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bookwitch's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Solid thriller. One of the fastest reads of the year for me, so much so I was able to squeeze in TWO extra "just for me" reads between my "required" reading.
Generally speaking, I had a perfectly fine time with this, but it was a book club read, so hashing it out with the group changed my opinion by just a little bit (that and watching the show immediately after finishing it). I don't think the story was super predictable, I was curious the whole time where it was going to go (and at no point did I really have THAT as the reason) BUT, there were some weaker parts too; the characters were not particularly loveable, I wasn't "rooting" for them per say, just more curious what the heck was going on. And the book club and I agreed that the ending was kind of unrealistic, and a bit of a copout. But regardless, not the worst thing I've read this year.
Generally speaking, I had a perfectly fine time with this, but it was a book club read, so hashing it out with the group changed my opinion by just a little bit (that and watching the show immediately after finishing it). I don't think the story was super predictable, I was curious the whole time where it was going to go (and at no point did I really have THAT as the reason) BUT, there were some weaker parts too; the characters were not particularly loveable, I wasn't "rooting" for them per say, just more curious what the heck was going on. And the book club and I agreed that the ending was kind of unrealistic, and a bit of a copout. But regardless, not the worst thing I've read this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Violence and Murder
Minor: Car accident
ju_harue's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Eu estava curiosa para ler, já que fez parte do clube da Reese Whiterspoon e ganhou o Goodreads de 2021 de Mistério e Thriller. Porém não foi uma leitura que me ganhou. Não consegui me conectar com os personagens, parecia que o tempo todo eu ia entendê-los mais, mas isso não ocorreu. O enredo em si, até achei interessante, mas o desenrolar me pareceu meio raso, até o final. Ainda assim, não é um livro péssimo, mas definitivamente não foi pra mim... ainda quero assistir a adaptação da série.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Death, Grief, and Car accident
reading_diaries's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-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? N/A
2.0
This book wasn't bad but it wasn't super enjoyable. The plot twist was very easy to guess and overall wasn't that shocking. I did enjoy the book but wished it wasn't predictable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book was super engaging and fast-paced until the last quarter or so, as the big plot twist was… cheesy? Yes, unexpected, but in a way that turned you off the adrenaline of the story?? It felt like I missed something, like it was a red herring for the “real” twist, but that “real” twist never came. So I was just disappointed really in the resolution. The ending became rather flat to me.
In general, none of the characters have much personality. Which isn’t uncommon for a mystery novel, but made the plot a little stale. It’s hard to believe a character doing unthinkable things for another character when neither are fleshed out so much to show true reasoning behind their actions. Although this is a story about protecting those you love, I found little detailed emotion in the pages aside from literally stating said emotions.
And what modern 16-year-old girl calls their dad by “father”?? I found Bailey’s use of it so off-putting. Her dialogue didn’t give off the teenager voice to me.
Also, chapters do not need to have titles unless it’s intended for someone under the age of 11. End of.
In general, none of the characters have much personality. Which isn’t uncommon for a mystery novel, but made the plot a little stale. It’s hard to believe a character doing unthinkable things for another character when neither are fleshed out so much to show true reasoning behind their actions. Although this is a story about protecting those you love, I found little detailed emotion in the pages aside from literally stating said emotions.
And what modern 16-year-old girl calls their dad by “father”?? I found Bailey’s use of it so off-putting. Her dialogue didn’t give off the teenager voice to me.
Also, chapters do not need to have titles unless it’s intended for someone under the age of 11. End of.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Violence, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol
tiffyd's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Violence and Car accident
micaelamariem's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I read this for a book club and it was okay. I liked the prosaic writing style. The plot was interesting but it didn’t really have enough twists to keep me at the edge of my seat or anything, so it was slightly disappointing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
livvmarks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
ofpagesandparagraphs's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Death of parent
horrorhomebodies's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
My biggest qualm with this book was the anti-climactic climax. Three quarters through the book, I was lead to think the main character was on the brink of discovering some crucial point of information that could lead to a conclusion of the story, but it was really not a relevant part of the story. The story kept my somewhat engaged, but the ending was very bland. It was average in my opinion. However, I gave the book an extra .75 for the relationship development between Hannah and Bailey, as well as the character of Hannah herself. She was extremely likable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Violence
becca_w_'s review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Violence, and Car accident
Minor: Child death and Gaslighting