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emily_farmer's review against another edition
4.0
I could not put this book down! It was suspenseful and the ending was a huge surprise to me. I feel like the last two chapters were sort of unnecessary or tacked on, but other than that it was great. Reminded me a lot of Gone Girl.
cudaaman's review against another edition
4.0
I have read better books, but I can't remember the last time i read a book with such a creeping sense of dread. it's ultimately not quite as dark as i expected, but it's still quote a pageturner.
introvertinsane21's review against another edition
4.0
ONE FOLGATE STREET IS MARIE KONDO'S DREAM
2 women: 1 in the past, 1 in the present - the tenants
1 man: the architect
2 relationships
similar patterns
1 death
What if Christian Grey is an OCD genius architect instead? And what if the women he dates are actually smart (or at least one of them).
Moral of the story: Never ever date an OCD
As a millennial struggling with housing, it is a dream to find an awesome place to live in that cost cheap. But what if this awesome home does not cost you money but your freedom and privacy instead.
This dual POV thriller really got me hooked from start to finish. We have POV of the past with Emma and present with Jane. Both women seemingly on a similar life pattern on living on One Folgate Street, a high-end smart property designed by a world-famous architect Edward Monkford. But the cost of living in such amazing property is not money but hundreds of clauses and rules that have to be adhered like: no books, no furniture etc. The objective: nothing should interrupt the aesthetic of One Folgate Street. Plus, tenant would have to sacrifice their privacy in order to live here.
We read about these two women seemingly living the same pattern and ultimately falling into a relationship with Edward despite many red flags of his character. But each of them have their own issues that drawn them to this eccentric, enigmatic man. Edward designed the home as a social experiment. Instead of having people change the home to fit their personality, it is the home that would change people's personality. Edward in a way is trying to mould his perfect woman through his own creation.
And as the story progress, while Edward is already weird as it is, something more sinister might be going on with the house as it glitches even more and the weird stories that Jane heard about THE GIRL BEFORE.
This book is just unputdownable and the pacing holds up to the end. And the last 20% of this book is the most stressed last 20% I've read in any thrillers. However I'm a bit confused by the ending. If anyone could explain that would be great.
2 women: 1 in the past, 1 in the present - the tenants
1 man: the architect
2 relationships
similar patterns
1 death
What if Christian Grey is an OCD genius architect instead? And what if the women he dates are actually smart (or at least one of them).
Moral of the story: Never ever date an OCD
As a millennial struggling with housing, it is a dream to find an awesome place to live in that cost cheap. But what if this awesome home does not cost you money but your freedom and privacy instead.
This dual POV thriller really got me hooked from start to finish. We have POV of the past with Emma and present with Jane. Both women seemingly on a similar life pattern on living on One Folgate Street, a high-end smart property designed by a world-famous architect Edward Monkford. But the cost of living in such amazing property is not money but hundreds of clauses and rules that have to be adhered like: no books, no furniture etc. The objective: nothing should interrupt the aesthetic of One Folgate Street. Plus, tenant would have to sacrifice their privacy in order to live here.
We read about these two women seemingly living the same pattern and ultimately falling into a relationship with Edward despite many red flags of his character. But each of them have their own issues that drawn them to this eccentric, enigmatic man. Edward designed the home as a social experiment. Instead of having people change the home to fit their personality, it is the home that would change people's personality. Edward in a way is trying to mould his perfect woman through his own creation.
And as the story progress, while Edward is already weird as it is, something more sinister might be going on with the house as it glitches even more and the weird stories that Jane heard about THE GIRL BEFORE.
This book is just unputdownable and the pacing holds up to the end. And the last 20% of this book is the most stressed last 20% I've read in any thrillers. However I'm a bit confused by the ending. If anyone could explain that would be great.
morvoren_mia's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the idea of living by the rules, everything in its place, no unnecessary items in your life, constant checks on your life to help you improve your mental state and health. Actually I just like the idea of an always clean kitchen!
The story flicks between the then story of a previous tenant and the now story of the current. Both seeming to be vulnerable and have similarly appearances. The story is about who killed Emma, because Jane has a better chance of survival if she knows.
The promo about the book suggested to me that the tenants lived under stricter rules then actually were applied, I was thinking more big brother house than come and go as you please. I wasn’t disappointed though. It’s difficult to tell from a kindle, but I think the book is a good ‘short’ read. – I finished it in a night, because the book flows well it makes this so easy to keep reading.
It’s a good distraction for a couple of hours and worth a read, but I don’t think it needs to be at the top of your neatly stacked book reading list.
The story flicks between the then story of a previous tenant and the now story of the current. Both seeming to be vulnerable and have similarly appearances. The story is about who killed Emma, because Jane has a better chance of survival if she knows.
The promo about the book suggested to me that the tenants lived under stricter rules then actually were applied, I was thinking more big brother house than come and go as you please. I wasn’t disappointed though. It’s difficult to tell from a kindle, but I think the book is a good ‘short’ read. – I finished it in a night, because the book flows well it makes this so easy to keep reading.
It’s a good distraction for a couple of hours and worth a read, but I don’t think it needs to be at the top of your neatly stacked book reading list.
jaz_conley's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
5.0
julia72204's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sainteve's review against another edition
1.0
This might be the book that makes me stop reading these kinds of books.
caffeineandpaperbacks's review against another edition
4.0
In The Girl Before we follow in turn two different protagonists: Emma (then) and Jane (now). Due to traumatic events, both decide to live in One Folgate Street, a minimalist house built by a very eccentric, perfectionist architect Edward Monkford. Their lives become intertwined as past and present merge together and both women find out more about themselves living in that house and following (or not) the rules that come with it.
I very much enjoyed the writing style and the way the author built suspense throughout the book. The reveal might have been a bit expected, but that ending not so much. I did get a few "Fifty Shades" vibes from the characters but I focused more on the psychoanalytical aspect of them and why they were acting the way that they did.
If you want to read a quick but good psychological thriller this one is for you.
I very much enjoyed the writing style and the way the author built suspense throughout the book. The reveal might have been a bit expected, but that ending not so much. I did get a few "Fifty Shades" vibes from the characters but I focused more on the psychoanalytical aspect of them and why they were acting the way that they did.
If you want to read a quick but good psychological thriller this one is for you.