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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
This story is a perfectly paced eerie mystery. The cover and title give nothing away as to how dark and disturbingly satisfying this book truely is. All of the characters are terrible, narcissistic, manipulative liars and you cannot trust anyone to have good motives. There is a ton of interpersonal teen drama, but I think it all served the story well.
I really love Nova Ren Suma’s books, and this book reminded me a lot of her writing.
I really love Nova Ren Suma’s books, and this book reminded me a lot of her writing.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
DNF @ 40%
All These Beautiful Strangers had a lot of potential but nearing the halfway mark and it was just failing to impress. While I was slightly intrigued by this mysterious A-Club at a prestigious boarding school, the story just didn't grip my attention. It lacks atmosphere and the pacing is just ... meh. Full of privileged and pretentious characters that I just can't even force myself to care for them. Also, I really hate the 'not like other girls' trope. Also there was great opportunity to talk about class here that the author seemed to just brush over. So yeah, a lot of potential but did fall short of my expectations and it isn't really capturing my attention so I'd rather read something else.
DNF @ 40%
All These Beautiful Strangers had a lot of potential but nearing the halfway mark and it was just failing to impress. While I was slightly intrigued by this mysterious A-Club at a prestigious boarding school, the story just didn't grip my attention. It lacks atmosphere and the pacing is just ... meh. Full of privileged and pretentious characters that I just can't even force myself to care for them. Also, I really hate the 'not like other girls' trope. Also there was great opportunity to talk about class here that the author seemed to just brush over. So yeah, a lot of potential but did fall short of my expectations and it isn't really capturing my attention so I'd rather read something else.
Really liked this one, I think I'm a very harsh critic of mystery thrillers because its my favorite genre and I have to say this one was really good.
It has amazing "gray" characters with a lot of layers and I love that in a book, also it kept me reading non-stop after I passed the first 30%.
Totally recommend it.
It has amazing "gray" characters with a lot of layers and I love that in a book, also it kept me reading non-stop after I passed the first 30%.
Totally recommend it.
2.5
In the hands of a better writer, this book would have been good. It had dark elements, a twisty plot and an actual good mystery.
However the characters were flat, dumb and not fleshed out. They were also really unlikable, which I'm usually okay with, but the main character had no redeeming qualities.
The first 2 thirds just felt like "and the plot thickens" constantly, and wish more reveals happened so I didn't feel like I was drowning in clues with no idea what they meant.
The pacing was also really off. Some things were really drawn out and others really rushed.
Things were reveal poorly with bad buildup and just ruined all the setup.
Overall this was quite painful to read and it would have been a two star if not for the decent ending. Congrats on your .5 star, shitty book. Can't believe this author has a BFA and MFA in creative writing.
In the hands of a better writer, this book would have been good. It had dark elements, a twisty plot and an actual good mystery.
However the characters were flat, dumb and not fleshed out. They were also really unlikable, which I'm usually okay with, but the main character had no redeeming qualities.
The first 2 thirds just felt like "and the plot thickens" constantly, and wish more reveals happened so I didn't feel like I was drowning in clues with no idea what they meant.
The pacing was also really off. Some things were really drawn out and others really rushed.
Things were reveal poorly with bad buildup and just ruined all the setup.
Overall this was quite painful to read and it would have been a two star if not for the decent ending. Congrats on your .5 star, shitty book. Can't believe this author has a BFA and MFA in creative writing.
Thank you Edelweiss+ for this advanced eGalley of All These Beautiful Strangers.
Charlie is the daughter of billionaire real estate mogul Alistair Calloway, and a junior at the prestigious Knollwood Academy--a prep school for the Ivy League bound. When Charlie is tabbed to become a member of the exclusive A's, she gains access to information that may hold the key to her mother's (Grace) disappearance nearly a decade prior.
However, the deeper Charlie digs (both into the A's and her mother's turbulent relationship with the Calloways), the more dangerous things become, for Charlie, in the present.
