Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

18 reviews

jadeandherbunny's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

It was a good book but it was honestly forgettable.
I had a great time but that is it.
And I am not sure I really like the dissociating disorder reputation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Medical content

Moderate: Bullying and Murder

Minor: Grief and Death of parent

boba_n_books's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

The Couple Next Door was a fairly predictable thriller. There were a lot of things that I saw coming, but a few of the twists did catch me off-guard!

Whether or not I figured it out, this was a fun and ridiculous ride. A couple decides to leave their six-month-old daughter at home while visiting the couple next door for a night out. Since their babysitter canceled, the couple decides to leave their baby at home and check on her every 30 minutes. What could go wrong? Well, their daughter gets kidnapped, and the parents are the number one suspects. 

If you're looking for a fun and fast-paced thriller, check it out!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Mental illness

Moderate: Grief, Violence, and Cursing

Minor: Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

asteinke's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Child abuse, and Kidnapping

Minor: Murder, Death, Bullying, Blood, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders

cnannery19's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Death, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Blood, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I thought this was a good read. I predicted a bit of the plot, but not the whole thing, and I was interested in how everything was going to unfold. But boy howdy, men ruin everything. I'll be paying attention to more books from Ms. Lapena.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Moderate: Bullying, Murder, Classism, Infidelity, and Death

Minor: Child death, Sexual content, and Alcohol

mommah's review against another edition

tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I found this story to be very gripping. It was hard for me to put it down. The twists and turns were very good as well. The author seems to do a good job at pulling the reader in and keeping them there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

sefrahudman's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This one was so good! Caution if you have a baby it might give you anxiety, but wow it was so so so good! I did not see the big plot twists coming and the end had me like 🫨 I was shook. The foreshadowing was so good and the only reason it wasn’t a 5star is just the swearing. But like honestly it was like 4.5 stars!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Cursing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

happyhippielinds's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Meh.

I have a problem. I can't DNF a book because I feel like I'm obligated to finish what I started. And I hoped it will get better if I just trudge through the slow parts. But I might be a minority on this book. It sucked. And the WHOLE book was the slow part. 

I don't know what it was exactly. I just wasn't that interested in any of this predictable plot other than the extreme detail of Anne's DID and Post-Partum Depression. i feel like I was in agony the whole time, which was a great thing because it made me feel like I WAS Anne. But the entire plot was just so predictable. Staged kidnapping for money. 

I just wasn't as engaged as I usually am. Meh.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Kidnapping, and Mental illness

Minor: Child abuse

lwelch94's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Classism, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Infidelity, and Toxic relationship

caties_books's review against another edition

fast-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, and Vomit