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haileyhardcover's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I wish that I had read Black women’s reviews of this book before I purchased it…
While I was reading, I wondered if maybe there was something I was missing. Some context that I, as a white woman, could not understand that made this book - its plot and especially its characters - better than I was perceiving them to be. After finishing it and looking up reviews written by Black women, I think my gut instinct was right. This book reads like it was written by an “OBG.”
I will not comment further on the lived experience of the characters or real Black women. I encourage you to read reviews written by Black readers, especially Black women, if you’d like more thoughts on that.
I will say more about the writing, though. This book is rough. It’s slooooooow going, and then all of the action takes place in the last 50 or so pages. I can see what the author was going for with the ending, but it didn’t hit the way I believe she intended. I think 60% of the first 300 pages could have been cut entirely, and the ending would’ve made a great mid-point, leading up to the rising action and either a MORE shocking climax or a more triumphant one. Comparing this to The Devil Wears Prada (as a quote from The Washington Post does on the cover) is inaccurate and bizarre - the only similarity is that the fmc is an assistant, but her circumstances, the industry, her boss, everything else is completely different from TDWP. I think a better comparison would be to Jordon Peele’s Get Out - there is even a reference to the sunken place in the book. You’re gettjng conspiracy, evil white people, suspicious substances, altered states… it could’ve been SO. GOOD. But sadly, it’s just not.
While I was reading, I wondered if maybe there was something I was missing. Some context that I, as a white woman, could not understand that made this book - its plot and especially its characters - better than I was perceiving them to be. After finishing it and looking up reviews written by Black women, I think my gut instinct was right. This book reads like it was written by an “OBG.”
I will not comment further on the lived experience of the characters or real Black women. I encourage you to read reviews written by Black readers, especially Black women, if you’d like more thoughts on that.
I will say more about the writing, though. This book is rough. It’s slooooooow going, and then all of the action takes place in the last 50 or so pages. I can see what the author was going for with the ending, but it didn’t hit the way I believe she intended. I think 60% of the first 300 pages could have been cut entirely, and the ending would’ve made a great mid-point, leading up to the rising action and either a MORE shocking climax or a more triumphant one. Comparing this to The Devil Wears Prada (as a quote from The Washington Post does on the cover) is inaccurate and bizarre - the only similarity is that the fmc is an assistant, but her circumstances, the industry, her boss, everything else is completely different from TDWP. I think a better comparison would be to Jordon Peele’s Get Out - there is even a reference to the sunken place in the book. You’re gettjng conspiracy, evil white people, suspicious substances, altered states… it could’ve been SO. GOOD. But sadly, it’s just not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Bullying and Gaslighting
Minor: Gun violence, Hate crime, Police brutality, Cursing, and Murder
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality, Racial slurs, Bullying, Cursing, and Racism
sonygaystation's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Racism, and Stalking
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Alcohol, Racial slurs, Colonisation, and Cursing
nialiversuch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, and Misogyny
parasolcrafter's review against another edition
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
oh, i really did love this book so much <3 i dont read many thrillers like this book, but as far as i can remember this is the only thriller-esque book ive ever read that ive actually been able to figure things out myself without plot points being either completely explained to me, or with the plot points actually having nothing to do with the book. i enjoyed being on the journey this book took me on because as i read it i was able to piece things together with the information we were given, and it lead to the book unfolding in a very realistic way. its also a unique take on, slightly, horror. its not really a scary book per se, but the reality of what happens in it is its own Kind of horror. this is one of those stories im going to remember for a long time because its just so well-crafted and written and, sadly, believable. the ending was also good, too; very worrying!!! definitely very worrying and made me sad, but it was also where i knew the book was going to lead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Cursing
cassielaj's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
3.5
This book was not at all what I expected, but sometimes in a good way. What started out as concerning became confusing and then downright eerie… it definitely kept me on my toes.
However, by the time things really felt like they were ramping up, it was ending.
However, by the time things really felt like they were ramping up, it was ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Gaslighting
Moderate: Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Cursing
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