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ladycranstonkc's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Sexual assault, and Bullying
rachgerling's review against another edition
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Rape, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
wibookbadger's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
I've heard many people say this book is hard to follow but I didn't experience that. I found myself transported into the story of these women and I enjoyed the process of unraveling the mystery. I will be reading more from this author when I get the chance!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Rape
Minor: Suicide
brownskinbooknerd's review
dark
medium-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? It's complicated
4.25
I will preface with this is my first Paula Hawkins book. I can not compare it to girl on the train which I was told is very good. I read a few reviews before going into this read. I have lots of thoughts, but beware there will be some spoilers saved for the very end of this review. Lets separate into what I really enjoyed and what I could have done without.
Let's start with the positives. For a story to make so many twists seamless and flow well was impressive. Whatever turn you think the story will take. You are wrong. The book is like the river, don't trust it. This book follows many different point of views (this could be seen as positive or negative. I am indifferent). The main point of view is Jules Abbott, at least that's who it was for me. It may not be intentional but I sympathized with her the most and I was rooting for her courage through the entire journey she made. Paula Hawkins took her time to build such a strong well rounded character with GROWTH. Lena Abbott is as rebellious and chaotic as teens can get and shows such a profound level of emotional intelligence paired with her teenaged naivety. Josh Whittaker is a loveable small role that caused a butterfly effect. He pulls the story together. I loved that. The whole story carried an eerie feeling. Its just creepy and weird and odd. So if that's not your thing turn away now. It's also not thrilling so it's not creepy enough where you get too anxious. It has just the right amount of suspense to keep you going to the end. It's also full of small town drama. It doesn't end on a cliffhanger which is a huge win for me. HOWEVER, the ending made me angry.
So let's get into the wtf moments. I hated Nickie Sage. I understand her relevance to the story. I just think she could have been written differently or not at all. I don't know what it is. She annoys me. Which I understand is the point of her character. Everyone in the town hates her so they don't listen to her. I just personally could have done without her. Also hated Louise. I understand she was a grieving mother but it was a bit overbearing to the story. I felt we could feel her intensity with much less of her presence. I felt this story could have come with some trigger warnings but I understand not everyone wants that, so I'll let it go. This is also a story I just could not picture most times. There are moments when Hawkins is very descriptive and I can great a great sense of the nightmare Jules is having. Then there are other moments when I just understand Lena and Josh are throwing rocks at a house. Also Patrick...dude is sick and weird. Didn't like him.
All in all. I very much enjoyed this book. Over all it was very well written even if I didn't always like what was written or how. I have already recommended this book to others. It isn't disappointing and it's not intimidating.
*STOP HERE FOR SPOILERS AND TRIGGER WARNINGS*
Trigger Warnings:
Suicide
Mention of rape
Mention of abuse
Spoilers:
Disliked not getting any answers about mark. How do you kidnap a teenager and get away with it. It felt like Sean had no real hold on the story. Yet we're told in the end he's a murderer. Waiting to till the last line of the book to reveal the mystery but in a lackluster kind of way was confusing. I was both angry that was the explanation given and also relieved it wasn't drawn out. If the big climax of the book is Patrick making a confession a final confession didn't have to be made by Sean. I enjoyed it but I didn't. I don't make sense but neither did that ending for me so here we are.
Let's start with the positives. For a story to make so many twists seamless and flow well was impressive. Whatever turn you think the story will take. You are wrong. The book is like the river, don't trust it. This book follows many different point of views (this could be seen as positive or negative. I am indifferent). The main point of view is Jules Abbott, at least that's who it was for me. It may not be intentional but I sympathized with her the most and I was rooting for her courage through the entire journey she made. Paula Hawkins took her time to build such a strong well rounded character with GROWTH. Lena Abbott is as rebellious and chaotic as teens can get and shows such a profound level of emotional intelligence paired with her teenaged naivety. Josh Whittaker is a loveable small role that caused a butterfly effect. He pulls the story together. I loved that. The whole story carried an eerie feeling. Its just creepy and weird and odd. So if that's not your thing turn away now. It's also not thrilling so it's not creepy enough where you get too anxious. It has just the right amount of suspense to keep you going to the end. It's also full of small town drama. It doesn't end on a cliffhanger which is a huge win for me. HOWEVER, the ending made me angry.
So let's get into the wtf moments. I hated Nickie Sage. I understand her relevance to the story. I just think she could have been written differently or not at all. I don't know what it is. She annoys me. Which I understand is the point of her character. Everyone in the town hates her so they don't listen to her. I just personally could have done without her. Also hated Louise. I understand she was a grieving mother but it was a bit overbearing to the story. I felt we could feel her intensity with much less of her presence. I felt this story could have come with some trigger warnings but I understand not everyone wants that, so I'll let it go. This is also a story I just could not picture most times. There are moments when Hawkins is very descriptive and I can great a great sense of the nightmare Jules is having. Then there are other moments when I just understand Lena and Josh are throwing rocks at a house. Also Patrick...dude is sick and weird. Didn't like him.
All in all. I very much enjoyed this book. Over all it was very well written even if I didn't always like what was written or how. I have already recommended this book to others. It isn't disappointing and it's not intimidating.
*STOP HERE FOR SPOILERS AND TRIGGER WARNINGS*
Suicide
Mention of rape
Mention of abuse
Spoilers:
Disliked not getting any answers about mark. How do you kidnap a teenager and get away with it. It felt like Sean had no real hold on the story. Yet we're told in the end he's a murderer. Waiting to till the last line of the book to reveal the mystery but in a lackluster kind of way was confusing. I was both angry that was the explanation given and also relieved it wasn't drawn out. If the big climax of the book is Patrick making a confession a final confession didn't have to be made by Sean. I enjoyed it but I didn't. I don't make sense but neither did that ending for me so here we are.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Minor: Rape
cassiereadsbooks_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Fatphobia, Grief, Murder, Chronic illness, Suicide attempt, Cancer, Body shaming, Self harm, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
jazzsilvestri's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Grief, Pedophilia, Rape, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexism
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- 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
I enjoyed this book, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the physical version. There were a lottttt of characters, and it took me a long time to parse everyone apart. I think if I had a better idea of who everyone was, I could have started storing away little details about them to feel more involved in their lives faster. I thought it was written really well though, and I felt like everyone's story had a satisfying conclusion. Love a little witchy gal, too.
Content Warnings
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
caseyclaire's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Suicide
Moderate: Rape
mr_cain's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.75
I only docked .25 of a star because the pacing was so slow in the exposition. I understand she's establishing a whole host of characters and I do appreciate it, but it's a book you have to power through the first part of.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
paronomaniac's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, and Rape
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Infidelity, Murder, Suicide attempt, and Fatphobia