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maddy707's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I am conflicted about this book. Although there were aspects I enjoyed, those aspects also come with things I didn’t enjoy.
For the most part I liked the main character. Though the random quotes/catchphrases I found cringeworthy. The autism aspects of the character are pretty stereotypical but also don’t make much sense. On one page you have her struggling to understand emotions and facial expressions. On the next you have her perfectly understanding people's behaviour. It’s inconsistent.
This book is written in a first person perspective which I wasn’t a fan of at first but I eventually got used to it. FPP will always read like fan fiction to me in the beginning.
At the end of the book there is this really great scene showing us the moment that Gran died. It’s incredibly emotional… and then it’s ruined by the main character essentially murdering Gran upon her request. Why couldn’t she just go in her sleep and stop breathing normally. Why did she have to make the main character do that? Additionally, while I understand Gran was very important to Molly, the constant mentions of her death and the grief that Molly feels is so overdone. It feels like every single page Molly is talking about her Gran’s death. Like we get it, she’s dead and you are sad about it, anything else?
The writing of Detective Stark is so unprofessional and not at all how a detective would act. It’s like this was her first case ever. Every single time she spoke it irked me so bad. Not sure if the author intended for me to be so annoyed by her.
The part at the end where it is revealed that Molly knew who the killer was all along makes no sense and almost completely ruined the book for me. Molly has no reason to cover for the killer outside of not liking Mr Black. About 50% of this book would have been resolved much quicker if Molly just told the police that. There are no clues given to the reader at all that Molly knew who the killer was. It’s like the author threw it in there at the last minute. It honestly makes 0 sense at all. It’s so out of character.
The actual crime itself makes no sense. Why did nobody check the security cameras? Why is Molly arrested when there isn’t actually any substantial evidence towards her being the killer. Why isn’t there more investigation into Mr. Black’s day and his ex-wife. It just makes no sense at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, and Murder
Minor: Addiction
katypotaty0908's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, Cancer, and Domestic abuse
hellokaley's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was an easy, fast mystery read. I enjoyed the second half better than the first when Molly was able to form connections and see some success.
Overall (and especially in the first half of the book), I just felt so sad for Molly. Part of this may be my own experience with autism but I just didn’t love the plot of a neurodivergent individual being taken advantage of by many people around her. I felt sad that she was left alone when her grandmother died.
I liked Molly’s character but in my opinion, it didn’t have the perfectly quirky Eleanor Oliphant vibes that many people reference.
Although I enjoyed the read, I probably won’t be continuing to the second book.
Overall (and especially in the first half of the book), I just felt so sad for Molly. Part of this may be my own experience with autism but I just didn’t love the plot of a neurodivergent individual being taken advantage of by many people around her. I felt sad that she was left alone when her grandmother died.
I liked Molly’s character but in my opinion, it didn’t have the perfectly quirky Eleanor Oliphant vibes that many people reference.
Although I enjoyed the read, I probably won’t be continuing to the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Bullying
Moderate: Drug use
born_reading's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Terminal illness, Cancer, and Death of parent
agathajanemaud1908's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I had a bit of trouble getting through about the first half of this book. It didn’t quite grab me in the way I thought it would from all I’ve heard about this book. I think it was because the narrator’s voice took some time to get used to. But I was hooked by the second half and eager to see how things would work out for Molly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Grief, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Suicide, Drug use, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Ableism, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment, Deportation, Bullying, and Gun violence
d4yd4y's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.5
the story was predictable but enjoyable - gets an extra .5 stars cos i love molly
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Drug abuse, Grief, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Bullying
passionatereader78's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Well written mystery! I didn't see the ending coming! Fun read! I love Molly!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
jlblumenfeld's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Deportation, Suicide, Murder, Ableism, and Toxic friendship
celery's review against another edition
Didn't vibe with the writing style. I don't believe it was very good autistic representation either, the narrator/main character did not come across as autistic, she came across stupid, and they are not the same thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Alcohol, Grief, Classism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Murder
cla773's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
The story was very slow to develop, felt really predictable until around 4/5ths of the way through, where it then felt rushed. Shame as the story was strong but balanced incorrectly
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse