes it very easy to fly through the pages, and the plot itself only increases that pace. The POVs are somehow blurred in points, and at times it takes a second before you realize who is in the spotlight; this would usually highly annoy me, but somehow in The Last Word it only added to the suspense. There are plenty of twists along the way as well, and with (at times) two contrasting POVs telling how the events happened it makes you wonder what is the real version. Again, this is usually something that would bother me, but in this case it somehow worked. Even the characters: none of them are exactly likeable, but since the main focus is on the plot and the life or death situation it's not as important. The Last Word definitely tips its toe in the horror genre though, and warnings are in place for particularly gruesome and graphic scenes as well as animal cruelty. If you think you can stomach those and like your thrillers on the dark and twisted side, I can highly recommend this story.
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, Alcoholism, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Misogyny, Stalking, Death of parent, Gun violence, Infertility, Animal cruelty, Blood, Child death, Bullying, Body horror, Self harm, Suicide, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Confinement, Cursing, Gore, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts
cardanrry's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Gore, Infertility, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Body horror, Grief, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcoholism
gaby_readsss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The suspense, the setting, and the pace kept me turning page after page. I thought the timing and delivery of each plot twist was cleverly done. Even when I thought I knew what was coming, the plot changed and became something entirely different.
I loved how thereās literally a ādraftā from the villain point of view within the book. Each narrator makes you question everything and leaves you wondering which version is real and which version is fake until the very last word. ;)
I found it funny how the author kind of roasted himself by mentioning thriller tropes are unrealistic while using those exact same tropes. š
This book is one of my favorite thrillers of the year. I recommend reading it, but make sure to read trigger warnings ahead, as it does mention some heavy topics.
I was so freaking worried reading this book whenever Laika was in trouble or when she got harmed. š
Thank goodness she survives.
The ending was a bit of a reach, but at the same time I choose to believe Emma somehow survives literally being thrown out in the ocean tied with a backpack full of rocks, while being poisoned. Like, how is that possible?
One of my theories is that she actually dies and is imagining that she survives? But I choose to believe itās real and sheās going back to Shawn. š
I knew it was Deek from the beginning, especially considering thereās not a lot of characters at the beginning of the story. He was my main suspect all along and I was right! But the other plot twists had my jaw on the floor. šØ
Graphic: Gore, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Infertility, and Car accident
emharris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Child death, Vomit, Stalking, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Grief, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Mental illness, Mass/school shootings, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Infertility, and Gore
Minor: Car accident, Confinement, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
mmccombs's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Stalking, Violence, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail
blair_w's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Vomit, Child death, and Murder