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chryscurl's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this right down to the last gasp, what an ending! The interactions between Nina and Emma were fascinating, and being told from both sides brought a wonderful sense of perspective. The unspoken questions are how well do we truly know our friends and acquaintances, what motivates them and what they really think of us. We all have reasons for doing certain things, but how do we justify our actions.
I had a real sense of both characters. There were no excuses made by giving them specific conditions such as alcoholism or depression, they were just flawed and all the more realistic because of this. Nina was terrifying at times and yet I felt almost sympathetic, but only almost!
I had a real sense of both characters. There were no excuses made by giving them specific conditions such as alcoholism or depression, they were just flawed and all the more realistic because of this. Nina was terrifying at times and yet I felt almost sympathetic, but only almost!
susiesbookbubble's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the first half of this book, tension building at its best, a seriously creepy female character plotting her careful revenge. I was poised on the edge of my seat waiting to find out the motive behind all of this plotting and planning.... and then.... Seriously? Had to read it again to make sure that this was the motive, apparently this was enough to attempt to ruin someone's life? A strange ending indeed.
piyali's review against another edition
3.0
A well written psychological thriller. It kept me on the edge, and the end was unexpected! Having said that, I was constantly wondering what Nina would do next. I could relate very well to Emma's struggle as the mother of two children. As I read about her life, I relived some of my own exhaustion as a mother of a new born.
amyredgreen's review against another edition
2.0
Could have been a good book, unfortunately it's a bad one. I really do like the concept, that someone has held on to some perceived slight for so many years, while the other person doesn't even remember it. But when the grudge is finally revealed, it's really so ridiculously minor and impersonal that it's really hard to believe that an otherwise pretty reasonable person would have such an exaggerated response. The dual narrative is also something that I typically enjoy but is used so badly here; it's nice to see things from both points of view but the way it makes you relive every interaction detail by detail is beyond repetitive. And, like every other review has noted, terrible horrible stupid ridiculous ending.
readingari's review against another edition
1.0
I save 1 star reviews for books I really don't like. I really didn't like this book. It was decently written, and kept my interest but the whole time I was waiting for the big reveal, the big mystery to be discovered and when it was, I thought it was stupid. All the build up over nothing. And then the ending. Um, no thank you.
amgivzig's review against another edition
3.0
Kept wondering if this was gonna be where the story started until it finally started at the very end. Maybe I missed something, was disappointed
karengillfl's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't like the way it ended...just leaves you hanging.
swan480's review against another edition
2.0
I finished this book a little while back. I felt like it could have been a lot more intriguing and suspenseful than it actually was. The premise was excellent, but I started feeling like it was failing to ramp up the suspense as the story progressed. I also didn't like either character very much, so I wasn't very invested in the story. The ending was also one of those ambiguous endings where you don't actually know what happens. I know some people like those, and often I do, but not this time!
autumnwonders's review against another edition
4.0
Took a bit to get into but it was well worth the wait. The author creates suspense with the most subtle of writing. She also illustrates perfectly the harried, frustrating, yet joyous period of young motherhood.
newmoonmars_reads's review against another edition
2.0
My review (as published at Read, Run, Ramble):
Thank you Little, Brown and Company via Goodreads for providing me with an early copy of this book!
Okay, this book had tons of promise – the premise is intriguing and suspenseful! How could these girls know one and other? What could have gone so wrong? What would drive one of them to go to such lengths while the other doesn’t even remember their relationship? So many questions; so many paths this book could take.
And it didn’t take any of them.
First, I didn’t love the writing; it felt disjointed and stunted most of the time. The chapters jump from one woman’s POV to the next (Nina and Emma), but not in a way that works for the story. Basically, something happens in the story and is told in one woman’s POV, then Lane turns it around and tells the exact same story, with very little variance, from the other woman’s POV. It just didn’t work for me and I love that type of storytelling – it is normally one of my favorite modes of getting all the details in a novel.
Not only did the writing not get there for me, but the storyline took a rather boring turn. It isn’t until about three quarters of the way through the book when readers learn how Nina knows Emma and why she’s being so manipulative, secretive, vengeful, and downright creepy. And the reason/secret is silly and inconsequential in my opinion.
Next, we have the ending. When I looked down and realized I had approximately 7 pages left in the book and there was no lead up to an ending in sight, I knew things probably weren’t going to conclude very well. I was right. The ending is abrupt and awkward – it just jumps out and happens and leaves you wondering what in the hell just happened and why. Especially after having found out the “secret” a couple chapters back and that secret being so underwhelming.
Sadly, I cannot recommend this book even though it had so much promise.
I was provided with an ARC of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I am not compensated for any of my reviews.
Thank you Little, Brown and Company via Goodreads for providing me with an early copy of this book!
Okay, this book had tons of promise – the premise is intriguing and suspenseful! How could these girls know one and other? What could have gone so wrong? What would drive one of them to go to such lengths while the other doesn’t even remember their relationship? So many questions; so many paths this book could take.
And it didn’t take any of them.
First, I didn’t love the writing; it felt disjointed and stunted most of the time. The chapters jump from one woman’s POV to the next (Nina and Emma), but not in a way that works for the story. Basically, something happens in the story and is told in one woman’s POV, then Lane turns it around and tells the exact same story, with very little variance, from the other woman’s POV. It just didn’t work for me and I love that type of storytelling – it is normally one of my favorite modes of getting all the details in a novel.
Not only did the writing not get there for me, but the storyline took a rather boring turn. It isn’t until about three quarters of the way through the book when readers learn how Nina knows Emma and why she’s being so manipulative, secretive, vengeful, and downright creepy. And the reason/secret is silly and inconsequential in my opinion.
Next, we have the ending. When I looked down and realized I had approximately 7 pages left in the book and there was no lead up to an ending in sight, I knew things probably weren’t going to conclude very well. I was right. The ending is abrupt and awkward – it just jumps out and happens and leaves you wondering what in the hell just happened and why. Especially after having found out the “secret” a couple chapters back and that secret being so underwhelming.
Sadly, I cannot recommend this book even though it had so much promise.
I was provided with an ARC of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I am not compensated for any of my reviews.