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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
This is a very difficult book not to spoil, but I will do my best to write a spoiler-free review.
This book is a fast read, not because it's short, but because it is so exciting you won't want to stop reading. I zipped through it in 4 days simply because I wanted so badly to know what would happen. The questions and mystery are spaced out in a way so that when a hint arrives, you can easily recall how that helps to solve the mystery. You'll be constantly trying to solve Zoe's death throughout the book.
Nothing feels like a gotcha moment or like you're betrayed as a reader because you had no chance of figuring something out before it's resolved. All the pieces are laid out for the reader unlike some mysteries that try to "trick" you.
I would compare this very strongly to a Gillian Flynn novel; mysterious and thrilling without any trickery or complicated and unrealistic expectations. There is a cast of characters presented that all serve as fantastic players and suspects in Zoe's death. You'll find yourself latching on and sure of someone's guilt and then questioning it as you get to know them.
In reality, the answer provided in the end is handed to us in pieces throughout the beginning of the book, which makes it all the more satisfying when everything is resolved. Although this is intended for young adults and many of the characters are teenagers, nothing feels immature or dumbed-down for the audience. It's just as enjoyable for an adult and experienced reader as it would be for someone reading their first murder mystery.
This book is a fast read, not because it's short, but because it is so exciting you won't want to stop reading. I zipped through it in 4 days simply because I wanted so badly to know what would happen. The questions and mystery are spaced out in a way so that when a hint arrives, you can easily recall how that helps to solve the mystery. You'll be constantly trying to solve Zoe's death throughout the book.
Nothing feels like a gotcha moment or like you're betrayed as a reader because you had no chance of figuring something out before it's resolved. All the pieces are laid out for the reader unlike some mysteries that try to "trick" you.
I would compare this very strongly to a Gillian Flynn novel; mysterious and thrilling without any trickery or complicated and unrealistic expectations. There is a cast of characters presented that all serve as fantastic players and suspects in Zoe's death. You'll find yourself latching on and sure of someone's guilt and then questioning it as you get to know them.
In reality, the answer provided in the end is handed to us in pieces throughout the beginning of the book, which makes it all the more satisfying when everything is resolved. Although this is intended for young adults and many of the characters are teenagers, nothing feels immature or dumbed-down for the audience. It's just as enjoyable for an adult and experienced reader as it would be for someone reading their first murder mystery.
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:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
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
3.5⭐️
A very fast and enjoyable read, the mystery, the posh seaside setting and the (possibly?) fake memories pull you in from the start and keep you guessing what actually happened, until the very end. I wish that the clues were scattered more evenly throughout the story though. That there were a bit more discoveries and red herrings dispersed throughout the book rather than keeping most of the information hidden until the end. Sometimes it genuinely felt a bit exhausting and infuriating
A very fast and enjoyable read, the mystery, the posh seaside setting and the (possibly?) fake memories pull you in from the start and keep you guessing what actually happened, until the very end. I wish that the clues were scattered more evenly throughout the story though. That there were a bit more discoveries and red herrings dispersed throughout the book rather than keeping most of the information hidden until the end. Sometimes it genuinely felt a bit exhausting and infuriating
Interesting book liked Martina's podcast mixed in with the story.
I wanted to like this book and I was with it for a minute, but I felt like the ending was kind of a let down and then it was all explained out for us in one chapter. I think it tried hard to be dark, but barely scratched the surface of trauma, substance abuse, etc. And I felt like the stuff about race felt inauthentic and hastily thrown in. I expected more from such a cool-looking book with blue-edged pages!
It's 5am and I just finished the audio and safe to say I won't be able to sleep.
This gripping thriller has been on my TBR for a while, and when I finished AGGGTM, I knew I needed to give this one a shot. But if you're looking for a book with the same feeling of Holly Jackson's famous serie, this ain't it.
I loved the way the story went back and forth between past and present, and how the clues didn't give any alibis to the suspects until the very end of the book. Until the 90% mark, all of the suspects could have potentially killed Zoe, and I found that sooo well-done by the author. The fact that we're going down the rabbit hole of looking for what happened to Zoe with Anna, and her fuzzy memories, which made her an unreliable narrator from start to finish, was so well-executed I almost cried with her at the end.
