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princessvee's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
A snappy, mysterious read, with a host of nasty male characters who just got worse and worse. I found the final act slightly rushed, and underwhelming, especially considering some of the darker themes alluded to. A quick read to immerse yourself into a seaside, spooky mystery.
megswhitaker's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
litwithleigh's review
2.0
Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
update: my kindle reappeared under a pile of crap on my desk.......
Writing: 2.5/5 | Plot: crumbled like feta cheese/5 | Ending: you're trolling/5
SYNOPSIS
Wanker... oops I mean George and his wife Helen move out to a derelict mcmansion in the sticks to start fresh. But when spooky sh!t starts popping off and secrets are revealed, it's evident that this new beginning is anything but fresh.
MY OPINION
It's a sad day Goodreaders, but I have misplaced my Kindle. My husband and I (yep, I unchained him from the basement to elicit his help) tore apart the house, but it seems to have grown legs and sauntered on out. It's tired of the abuse! LOL. So, without my Kindle, I don't have all my handy dandy ranty notes... gonna have to activate my brain and do this one from memory.
This book took me a hot minute to get through, because I cannot concentrate on reading for the life of me. ANyways, it started off promising in comparison to her last stanker [b:Are You Awake?|60306026|Are You Awake?|Claire McGowan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1650145962l/60306026._SY75_.jpg|95073626]. Suspicious things were occurring, and I was invested in the lite witchcraft storyline. Don't worry, there's no supernatural stuff involved.
So for most of it, I was leaning toward a Honda Civic Reliable three. The writing was whatever, but the plot was kinda interesting and I liked the different threads that were being woven together. We're pottering along, reveals are being revealed, and suddenly a gigantic sink hole opens up around the 75% mark and swallows up the plot and all logic. BRUHHH I've never had a book tank this viciously in a hot minute. So here we are, at a generous 2.
SPOILIES ALERT
Okay so I wanted to curb stomp George into another dimension. And tbh Helen needed a strong shoulder shake as well. George is the ultimate Great Value narcissist (lacking the charm, cunning, and intelligence of a brand name narcissist) who decides his floundering "career" is more important than Helen's pay check and general wellbeing. At one point, there's a gigantic hole in their kitchen wall, but George can't be fked to do anything about it. Also, who pays builders for work IN ADVANCE???? Bro you're just asking to be hoodwinked.
Anyways, we find out that Georgey boi has somehow blown through over 200k AND racked up serious debt trying to get back into journalism. HUH???? LMAOOO. He's like oh it's expensive! No tf it isn't. Ever heard of an expense account? Jfc. And then he has the audacity to tell Helen "you're a liar mcliar pants!" after pissing away her hard earned dollars. Plus Helen's lie was harmless tbh. She honestly loved and supported stupid ass George, whereas Georgie only thought about himself and his dreams of being on Sky News. And then after everything, Helen just goes Helen Keller to his spending problem and still stands by him. LEAVE. HIS. ASS. EXPEDITIOUSLY.
Ok and then the ending... nah bruv. I'm not sure if Claire was trying to be funny, but this sh!t was laughable. So mama dearest Janna has been in jail for a hot minute, and literally, and I mean LITERALLY, pops back up on the scene and au casually says "he needs oxygen!" No, "hey guys! it me!" no explanation. Just rocks up to Helen tryna keep someone alive and jumps on in like everything's normal. And everyone just goes along with it rather unperturbed? I legit had to reread one section three times in case I missed something. Ain't no way this woman just waltzes back in and starts bossing hoes around and we all just accept it??? WHO IS YOU???????
SPOILIES DONE
I honestly can't believe this is the same author who wrote [b:I Know You|57060445|I Know You|Claire McGowan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1617894881l/57060445._SY75_.jpg|88129377]? What's being going on with these last two books? Halp.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: interesting premise
Cons: goes completely off the rails in the last 25% that ruins the entire book
update: my kindle reappeared under a pile of crap on my desk.......
Writing: 2.5/5 | Plot: crumbled like feta cheese/5 | Ending: you're trolling/5
SYNOPSIS
Wanker... oops I mean George and his wife Helen move out to a derelict mcmansion in the sticks to start fresh. But when spooky sh!t starts popping off and secrets are revealed, it's evident that this new beginning is anything but fresh.
