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ciciwilkie's review against another edition
4.0
This was a pretty good debut. I enjoyed the writing style and the book itself had this nostalgic feel. We all can relate to returning to our hometown after leaving. In this way it really reminded me of Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects, there were some difference but the main theme is a girl returning to her small hometown after gaining life in a big city to solve a mystery that encompasses the past and present.
I will say I liked this better than Sharp Objects. The audiobook was wonderful and Sharp Objects was soo dark and disturbing I felt like it was trying too hard, where this book was just the right amount.
I did feel like it dragged at times but otherwise I really enjoyed this.
I will definitely check out one of Krysten Ritter's next books, and would recommend this book.
I will say I liked this better than Sharp Objects. The audiobook was wonderful and Sharp Objects was soo dark and disturbing I felt like it was trying too hard, where this book was just the right amount.
I did feel like it dragged at times but otherwise I really enjoyed this.
I will definitely check out one of Krysten Ritter's next books, and would recommend this book.
bridgetwf's review against another edition
I enjoyed reading this book. Did I love it? No. But it was a pretty good page-turner.
xjinxedx's review against another edition
4.0
Krysten Ritter can spin a decent mystery but I almost feel unsatisfied with the ending and the way things wrapped up. Anyway, I enjoyed reading it while it unfolded but I cant shake the feeling of disappointment.
d0nnaw0ng's review against another edition
4.0
3.75/5
I was able to breeze through 2/3 of the book quickly but at the same time it's giving me a lot of mix messages/signals.
Abby wants to find out what happened to her best friend, Kaycee when she went back to her hometown, Barrens, Indiana while she was really suppose to be there investigating Optimal Plastics for contaminated the water.
It's as if Abby's going around in circles and is driving me into circles along with her. Did Kaycee really ran away or she was really sick? The more she digs into the story the more confused she is and the more confused I get. Even at the end I'm not sure what went on but I did enjoy the overall story therefore I gave it a 3.75 rating.
I was able to breeze through 2/3 of the book quickly but at the same time it's giving me a lot of mix messages/signals.
Abby wants to find out what happened to her best friend, Kaycee when she went back to her hometown, Barrens, Indiana while she was really suppose to be there investigating Optimal Plastics for contaminated the water.
It's as if Abby's going around in circles and is driving me into circles along with her. Did Kaycee really ran away or she was really sick? The more she digs into the story the more confused she is and the more confused I get. Even at the end I'm not sure what went on but I did enjoy the overall story therefore I gave it a 3.75 rating.
towering_tbr's review against another edition
4.0
This was pretty good. There were definitely a few problems with it, like pacing and some confusion early on. But I was gripped. I'm typically not a mystery reader but I enjoyed this a lot.
perjacxis's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
I usually enjoy a good "protagonist returns to hometown and has to deal with old secrets" plot (see In the Woods by Tana French) but it didn't work for me here. The story relies heavily on Abbey remembering or not remembering things at convenient moments and her actions often seemed unbelievable. I'm glad that I read it but I think I prefer seeing Krysten Ritter on screen.
I usually enjoy a good "protagonist returns to hometown and has to deal with old secrets" plot (see In the Woods by Tana French) but it didn't work for me here. The story relies heavily on Abbey remembering or not remembering things at convenient moments and her actions often seemed unbelievable. I'm glad that I read it but I think I prefer seeing Krysten Ritter on screen.
rmarcin's review against another edition
4.0
Abby Williams has returned to her home of Barrens to investigate the potential of the town's biggest employer and community contributer, Optimal, of releasing hazardous waste into the town's reservoir. Abby hasn't been back in 10 years, and when she does return, all the reasons that she escaped keep invading her thoughts. Her best childhood friend, Kaycee Mitchell, turned on her in high school. Kaycee hasn't been seen since just after graduation. Old classmates, but not friends, Misha and Brent, cozy up to Abby. Dave Condor, a few years older than Abby, is someone that Abby likes, but she isn't sure of him.
While Abby is haunted by memories of her childhood, she needs to investigate what is going on in the town, and whether Optimal is poisoning the residents. What starts out as an Erin Brockovich type of novel, going after the big corporation for poisoning the water, becomes a much different story altogether.
The book moved quickly, and there was an underlying mystery to the entire novel. When the truth is finally released, it is a surprise as to what happened (but I wasn't surprised at the one who was the most evil).
While Abby is haunted by memories of her childhood, she needs to investigate what is going on in the town, and whether Optimal is poisoning the residents. What starts out as an Erin Brockovich type of novel, going after the big corporation for poisoning the water, becomes a much different story altogether.
The book moved quickly, and there was an underlying mystery to the entire novel. When the truth is finally released, it is a surprise as to what happened (but I wasn't surprised at the one who was the most evil).
garweilee's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
terroreesa's review against another edition
2.0
Predictable but enjoyable. I found the Optimal storyline's conclusion unsatisfactory but I liked the Kaycee part.
beastreader's review against another edition
3.0
My thoughts on this book are not swayed by the fact that this book is written by an actor. In fact, I hold the same standards to celebrity authors as I do other authors. Having said this, I thought that Ms. Ritter did a good job of writing this book. I liked the concept for the story. There was something ominous about what was happening to people in town as well as what happened to Kaycee. Yet, I felt like the story needed a bigger punch.
Being a fan of Jessica Jones, I was hoping and wanting this book to be as dark and gritty as the television show that Ms. Ritter stars in. This same thing goes for Abby. She seemed to act like she was still in highschool where she was the follower and not the leader. However, I did get glimpses of promise and where Ms. Ritter was going with this story. With a little more polish, I expect that the next book will be better. I look forward to seeing and reading more from Ms. Ritter.
Being a fan of Jessica Jones, I was hoping and wanting this book to be as dark and gritty as the television show that Ms. Ritter stars in. This same thing goes for Abby. She seemed to act like she was still in highschool where she was the follower and not the leader. However, I did get glimpses of promise and where Ms. Ritter was going with this story. With a little more polish, I expect that the next book will be better. I look forward to seeing and reading more from Ms. Ritter.