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3.08 AVERAGE
3.08 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
There is something so binge-able and popcorn fun about reading Kate White's books and this one is no exception. While I was enjoying reading the story, the plot/mystery was a little anticlimactic.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
** I received this book as an arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Kiki Reed, nervous about seeing her ex-fiancé Jamie at a friend's party in Connecticut, is relieved when their brief encounter goes smoothly. However, the night takes a tragic turn when Jamie is found dead from a gunshot wound in his car. Although the police suspect suicide, Kiki, convinced Jamie was moving on, decides to investigate. As she delves deeper, she discovers a sinister truth, realizing her own life might now be at risk.
Overall rating: 3.2/5
Ratings:
1. **Plot and Storytelling:** 3/5. The story was well-told, but it could have been done with less filler. The plot was interesting but not particularly captivating or special.
2. **Characterization:** 3/5. The characters were somewhat detailed but felt flat overall. There wasn’t much distinction among the side characters, who all seemed to blend, and the main character showed no growth.
3. **Writing Style:** 4/5. I enjoyed Kate White’s writing style. She paced the story well and kept it engaging, though I could have done with less filler.
4. **Originality:** 3/5. While the book wasn’t something I’d read before, it didn’t strike me as particularly original. It felt middle-of-the-road.
5. **Emotional Impact and Resolution:** 3/5. Although the book kept me entertained, I didn’t feel any strong emotional connection, and the ending felt somewhat lackluster.
I can't honestly recommend purchasing this book if you're looking for a really good whodunit thriller. It's not a bad read, but it’s not a standout in the genre
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Good popcorn thriller excited and gripping but predictable from the first quarter and that's what ruined the story for me unfortunately especially the confrontation with Drew in front of the family and Tori's unreasonable phones and questions to KiKi all conformed my theory about the whole crime and Jess death also. Overall good story tend to read more by the author
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
Kate’s latest novel is a domestic suspense that is full of twists, secrets, and red herrings. The main character, Kiki, goes to a party in the Connecticut countryside where her ex-fiancee winds up dead. Police and friends believe he took his own life; however, Kiki strongly believes that he was murdered. She ends up spending a prolonged period in the countryside to advocate for the police to investigate further which may put her in danger!
I recommend reading this book, especially if you love psychological suspense novels full of secrets and twists.
Thank you to @harperperennial for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.
I recommend reading this book, especially if you love psychological suspense novels full of secrets and twists.
Thank you to @harperperennial for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.
If I'm being honest I don't know that I really have a lot to say about this one. It was one of those books that I didn't love but also didn't hate. It really took a lot for me to finish this one because it just wasn't interesting to me. The book starts with an event that seems completely unrelated to the story at first and then randomly becomes a huge plot points somehow. Kiki and Jamie have this weird encounter after their breakup and she seems to be the only person in the entire town and even his family, who doesn't believe his death was intentional. She is convinced with almost no evidence that he must have been murdered and spends the entire book trying to prove it to everyone else. We also randomly get this love story that unfolds on the side and feels forced into the story.
I didn't really enjoy any of the characters in this one which I guess plays a role in why I am not a huge fan of the book. The plot was so focused on Kiki trying to prove everyone else wrong, even if she seemed crazy in the process, and like she just gave up on anything that didn't fit her theories. She harassed a good number of characters trying to get them to see her perspective. The book throws in things that are supposed to make us suspect characters, with flimsy reasoning. The big reveal at the end wasn't really even that surprising and it also didn't feel that great. It just felt a bit unfulfilled and then we get more of this romance type ending that seems to contrast with the book. Overall, it wasn't a book I would read again.
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
The Last Time She Saw Him is a standalone thriller in which career coach Kiki Reed can't accept that her ex-fiancé's death is a suicide. She had just talked to Jamie at a mutual friend's party, and even though their relationship didn't work out, Kiki is devastated by his death.
Kiki continues to look into Jamie's death even when members of his family want her to stop asking questions. Complicating things is Kiki's attraction to Jamie's best friend Sam! Sam is one of the few people who share Kiki's doubts about the official ruling on Jamie's death. The book is full of unlikable characters, even some who are supposed to be on Kiki's side, so at times Kiki isn't sure who she can trust. The story is engaging with a plot twist in the mystery I didn't see coming. The overall ending is a little ambiguous, but I enjoyed the book as a whole.
I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Harper Perennial. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
I always feel bad when a book just doesn’t work for me. This started strong with the mystery of Jamie’s death but then I quickly lost interest. It just never fully went where it could have. I thought the culprit was pretty obvious from early on even with the additional list of suspects. Kiki was extremely naive, a bit self centered and made some questionable choices which is something that I don’t love for a MC. I did enjoy the setting and the clausterphobic feel of the town. I think this will work for others who prefer a slow burn mystery.
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No