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surlamer7803's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A good and well written story but about 1/3 too long. Overall though it was just sad and hard to get into because it just kept pulling you down. I don’t regret reading it but I didn’t necessarily enjoy reading it either.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse
mybestfriendisabook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
4.25
took halfway to get fully engaged into it. slow burn. short chapters made it easier to read. much more poetic writing than world building which was challenging. the love made me feel emotional 🥺. ngl didn’t totally know what was going on the entire time as i was impatiently skimming at times but it became clearer as it went on
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault
faithemt's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
highly disappointing. Much preferred We Begin at the End by same author.
this dragged on, was redundant in spots and took forever to resolve. LOTS of editing errors and even geographical ones (palmetto trees do NOt grow in mountains!! they're a seaside tree hahah).
this dragged on, was redundant in spots and took forever to resolve. LOTS of editing errors and even geographical ones (palmetto trees do NOt grow in mountains!! they're a seaside tree hahah).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Minor: Abortion
ashurq's review
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
5.0
I don’t know that I can fully explain the emotional wringer this book put me through. You just want everyone to have their happy ending, but it feels impossible. Saint is just so good and it killed me to watch her make choices that were not right for her. Patch as well was hard to read about despite how much Whitaker makes the reader care about him.
The way every little plot point ties together is so satisfying. I think it could seem entirely too coincidental for some, but I loved seeing everything come together. The writing felt choppy at times, the dialogue could be confusing. But I felt like the writing style only contributed to the tone of the book and matched the fruitlessness of Patch’s search for Grace.
This is not an easy book to read. It talks about child abductions, sexual assault, and abortion just to name a few trigger topics. It’s also just long. The first third of the book dragged a bit for me, but the middle and ending were so compelling that I couldn’t put it down. Despite the length and the content, I loved this book. I love these characters. And my heart breaks for every single missing girl out there.
The way every little plot point ties together is so satisfying. I think it could seem entirely too coincidental for some, but I loved seeing everything come together. The writing felt choppy at times, the dialogue could be confusing. But I felt like the writing style only contributed to the tone of the book and matched the fruitlessness of Patch’s search for Grace.
This is not an easy book to read. It talks about child abductions, sexual assault, and abortion just to name a few trigger topics. It’s also just long. The first third of the book dragged a bit for me, but the middle and ending were so compelling that I couldn’t put it down. Despite the length and the content, I loved this book. I love these characters. And my heart breaks for every single missing girl out there.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, and Abortion
Minor: Incest and Sexual assault
edhyndman's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide, Lesbophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
jalexpulliamkepler's review
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
When it’s good, it’s great. Most of the time, it’s boring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death and War
ejtunison's review against another edition
reflective
4.5
This book was nothing like what I was expecting. I loved it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Abortion
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
theravenkingx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
3.0
We look at others with fucking trivial problems, and we think how long they'd last with a taste of our childhoods.
I'm not sure if the publishers marketed this book as a mystery/thriller, but I've noticed many people expressing disappointment. I approached it without any expectations and didn't feel misled at all. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and brilliance of this book. The writing reminded me of one of my all-time favorite books, *Never Let Me Go* It shares the same beautiful bleakness, with prose that is both ornate and melancholic. The slow burn of this book evokes deep emotions and hits you right in the gut. However, I understand that this book is not for everyone. It's a slow-paced narrative that tackles several triggering topics like child abuse, domestic violence, and addiction
If you're looking for a straightforward mystery/thriller, you might be disappointed. While the mystery element present, this book is much more than that. It's a profound exploration of the human condition, delving into the effects of traumatic experiences and their psychological implications. The story is about friendships, family, loss, unrequited love, and how an unexpected event can change the course of your life.
While this is one of the good books I have read this
year, it has some glaring issues. The book is filled with many unrealistic coincidences that, although didn't mind while reading, believe the author
could have handled differently. I can see some people being bothered them. There were numerous occasions where the author could have ended the
book in a bittersweet manner, which would have been more satisfying than the conclusion we got. I was ready to give this book a 5-star rating until I
reached the ending. It undid much of the character development and plot tension that had been carefully built up.
believe the author's attempt to wrap up the plot points was too much. He didn't leave anything to our imagination. Everything was over-explained, and everything worked out perfectly for everyone in the end.' it felt like the author was tying up every loose end with a neat little bow which took away from the
story's potential depth and complexity.
One plot point, in particular, was completely butchered at the end. It felt unnecessary and added nothing to the story. I found myself scratching my head, wondering why the author decided to mess with such a crucial part of a character's growth. It was like watching someone trip over their own shoelaces right before crossing the finish line.
Another issue I encountered, which didn't bother me as much but might frustrate other readers, was that the major twists were presented in a confusing and convoluted manner, often in just a line or two, before quickly moving on. This made it difficult to fully grasp the significance of these twists. While I didn't mind this stylistic choice for the most part, I felt that some plot twists could have benefited from more in-depth exploration.
We look at others with fucking trivial problems, and we think how long they'd last with a taste of our childhoods
Synopsis
In this book, we follow Saint, a young girl navigating the challenges of growing up, and her one-eyed friend, Patch, living in a small town in Missouri in 1975. They form an unlikely friendship, until one day, Patch intervenes to save a popular girl, Misty Meyer, from being kidnapped. The situation spirals out of control, and Patch is taken instead. Overcome with grief but driven by unfathomable courage, Saint sets out on a journey to find her friend, Patch. However, her quest doesn't end there. Ilt leads her down a rabbit hole. The existence of a girl named Grace,
kidnapped alongside Patch, becomes a mystery and a pivotal part of the story.
"Two people are less lost than one."
Over the next 26 years, we witness the characters
growth, challenges, and the complexities of their lives. This one event continues to haunt our main characters into their adulthood. Saint transforms
into a strong and independent police officer, though she carries emotional baggage from her childhood and the pain of unrequited love. Her journey takes her through various towns and cities, searching for the victims of the same man responsible for kidnapping Patch and Grace. Misty, forever
grateful for Patch's sacrifice, becomes an integral part of their intertwined fates. Grace's mysterious disappearance continues to influence the paths of our characters even in their adulthood.
The story focuses on the who and why of the heinous acts. The mystery is prevalent throughout
the narrative, but the heavy focus is on the characters and their journeys.
The narrative explores themes of survivors guilt, trauma, friendship, loss, and the passage of time, culminating in a conclusion that ties together the characters' journeys, revealing the profound impact
of their shared experiences. The story highlights the enduring strength of human connections and the relentless pursuit of justice, ultimately leading to a resolution that honors the sacrifices made and the bonds formed along the way.
"Time changes our ability to view the things that
hurt us." "But not the pain."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
tayyy_mayyy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Stalking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
aducharme4's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Cancer, Incest, Police brutality, and Abortion