The book is being advertised as one that will be a hit with those who enjoy Gossip Girls and Pretty Little Liars. Personally, I've never read or watched either, but the A's reminded me of the secret society showcased in the movie The Skulls, and Ren (a character who was a presence throughout and the de facto leader of the A's) was as conniving and wretched as Kathryn (from the movie Cruel Intentions.
If you know either of those movies, then you have an idea how despicable and shallow many of these characters will be. That said, there are a number of likable characters as well, and they were a delightful break from some of the more annoying and disturbing ones.
Early on, Charlie is on-board with doing whatever it takes to become a full-fledged member of the A's, but soon becomes disillusioned and wonders if said membership is worth the loss of her moral compass.
The mystery of Grace, Charlie's mother, is captivating, but when the answers arrive, they're hardly unpredictable.
There is no BIG reveal because, honestly, you'll put the pieces together long before Charlie does.
However, that won't make this any less enjoyable to read because Charlie's voice is interesting, and the characters around her--Drew (her best friend), Leo (a tomcat with a heart), Greyson (a childhood friend), and Dalton (a potential love interest/foil)--make for entertaining interactions.
The book itself offers mostly first-person narration from Charlie, but there are also key chapters from Alistair and Grace--which give insight into their peculiar love story, but also shows us where things went wrong between them, and the key events that led to Grace's departure--and those clues are what aids the reader in figuring things out before Charlie.
I couldn't put the book down, the closer I got to the end, and would have zero trouble recommending it to anyone who wants a quick, fun, thriller to read.
Charlie is the daughter of billionaire real estate mogul Alistair Calloway, and a junior at the prestigious Knollwood Academy--a prep school for the Ivy League bound. When Charlie is tabbed to become a member of the exclusive A's, she gains access to information that may hold the key to her mother's (Grace) disappearance nearly a decade prior.
However, the deeper Charlie digs (both into the A's and her mother's turbulent relationship with the Calloways), the more dangerous things become, for Charlie, in the present.
The book is being advertised as one that will be a hit with those who enjoy Gossip Girls and Pretty Little Liars. Personally, I've never read or watched either, but the A's reminded me of the secret society showcased in the movie The Skulls, and Ren (a character who was a presence throughout and the de facto leader of the A's) was as conniving and wretched as Kathryn (from the movie Cruel Intentions.
If you know either of those movies, then you have an idea how despicable and shallow many of these characters will be. That said, there are a number of likable characters as well, and they were a delightful break from some of the more annoying and disturbing ones.
Early on, Charlie is on-board with doing whatever it takes to become a full-fledged member of the A's, but soon becomes disillusioned and wonders if said membership is worth the loss of her moral compass.
The mystery of Grace, Charlie's mother, is captivating, but when the answers arrive, they're hardly unpredictable.
There is no BIG reveal because, honestly, you'll put the pieces together long before Charlie does.
However, that won't make this any less enjoyable to read because Charlie's voice is interesting, and the characters around her--Drew (her best friend), Leo (a tomcat with a heart), Greyson (a childhood friend), and Dalton (a potential love interest/foil)--make for entertaining interactions.
The book itself offers mostly first-person narration from Charlie, but there are also key chapters from Alistair and Grace--which give insight into their peculiar love story, but also shows us where things went wrong between them, and the key events that led to Grace's departure--and those clues are what aids the reader in figuring things out before Charlie.
I couldn't put the book down, the closer I got to the end, and would have zero trouble recommending it to anyone who wants a quick, fun, thriller to read.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It’s believable and genuinely shocking and some of the people are really nasty.... but I don’t like it.... it’s really well written. I just hate all the characters even the ones I think you should like... she really doesn’t deserve the happy ever after stuff as well I just don’t believe she has any empathy if you have a narcissistic personality you don’t suddenly stop and get emotional and go apologise to others. Sorry but no she really spoilt it for me.