MY OPINION
It's a sad day Goodreaders, but I have misplaced my Kindle. My husband and I (yep, I unchained him from the basement to elicit his help) tore apart the house, but it seems to have grown legs and sauntered on out. It's tired of the abuse! LOL. So, without my Kindle, I don't have all my handy dandy ranty notes... gonna have to activate my brain and do this one from memory.
This book took me a hot minute to get through, because I cannot concentrate on reading for the life of me. ANyways, it started off promising in comparison to her last stanker [b:Are You Awake?|60306026|Are You Awake?|Claire McGowan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1650145962l/60306026._SY75_.jpg|95073626]. Suspicious things were occurring, and I was invested in the lite witchcraft storyline. Don't worry, there's no supernatural stuff involved.
So for most of it, I was leaning toward a Honda Civic Reliable three. The writing was whatever, but the plot was kinda interesting and I liked the different threads that were being woven together. We're pottering along, reveals are being revealed, and suddenly a gigantic sink hole opens up around the 75% mark and swallows up the plot and all logic. BRUHHH I've never had a book tank this viciously in a hot minute. So here we are, at a generous 2.
SPOILIES ALERT
Okay so I wanted to curb stomp George into another dimension. And tbh Helen needed a strong shoulder shake as well. George is the ultimate Great Value narcissist (lacking the charm, cunning, and intelligence of a brand name narcissist) who decides his floundering "career" is more important than Helen's pay check and general wellbeing. At one point, there's a gigantic hole in their kitchen wall, but George can't be fked to do anything about it. Also, who pays builders for work IN ADVANCE???? Bro you're just asking to be hoodwinked.
Anyways, we find out that Georgey boi has somehow blown through over 200k AND racked up serious debt trying to get back into journalism. HUH???? LMAOOO. He's like oh it's expensive! No tf it isn't. Ever heard of an expense account? Jfc. And then he has the audacity to tell Helen "you're a liar mcliar pants!" after pissing away her hard earned dollars. Plus Helen's lie was harmless tbh. She honestly loved and supported stupid ass George, whereas Georgie only thought about himself and his dreams of being on Sky News. And then after everything, Helen just goes Helen Keller to his spending problem and still stands by him. LEAVE. HIS. ASS. EXPEDITIOUSLY.
Ok and then the ending... nah bruv. I'm not sure if Claire was trying to be funny, but this sh!t was laughable. So mama dearest Janna has been in jail for a hot minute, and literally, and I mean LITERALLY, pops back up on the scene and au casually says "he needs oxygen!" No, "hey guys! it me!" no explanation. Just rocks up to Helen tryna keep someone alive and jumps on in like everything's normal. And everyone just goes along with it rather unperturbed? I legit had to reread one section three times in case I missed something. Ain't no way this woman just waltzes back in and starts bossing hoes around and we all just accept it??? WHO IS YOU???????
SPOILIES DONE
I honestly can't believe this is the same author who wrote [b:I Know You|57060445|I Know You|Claire McGowan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1617894881l/57060445._SY75_.jpg|88129377]? What's being going on with these last two books? Halp.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: interesting premise
Cons: goes completely off the rails in the last 25% that ruins the entire book
sineadhg's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
robin_b_93's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mulan1993's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Once I got to the end I understood and appreciated it but whilst reading some things just weren’t tying up and didn’t make sense. But I guess that was hire is meant to be written otherwise it wouldn’t have had made sense at all. Some of the events are gripping and I especially LOVED the description of setting, nature, and so on
bluefairybug's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I absolutely loved this book. The fact that George was from "near Reading" and it was largely set in Cornwall was a bonus. Especially the mention of the Witch Museum in Boscastle, I have actually shouted with excitement when I read that bit!
I found the stuff about witchcraft/herbalism really interesting, and how we view such things these days compared to in the past.
I liked all the characters, they were all really interesting and well developed. I thought Janna was quite ahead of her time in terms of child protection, but someone had to be the first to think about such matters.
I'd love to know more about Lisa and what happened to her in the intervening years.
I guessed some of the twists and turns in the book, but others came as a complete surprise, and overall it kept me reading until the very end.
I found the stuff about witchcraft/herbalism really interesting, and how we view such things these days compared to in the past.
I liked all the characters, they were all really interesting and well developed. I thought Janna was quite ahead of her time in terms of child protection, but someone had to be the first to think about such matters.
I'd love to know more about Lisa and what happened to her in the intervening years.
I guessed some of the twists and turns in the book, but others came as a complete surprise, and overall it kept me reading until the very end.