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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
medium-paced
I don't usually read a lot of murder mystery, so this was a change for me. Both because it was not my usual genre and that it was not usual for its genre (or at least how I think of mystery). Very unsatisfying ending if I was just reading for plot, amazing messages that made up for that, though. 3 stars because of personal genre preference, but writing style and the 2nd person were fun to read.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I couldn’t put this book down. It covers so much ground. It’s a story about a murder and the broken justice system, but it’s also about growing up as a woman in the 90s and about memory and the stories we tell ourselves and the stories we tell the world.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The book is really good BUT I do feel like it could’ve been better. So many points and issues were brought to light that it felt chaotic, in a way. So so good, and I don’t regret reading it. I just wish there was more focus on a few of the issues in the plot line, not so many issues brushed through.
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think the author was trying to do too much in one book. There were at least 2 additional subplots that she wanted us to follow along, but they didn’t really add value to the primary story. I get the author wanted to incorporate the #MeToo era and general narratives around murders of women, but we could have done without Jerome’s flimsy #MeToo subplot and the vague case that’s in the news . The third subplot Bloch teacher/Thalia relationship was okay in that it gave another suspect for the reader to get invested in. The conclusion was disappointing, but realistic. Unfortunately Omar will probably remain in prison despite likely being innocent
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Sexual harassment, Pandemic/Epidemic