Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Never jej ani slovo by Lisa Jewell

189 reviews

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book really had its hooks in me, I can’t even play about that. It got me good, I was enthralled! It was completely ridiculous in a way that genuinely felt like a true crime documentary that you watch in full disbelief, constantly asking yourself HOW this shit happens. Not to even mention the fact that this is a perfect example of an audiobook done well! There probably will be an actual Netflix original coming very soon, which I will be sat for. The ending... I am a FIRM believer that we as a society have outgrown twist endings. Like, okay sure. Technically it fits and works within the story but it felt like an unnecessary last minute gotcha.

Besides the ending, there’s one HUGE let down for this book: trying to make the reader have ANY sympathy for a pedophile that groomed and married his mistress’s daughter the minute she was of legal age, who he then went on to have two daughters with. It started SO solid and then Lisa Jewell fully shat on it all with that turnaround.

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I adored reading this book. I loved the format with the jumps to the future with the documentary and the podcast snippets. I loved reading about all the weird things Josie did and the justifications she gave herself for her weird and twisted behaviours. I loved getting to hear about Alix's side of the story where she copes with her husband's drinking, and how she tells her kids. I loved the middle of the book, with the little twists you find out about throughout. 

With that said, the end was incredibly underwhelming. It felt very rushed and it didn't provide me with the shock factor that I read in other people's reviews. Therefore, I found that solely the end was dissapointing. But the rest was enticing and gripping. 

Knowing that everyone was unreliable beforehand probably ruined the end for me. But, at the same time, it's literally the name of the book so.... 
Anyway, I'm writing this review a little over 2 weeks after finishing this book and the biggest plot element that still shocks me is the age gap between Josie and her husband.

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Now that I’ve finished the book, I wholeheartedly agree with the title. There are a variety of stories with different narrators, none of whom is reliable. So, yes, I finished and, as far as I can tell, it indeed appears that little to none of it is true. 

It’s an entertaining mystery, entirely unrealistic but captivating. I knew I had to keep reading till I finished. The podcaster is the only reliable narrator but as she uses her medium to promote the words of those she interviews, she becomes as unreliable as they in spreading their stories. 

I enjoyed this but not well enough to read further is this author’s oeuvre. 

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challenging dark mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Loveable characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was the first fiction book I’ve read in 3 years. Listening to it on audiobook was a great experience because of the podcast format. It was a quick listen, finished in two days. The pacing kept me hooked and excited for more, especially with the unreliable narrator, but the ending fell flat for me. 

It also felt like the pedophilia was mentioned and glossed over, and the former minor in that relationship was victim-blamed. This book definitely got me back into reading, but also left quite a bit to be desired with loose ends it didn’t tie up. 

I’d probably give this a 4.65 to 4.7

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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emotional reflective tense

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