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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
Did not care for the ending, but it was also a bit harder to follow along since I listened to the audiobook. Ending seems vague.
A locked room mystery that is a clear rip-off of And Then There Were None…but it was missing a lot of important things. The deaths were over-the-top horror movie gruesome, but there was no obvious motive. The characters all admit their crimes within moments of the “game” starting, but there’s never a connective thread back to the eventual half-assed motive, making the ending fall flat and the supposed twist seem like a half-baked after thought. Not my favorite.
This is not my usual read but man I had fun! The plot was bonkers and fast-paced! Wildly problematic characters that I also came to love! An activist named Justice! So silly! I’ve been feeling burnt out on ~serious~ books, and this was just what I needed, thank god.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Excrement, Vomit
Minor: Gun violence
A fun and inventive retelling of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None in which the ten teens invited to a mysterious and free luxury remote island vacation are obnoxious GenZ TikTok influencers! This was a fun and entertaining murder mystery/thriller; great for reading by the pool. Fans of Christie's classic mysteries and more recent variations like the film Knives Out will enjoy this! It's fun and frothy but Kate Williams also maintains Christie's original sense of social satire by picking off the privileged and obnoxious teen influencers one by one. I couldn't put it down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
Never Coming Home by Kate Williams is a young adult/teenage contemporary book about young social influencers (under age 21). The ten characters/contestants think they won a week paid in full vacation on a deserted luxurious island resort, Unknown island. They went with intentions to gain more followers and fame. The person that set up the trip has something else in mind.
Upon arrival, each person is handed identical envelopes and copies of everyone’s secrets. Secrets of past victims murdered, suicide, homicide, and accidental death that tie an influencer to each death. All ten received the same copies so they all have read one another’s secrets. A past that the influencer thought was long ago buried and not ready to admit if there’s truth to any of it.
Within the first few hours of arrival the young influencers find themselves alone and the island is deserted. Then one of them dies. . . then another
Never Coming Home by Kate Williams is a young adult/teenage contemporary book about young social influencers (under age 21). The ten characters/contestants think they won a week paid in full vacation on a deserted luxurious island resort, Unknown island. They went with intentions to gain more followers and fame. The person that set up the trip has something else in mind.
Upon arrival, each person is handed identical envelopes and copies of everyone’s secrets. Secrets of past victims murdered, suicide, homicide, and accidental death that tie an influencer to each death. All ten received the same copies so they all have read one another’s secrets. A past that the influencer thought was long ago buried and not ready to admit if there’s truth to any of it.
Within the first few hours of arrival the young influencers find themselves alone and the island is deserted. Then one of them dies. . . then another
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was disappointing. I felt like the plot had good bones but the execution was chaotic.
The ending confused me and made no sense — only plausible purpose for the throwaway account had to be that she wanted to remain valid as she launched her new video game. Which is diabolical.
I knew it was Celia the second one of the characters (in their inner monologue) commented on how demure Celia seemed even though she was known as a ruthless gamer girl who made grown men cry. Oh and she acted so incredibly sweet and innocent. Made me think of Jill from Scream 4... Never trust the quiet ones.
The biggest thing is that I still have no idea WHY Celia did it. She had no known connection with any of them, maybe Frankie... But to lure 8 other people to their deaths? Albeit, horrible person but it seems excessive if there's no connection.
For her to take the time to hack a bunch of random sh!tty kids just to lure and punish them in some vigilant type sh!t feels empty as f*ck. Especially since there was little to no character development of her. Which, I guess, I don't particularly look for in a slasher, but still... at least give the villain their dued monologue. Just frustrating.
I need answers, Kate.
I knew it was Celia the second one of the characters (in their inner monologue) commented on how demure Celia seemed even though she was known as a ruthless gamer girl who made grown men cry. Oh and she acted so incredibly sweet and innocent. Made me think of Jill from Scream 4... Never trust the quiet ones.
The biggest thing is that I still have no idea WHY Celia did it. She had no known connection with any of them, maybe Frankie... But to lure 8 other people to their deaths? Albeit, horrible person but it seems excessive if there's no connection.
For her to take the time to hack a bunch of random sh!tty kids just to lure and punish them in some vigilant type sh!t feels empty as f*ck. Especially since there was little to no character development of her. Which, I guess, I don't particularly look for in a slasher, but still... at least give the villain their dued monologue. Just frustrating.
I need answers, Kate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Transphobia, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying, Suicide, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Okay so I have mixed feelings. It's a really slow start. Like reallyyyyyyy slow but I really enjoy how you are introduced to every character. the thing that made it SO GOOD was how hidden all the evidence is, it makes your brain think and question literally everything!!