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greatexpectations77's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Suicide, and Death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Bullying, Child death, Murder, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Rape
Minor: Misogyny, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping
mr_cain's review
- 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
4.75
This book genuinely kept me guessing. I did suspect the real culprit several times, but I waffled often. Hawkins does a great job supplying motive and details for each of the suspects without it feeling like a painfully deliberate red herring.
Hawkins also makes the characters each their own and her style is distinct for each chapter in a different POV (i.e. Helen, Jules, + Sean's chapters all feel genuine vs. the same style with different names as many POV switching books seem to do). She provides a cast of characters who are complex and feel so real. Not every character is deeply complicated but they all have their own established psyches which I loved.
I can easily call myself a Paula Hawkins fan after this.
Graphic: Suicide, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Death of parent, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Bullying, Body shaming, Infidelity, Rape, Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Blood
Minor: Vomit, Eating disorder, and Chronic illness
brenxbee's review
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Suicide, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Rape, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Homophobia and Fatphobia
Minor: Animal cruelty and Dementia
kkalicky94's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Fatphobia, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Eating disorder
mabelstulips's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Animal death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, and Death of parent
unboxedjack's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Infidelity, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Child death, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
funofme's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Rape and Fatphobia
Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
hkhowell's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Murder, Rape, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, and Emotional abuse
phdpageturner's review
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Murder, Blood, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
rbrockett21's review
- 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
3.0
I think what got in the way of the potentially good plot was the excessive filler written in from each perspective. There’s leaving clues via different perspectives, and then there’s just spending too much time trying to make something out of nothing.
Though it was a quick read, I wouldn’t say I was madly turning the pages out of suspense. The only time the pace picked up was about 2/3 of the way through, and only briefly. Even in the moments leading up to finding out who the guilty party was, I just wasn’t that invested. And, in my opinion, the answer to whodunnit was very disappointing; it felt like it was supposed to be a twist that just completely missed its mark.
I still intend to read A Slow Burning Fire upon its release to see if it’s on par with GotT, but after Into the Water my excitement has been curbed. Hopefully her next novel will rekindle my appreciation for her writing style.
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, Rape, Pedophilia, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Vomit, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Death, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content