I'm notoriously bad to guess plot-twists, and I guessed only half of it. But I have to admit I was looking for a much more dramatic way to solve the murder and the real discovery of what happened to Zoe Spanos, and I still have a few plot points that are unanswered.
Very good thriller, made me lose my mind a bit. I listened to the audiobook and the full cast of it gave the narration and eerie and almost netflix-like feeling, that I loved.
This gripping thriller has been on my TBR for a while, and when I finished AGGGTM, I knew I needed to give this one a shot. But if you're looking for a book with the same feeling of Holly Jackson's famous serie, this ain't it.
I loved the way the story went back and forth between past and present, and how the clues didn't give any alibis to the suspects until the very end of the book. Until the 90% mark, all of the suspects could have potentially killed Zoe, and I found that sooo well-done by the author. The fact that we're going down the rabbit hole of looking for what happened to Zoe with Anna, and her fuzzy memories, which made her an unreliable narrator from start to finish, was so well-executed I almost cried with her at the end.
I'm notoriously bad to guess plot-twists, and I guessed only half of it. But I have to admit I was looking for a much more dramatic way to solve the murder and the real discovery of what happened to Zoe Spanos,
Spoiler
and it was very much like AGGGTM if I'm being honestSpoiler
Like, what's the deal with Becca???Very good thriller, made me lose my mind a bit. I listened to the audiobook and the full cast of it gave the narration and eerie and almost netflix-like feeling, that I loved.
It's like gossip girl meets true crime podcasts. So cool.
REVIEW:
✨More accurately, I would give this a 3.5 but I’m rounding it up to a 4. This book was so FUN. It was a true love letter to Rebecca and crime podcasts. I loved listening to the audiobook as I read along, as I was able to listen to the voice actors for different characters such as George Spanos, the college kids from Brown and Yale, and Max Adler... which was a little too spot on.
✨The only things that I would knock this book for would be the overwhelming amount of descriptions and the fact that I was able to guess some major plot points and twists. At points in the book I felt like characters hadn’t interacted for chapters because of how heavy the descriptions were in this book. I can appreciating setting the mood, but this felt excessive at point. I have to wonder if this is how the book Rebecca reads. As I have only read certain parts of the book and don’t fully remember if it does, but if so, then that is simply a writing choice that just went over my head as an “average” reader.
✨I absolutely LOVED the podcast portions and Martina, the host, was my favorite character. I read at 10x the speed when I got to those parts because they were so easy to consume and understand since they came in handy when the tensions in the book were high.
✨Overall, I definitely have to recommend this book to any True Crime fanatics out there! And also if you admire the book that Zoe Spanos is inspired by. The subtle references and the overall vibe matched the vibes perfectly.
✨More accurately, I would give this a 3.5 but I’m rounding it up to a 4. This book was so FUN. It was a true love letter to Rebecca and crime podcasts. I loved listening to the audiobook as I read along, as I was able to listen to the voice actors for different characters such as George Spanos, the college kids from Brown and Yale, and Max Adler... which was a little too spot on.
✨The only things that I would knock this book for would be the overwhelming amount of descriptions and the fact that I was able to guess some major plot points and twists. At points in the book I felt like characters hadn’t interacted for chapters because of how heavy the descriptions were in this book. I can appreciating setting the mood, but this felt excessive at point. I have to wonder if this is how the book Rebecca reads. As I have only read certain parts of the book and don’t fully remember if it does, but if so, then that is simply a writing choice that just went over my head as an “average” reader.
✨I absolutely LOVED the podcast portions and Martina, the host, was my favorite character. I read at 10x the speed when I got to those parts because they were so easy to consume and understand since they came in handy when the tensions in the book were high.
✨Overall, I definitely have to recommend this book to any True Crime fanatics out there! And also if you admire the book that Zoe Spanos is inspired by. The subtle references and the overall vibe matched the vibes perfectly.