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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I found this book from a "must-read audiobooks" list and it definitely lived up to the hype. I was hooked the whole time and fascinated with the POV in which it's written. Although I was intrigued by the main plot, I think the most impactful part of this novel was the snippets of various murder cases. I felt angry and heartbroken and i think it really made the whole story more powerful. This novels interweaving of other stories to highlight the main plot, while the narrator is speaking directly to someone who, although not ultimately the killer, was still guilty of letting this girl down in so many ways was thought provoking and made me feel so much about truth and justice and the dangers of today's fascination with true crime. Definitely recommend.
This was okay. Had lots of ebbs and flows in regards to keeping my attention. It wrapped up neatly, so I’ll give it a few stars for that. (Audiobook)
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The beginning of this book dragged a touch, not that it was slow, I just kept expecting to be further through it (perhaps a fault of reading a tangible library book rather than an ecopy as I normally do). I really liked how the writer spoke to someone throughout the book, it didn't feel like a redirect when you found out they were not in fact the culprit , as there was still a reason she was talking to/involving them. The plot device of rolling through all of the familiar lines of reasons victims were blamed or way evidence was discarded, was good, but redundant, I found myself reading the first 3-ish examples and then skimming the rest of the point. Likely more a commentary on our desensitization to the matter rather than a flaw in the writing style.
reflective
medium-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
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Grief, Murder, Classism
Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder, Death of parent, Pregnancy
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed this a lot. It really sucked me in which is not a given with books that are primarily literary fiction. But I was intrigued and really got caught up in it.
I am vaguely confused as to why it seemed like Bodie was speaking to Mr. Bloch before suspecting him. I feel it would've made more sense if we didn't know who she was speaking to until stuff about him was revealed.
But the reveal that it really was the boyfriend all along was good. Poor Omar not getting a retrial, though.
I liked the random collections of references to other assault cases. It was horrifying and really put the book into a broader scope.
I do think the angle of "we care more about white girls/are quick to suspect black men" wasn't as prevalent as it could've been. There were nods to it and characters self-referencing but it could've been a larger discussion.
All in all it was a compelling book, even if there were A LOT of characters to keep track of.
I am vaguely confused as to why it seemed like Bodie was speaking to Mr. Bloch before suspecting him. I feel it would've made more sense if we didn't know who she was speaking to until stuff about him was revealed.
But the reveal that it really was the boyfriend all along was good. Poor Omar not getting a retrial, though.
I liked the random collections of references to other assault cases. It was horrifying and really put the book into a broader scope.
I do think the angle of "we care more about white girls/are quick to suspect black men" wasn't as prevalent as it could've been. There were nods to it and characters self-referencing but it could've been a larger discussion.
All in all it was a compelling book, even if there were A LOT of characters to keep track of.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Sexual harassment, Pandemic/Epidemic
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Meh. This was just OK to me. Not terribly captivating and I found myself putting the book down and picking up my phone way more than I would've liked. I stuck with it expecting a big twist / payoff, but really it just kind of fizzed and then flattened out.
Bodie was sort of insufferable, there were A LOT of characters to keep track of, the story itself sort of dragged on, and the writing overall (spending the entirely of the book talking TO Mr. Bloch, the "it was the one where..." passages) didn't really work for me, though I appreciate the creative effort, I guess?
I was really hoping for a better ending or some sort of oomph anywhere, but it just never came. I kind of wish I had DNF'ed this one because I wouldn't have missed much.
Bodie was sort of insufferable, there were A LOT of characters to keep track of, the story itself sort of dragged on, and the writing overall (spending the entirely of the book talking TO Mr. Bloch, the "it was the one where..." passages) didn't really work for me, though I appreciate the creative effort, I guess?
I was really hoping for a better ending or some sort of oomph anywhere, but it just never came. I kind of wish I had DNF'ed this one because I wouldn't have missed much.