You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
challenging
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
Cried a lot while reading this story.
A good 80% of this book I was getting so angry that both characters (Adam & Livia) just didn’t speak to each other though.
Overall a good story as it kept me on the edge of my seat.
Knocking 1 star off just because of the fact I didn’t really like any of the characters except the dog.
A good 80% of this book I was getting so angry that both characters (Adam & Livia) just didn’t speak to each other though.
Overall a good story as it kept me on the edge of my seat.
Knocking 1 star off just because of the fact I didn’t really like any of the characters except the dog.
I was so excited for this after reading Behind Closed Doors but it fell flat for me. Livia was whiny and extremely self absorbed and it became annoying every time it flipped to her story. Adam was more relatable but I kept finding myself asking whether these people EVER talk to each other. So disappointed.
I personally think this book would have been better as a short story or a novella - the story and characters didn’t merit a whole novel. It felt draggy at multiple points and the trope of miscommunication/keeping secrets became unbearably frustrating only a quarter of the way through.
I finished it, but only because I thought there would be a paypff at the end - and I was sorely mistaken.
1.5 meh stars for this one.
*I received a free digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
I finished it, but only because I thought there would be a paypff at the end - and I was sorely mistaken.
1.5 meh stars for this one.
*I received a free digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
So first let me say that this is not like any other B.A. Paris book I’ve read. I didn’t know that going in, so I was prepared for a dark twisty story, and that is not this book.
This book was more a portrait of a family. A husband and wife who may have had kids too young. A father who resented his son for being born, but doted on his daughter. A wife who still feels a little betrayed, and all of them with secrets. I enjoyed the story, it kept my attention, but the fact that a lot of issues could have been solved with a conversation left me a little irritated.
If you are looking for a typical B.A. Paris story, you should probably skip this one.
This book was more a portrait of a family. A husband and wife who may have had kids too young. A father who resented his son for being born, but doted on his daughter. A wife who still feels a little betrayed, and all of them with secrets. I enjoyed the story, it kept my attention, but the fact that a lot of issues could have been solved with a conversation left me a little irritated.
If you are looking for a typical B.A. Paris story, you should probably skip this one.
The “mystery” was not really a mystery. And there was no resolution
3.5 Overall I really liked the book. I found it a bit odd Livia was so obsessed with a 40th birthday party just because she didn’t get her dream wedding. I never read a book where a character has made me so angry. I would have a very hard time forgiving Adam for the way he handled his dilemma.
Oh god where do I even start with this book. The whole time I was reading this book I was just constantly waiting for something to happen, even in the last few pages I was just like, this can't be it, there has to be something more. There was no thrill or twists to this book - you knew both "dilemma's" quite soon into the book and essentially once you knew them, that was it. I just found myself so disappointed by the ending and really thought something else was going to happen and it just never did. I'm honestly not sure how this book ended up being so long.
So let's talk about the dilemmas;
- Livia's dilemma is that she's found out her daughter has been having an affair with one of their closest family friends, a man who has not only been referred to as Uncle by said daughter, but has literally watched her grow up. First up let's acknowledge how disgusting and gross that is. I mean seriously gross. Her dilemma is a little bit more understandable; she's found this out and knows if she tells her husband he'll lose his mind and she's trying to figure out the best time to drop this family bombshell. I can kind of get where she's coming from with delaying telling Adam this, like this will not only rock their world but that of their friends, but it's a survivable dilemma. I feel like she obsesses over it a bit too much though like, just come out with it, it's not life or death. (can someone clarify for me though why she was still so off with Max even though she knew it was Rob that Marnie was having the affair with??) ALSO her insane focus on her 40th birthday party is a little bit weird - it's to make up for their lack of wedding... so she throws herself a big party... why not throw you both a new wedding? Am I missing something here or are you a little bit narcissistic.
- Adam's dilemma... how is this even a dilemma my god you do not keep this secret. Adam realises that their daughter Marnie is most definitely dead and waits an entire DAY to tell his wife and son. His excuse is that he wanted her to enjoy her party but like, does he even think this through?? Their daughter is dead and Livia is laughing and joking with no cares in the world and has no idea. I just couldn't grasp how he didn't realise this was more damn important than the party. I just cannot understand how he didn't share this information? If I was Livia I would never forgive him for that, but she does because plot and ends up being the one to hold him together. Also, lets acknowledge what a terrible husband and father Adam is. He literally seems to have no time for his son Josh and it has been this way since Josh's birth, but he views Marnie as a literal Angel.
- The main plot trope of this book is lack of communication. If these characters had sat down in the first chapter and gone, you know what, i've got some news, then the rest of the book doesn't happen. There are so many times they could have spoken with each other and just conveniently didn't and I wanted to throw the book against a wall.
This is a family drama without the drama and at 333 pages is so damn long it's just ridiculous. I hated the ending and I absolutely hate that there is no repercussions for Rob; his wife is gravely ill and he was having an affair with a child he has known since she was in nappies. DRAG HIS ASS TO HELL THANK YOU.
So let's talk about the dilemmas;
- Livia's dilemma is that she's found out her daughter has been having an affair with one of their closest family friends, a man who has not only been referred to as Uncle by said daughter, but has literally watched her grow up. First up let's acknowledge how disgusting and gross that is. I mean seriously gross. Her dilemma is a little bit more understandable; she's found this out and knows if she tells her husband he'll lose his mind and she's trying to figure out the best time to drop this family bombshell. I can kind of get where she's coming from with delaying telling Adam this, like this will not only rock their world but that of their friends, but it's a survivable dilemma. I feel like she obsesses over it a bit too much though like, just come out with it, it's not life or death. (can someone clarify for me though why she was still so off with Max even though she knew it was Rob that Marnie was having the affair with??) ALSO her insane focus on her 40th birthday party is a little bit weird - it's to make up for their lack of wedding... so she throws herself a big party... why not throw you both a new wedding? Am I missing something here or are you a little bit narcissistic.
- Adam's dilemma... how is this even a dilemma my god you do not keep this secret. Adam realises that their daughter Marnie is most definitely dead and waits an entire DAY to tell his wife and son. His excuse is that he wanted her to enjoy her party but like, does he even think this through?? Their daughter is dead and Livia is laughing and joking with no cares in the world and has no idea. I just couldn't grasp how he didn't realise this was more damn important than the party. I just cannot understand how he didn't share this information? If I was Livia I would never forgive him for that, but she does because plot and ends up being the one to hold him together. Also, lets acknowledge what a terrible husband and father Adam is. He literally seems to have no time for his son Josh and it has been this way since Josh's birth, but he views Marnie as a literal Angel.
- The main plot trope of this book is lack of communication. If these characters had sat down in the first chapter and gone, you know what, i've got some news, then the rest of the book doesn't happen. There are so many times they could have spoken with each other and just conveniently didn't and I wanted to throw the book against a wall.
This is a family drama without the drama and at 333 pages is so damn long it's just ridiculous. I hated the ending and I absolutely hate that there is no repercussions for Rob; his wife is gravely ill and he was having an affair with a child he has known since she was in nappies. DRAG HIS ASS TO HELL THANK YOU.
challenging
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you're expecting another great BA Paris thriller, don't waste your time. It's basically a family drama between two totally self-centered parents who keep secrets from each other. I found it extremely repetitive and boring. One conversation would have ended this book in about 5 pages. I kept waiting for it get interesting since I've loved her other books, but it just never did.