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greatexpectations77's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Classism, Drug use, Bullying, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Abortion, Blood, Eating disorder, and Injury/Injury detail
bessadams's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Murder, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
skinnerj1267'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Minor: Sexual harassment
lindsayerin's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Grief, Pregnancy, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Toxic friendship
minimicropup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
- Set in Oxford, UK for the “Before” chapters. Mainly in dorms, halls, and pubs so over time I developed familiarity for certain places along with the MC. The “After” chapters are set in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- People, places, and things are well described so don’t have to work overtime on the imaginings, but there’s still room for creativity (and no imagination smashing later in the book).
- Our “Before” MC is considerate, humble, loyal, forgiving, naïve, self-doubting…and a little “dense”! They are in their first year at Oxford University assigned to a charming, spontaneous roommate they admire and bond with quickly.
- Our “After” MC has the same personality but is now cautious (bordering on avoidant) of anyone beyond their spouse, co-workers, and friend. They are expecting a child and struggling with some health issues related to the pregnancy and stress.
- Realistic touch of true crime journalism putting pressure on witnesses. Accurate portrayal of toxic friendship dynamics and how they can form.
- The whole situation relied on our MC being blind to HUGE red flags near the end (girl, have you ever heard of the police?!)…but that is pretty consistent with her throughout the story!
- The more atmospheric (and interesting) parts are the “Before” chapters. The “After” chapters drag on and become repetitive about Hannah’s pregnancy experience (dizzy, sweaty, sore…we get it!)
- Unsupportive spouse trope is overdone in the “After” chapters. Hannah’s husband is acting controlling, dismissive, and does that “pat-pat you’re just pregnant-hysterical, honey” thing. I imagine this was done to create tension and suspense. It just didn’t have to be done SO often.
- After the villain reveal I felt like we were reading a totally different character in a way that broke the story (the sudden evil-grin-rubbing-hands-together-cackling energy was a total 180 and a bit OTT).
- The villain may range from aha-validation to twist for you, but I enjoyed it because there was a sprinkling of small, justifiable red flags throughout the book. I would alternatively suspect and dismiss certain characters and it had me starting to feel as confused and dense as Hannah (🤭).
- Slow-paced narratives based on dialogue, thoughts, and monologue
- Dark academia vibes (death of a roommate, academics behaving badly)
- A tiny touch of “Good for Them” (villainous victim/bullying revenge)
- Light commentary on classism, access to education based on generational wealth rather than merit, familial $$ control and pressure on College students
- Whodunnits and red herrings
- Slightly ambiguous endings…we get the who, where, how, for all the crimes, but why is less clear
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Pregnancy
Moderate: Murder, Bullying, Death, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Drug abuse, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship
Panic attacks are described through fainting/dizziness arising from pregnancy and health conditions. For pregnancy there isdganaway's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Minor: Sexual harassment, Violence, and Pregnancy
katharina90's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Gun violence, Drug use, Murder, and Stalking
Minor: Classism
mouwuol's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Child death, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Gun violence, Grief, Violence, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Classism, Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Murder, Blood, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, and Death
cpratreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This is the first book of hers (I've read 2 others) where I didn't guess the outcome so that was fun! It did feel like it went a little quickly once the reveal happened but it was a fun ride.
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Death, and Sexual assault
katiejohns'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Sexual harassment