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3.2 AVERAGE
3.2 AVERAGE
Good mystery.
I liked Grit a lot, so I'm not surprised this was a good read. I felt bad for Pearl. Her mom moved away, her dad's an alcoholic, and she in unrequited love with her best friend. I had issues with all the boys in this book. Reese had to know how Pearl felt about him, but he continued to date Indigo even though she treated Peark like shit. And as soon as she started spending a little time with Bridges, he abandons her. And then Bridges is using her as entertainment and to forget a girl in his past. Akil was a huge dick and Tristan had a lot of drama. Pearl deserved better. The mystery around who killed the Garrisons and what really happened was interesting and kept me intrigued. Well written and engaging story.
I liked Grit a lot, so I'm not surprised this was a good read. I felt bad for Pearl. Her mom moved away, her dad's an alcoholic, and she in unrequited love with her best friend. I had issues with all the boys in this book. Reese had to know how Pearl felt about him, but he continued to date Indigo even though she treated Peark like shit. And as soon as she started spending a little time with Bridges, he abandons her. And then Bridges is using her as entertainment and to forget a girl in his past. Akil was a huge dick and Tristan had a lot of drama. Pearl deserved better. The mystery around who killed the Garrisons and what really happened was interesting and kept me intrigued. Well written and engaging story.
3.5 *
I'm not going to lie, I wasn't in love with this book. I wanted more from it and the characters, although the characters were my favorite part. I didn't feel like the mystery was very strong, it felt a bit too obvious "who did it."
But, I loved Pearl and related super well to her character. I also like Tristan (you don't get anything from his perspective, but still). In the end, I'm frustrated because I feel like this book had a ton of potential that was cut short.
Please know, I'm in no way saying don't read this. Everyone's different, and the mystery elements might work better for others than they did for me. Plus, I really did enjoy the characters. I'd be ecstatic to hear more from Pearl.
I'm not going to lie, I wasn't in love with this book. I wanted more from it and the characters, although the characters were my favorite part. I didn't feel like the mystery was very strong, it felt a bit too obvious "who did it."
But, I loved Pearl and related super well to her character. I also like Tristan (you don't get anything from his perspective, but still). In the end, I'm frustrated because I feel like this book had a ton of potential that was cut short.
Please know, I'm in no way saying don't read this. Everyone's different, and the mystery elements might work better for others than they did for me. Plus, I really did enjoy the characters. I'd be ecstatic to hear more from Pearl.
Warnings: allusions to domestic abuse, dubious consent
While this is first and foremost a mystery novel, I feel the strength of the story was in the characterization and not the mystery of it. When Pearl infiltrates the group of the summer kids, she does so with the intention of finding out what really happened that unfortunate night when her father was blamed for not preventing the arson and murder of Garrisons. Most of the book goes into the class divide and how the rich kids look down on the townies, how she derides their indulgences and their facades. But Tristan has a quiet intensity to him that draws her, even as she is repelled by his uncaring and manipulative nature, and as she peels one layer after another of these kids and their lives, she learns a little more about what could have led to that tragedy. The author takes care to construct each character, building them into three-dimensional people with secrets of their own, their personal issues that subtly affect the plot of the novel. I loved that aspect of this book a lot. As a mystery, though, it is pretty frustrating - much of the clues and reveals happen in the second half of the book, and the payout is not as much as it is building up to. There is perhaps only a couple of scenes that evoke a 'thriller' like vibe, the danger that you associate with the genre. Overall, it is a decent book but if you are looking for a good mystery, you might be disappointed.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Harper Teen, via Edelweiss.
While this is first and foremost a mystery novel, I feel the strength of the story was in the characterization and not the mystery of it. When Pearl infiltrates the group of the summer kids, she does so with the intention of finding out what really happened that unfortunate night when her father was blamed for not preventing the arson and murder of Garrisons. Most of the book goes into the class divide and how the rich kids look down on the townies, how she derides their indulgences and their facades. But Tristan has a quiet intensity to him that draws her, even as she is repelled by his uncaring and manipulative nature, and as she peels one layer after another of these kids and their lives, she learns a little more about what could have led to that tragedy. The author takes care to construct each character, building them into three-dimensional people with secrets of their own, their personal issues that subtly affect the plot of the novel. I loved that aspect of this book a lot. As a mystery, though, it is pretty frustrating - much of the clues and reveals happen in the second half of the book, and the payout is not as much as it is building up to. There is perhaps only a couple of scenes that evoke a 'thriller' like vibe, the danger that you associate with the genre. Overall, it is a decent book but if you are looking for a good mystery, you might be disappointed.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Harper Teen, via Edelweiss.
This book dragged a little at first, it took a while for me to really understand who was who and what was going on, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. The main character was relatable enough, and the other characters were interesting, although I felt something was missing there. I didn't really understand why the person who did it did it, or why other characters did certain things, and I think this could have been fleshed out more.
Overall I enjoyed the story though, and the writing style is nice.
Overall I enjoyed the story though, and the writing style is nice.
Review:
I am a huge fan of French’s Grit and so was very excited about this one. (I somehow missed The Door to January? Not sure how that happened.) Sadly this one is a bit of a disappointment. Not Brightly Burning disappointing, but it definitely fell short of my expectations.
French’s prose is sparse and tight as ever, but it’s the story itself that doesn’t deliver. Moody rich people who are assholes don’t interest me very much and that constitutes the bulk of what the book is about, wrapped in the guise of a mystery. Pearl’s “investigation” is somehow both leisurely and weirdly intense. While she and her dad have clearly suffered because the Garrison fire, I never felt that her dogged pursuit of the truth was fleshed out enough. The big reveal is more of a “yeah, sure” and the climax happens in the last 10-15 pages.
Rating:
3.0/5 Stars
Recommend to a Friend?
Not great for Gillian French is better than what a lot of other people can do, but I wish she would’ve directed her talents to something better.
I am a huge fan of French’s Grit and so was very excited about this one. (I somehow missed The Door to January? Not sure how that happened.) Sadly this one is a bit of a disappointment. Not Brightly Burning disappointing, but it definitely fell short of my expectations.
French’s prose is sparse and tight as ever, but it’s the story itself that doesn’t deliver. Moody rich people who are assholes don’t interest me very much and that constitutes the bulk of what the book is about, wrapped in the guise of a mystery. Pearl’s “investigation” is somehow both leisurely and weirdly intense. While she and her dad have clearly suffered because the Garrison fire, I never felt that her dogged pursuit of the truth was fleshed out enough. The big reveal is more of a “yeah, sure” and the climax happens in the last 10-15 pages.
Rating:
3.0/5 Stars
Recommend to a Friend?
Not great for Gillian French is better than what a lot of other people can do, but I wish she would’ve directed her talents to something better.