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lyakimov's review against another edition
3.0
this was.....interesting. I liked some aspects of the book; the ending was my favorite part because it was the most entertaining and eventful piece of the book.
I really enjoyed the ending because it just encompasses what the book is truly about: rosa destroys all of her brother’s relationships, and destroys the people around her. she always wins. I liked how it was kept open-ended, too.
this was a cool concept, but it dragged a lot. I feel like it could have been executed differently. I didn’t like most of the characters (but I LOVED Leilani). the romance was rushed and forced in my opinion, and I did not like the love interest because she didn’t seem like a real person to me and she just was insignificant to the story in my opinion. there was a lot of weird shit that seemed unnecessary, like the constant conversations about religion that don’t relate to the story, the virgin shaming, and the ridiculous amount of descriptions of food, just to name a few.
I really enjoyed the ending because it just encompasses what the book is truly about: rosa destroys all of her brother’s relationships, and destroys the people around her. she always wins. I liked how it was kept open-ended, too.
this was a cool concept, but it dragged a lot. I feel like it could have been executed differently. I didn’t like most of the characters (but I LOVED Leilani). the romance was rushed and forced in my opinion, and I did not like the love interest because she didn’t seem like a real person to me and she just was insignificant to the story in my opinion. there was a lot of weird shit that seemed unnecessary, like the constant conversations about religion that don’t relate to the story, the virgin shaming, and the ridiculous amount of descriptions of food, just to name a few.
lexythebookworm_'s review against another edition
3.0
3 ⭐️
It wasn't as much of a thriller as I thought it would be, to be honest. The novel is mostly about Che, a 17 years old teenager, who has a strong passion for boxing and falls in love with a girl. The plot is mainly about his day to day normal life, with a narrative about his psycopath 10 years old sister playing on the background as an extra something. I would have liked that story line to be the main one and I think it would have been much more interesting that way. There is a big reveal and cliff-hanger that makes the book a bit better towards the end but I don't think it really makes it much more exciting.
I didn't love this book and I honestly had great expectations of it. I didn't hate it either since it's a very light and easy read which will probably take you no more than 3 days. So if you want something relaxed with a little action, but not too much, to get by, this is a book for you. If you're expecting a thriller with big reveals and cliff-hangers that make you turn every page wondering what's gonna happen next, then I wouldn't recommend you this one.
It wasn't as much of a thriller as I thought it would be, to be honest. The novel is mostly about Che, a 17 years old teenager, who has a strong passion for boxing and falls in love with a girl. The plot is mainly about his day to day normal life, with a narrative about his psycopath 10 years old sister playing on the background as an extra something. I would have liked that story line to be the main one and I think it would have been much more interesting that way. There is a big reveal and cliff-hanger that makes the book a bit better towards the end but I don't think it really makes it much more exciting.
I didn't love this book and I honestly had great expectations of it. I didn't hate it either since it's a very light and easy read which will probably take you no more than 3 days. So if you want something relaxed with a little action, but not too much, to get by, this is a book for you. If you're expecting a thriller with big reveals and cliff-hangers that make you turn every page wondering what's gonna happen next, then I wouldn't recommend you this one.
lilbookowl's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
dunder_mifflin's review against another edition
3.0
more like 3.5 stars I guess?
I liked this but:
- it dragged every now and then
- the overuse of the word 'parentals' became genuinely annoying
- some stuff just wasn't explained well
an example for the last point:
overall it was a good read, though it was sort-of predictable at times.
also, one more thing: I stan Leilani so fucking hard.
I liked this but:
- it dragged every now and then
- the overuse of the word 'parentals' became genuinely annoying
- some stuff just wasn't explained well
an example for the last point:
Spoiler
was Che drugged before the MRI? sure seemed like it, with all that "hm I feel weird must be not eating/dehydration/etc". this wasn't touched on but it was something I was wondering then saw that other people were wondering about too.overall it was a good read, though it was sort-of predictable at times
Spoiler
(something happening to Maya? saw that one coming. David being a psychopath? saw that one coming too - though I'll admit I didn't see the implications of that coming)also, one more thing: I stan Leilani so fucking hard.
kglynn's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely a YA novel with a pretty straight forward narrative and some teen romance thrown in, but a good read.
fantasynovel's review against another edition
3.0
This story would have been interesting if there had been more Rosa. Unfortunately, it was 70 percent Che's boring friends. There was Sojourner, who could have been interesting if Che wasn't lusting so. Freaking. Hard. "I want to lick the sweat off her lips...I want to bathe in her sweat...I am so aroused..." It got super extreme after a while. I'd start getting uncomfortable with Che's thoughts whenever Sojourner showed up.
Then there was Leilani, who was actually very cool, but at times, it felt like the author was using her to be a mouthpiece of Important Conversations. Leilani, who's half Korean, had a white girlfriend named Veronica who was, admittedly, super annoying. Veronica didn't understand why Leilani's heritage mattered to her, etc. But at the same time, Veronica's "friends" treated her really badly. At one point, Leilani dumped Veronica, got back with her just for sex, and then dumped her again. Yeah, Leilani was going through an extremely difficult time, but ppl acted like Veronica had no feelings at all. When Leilani broke up with her, ppl rolled their eyes like "what a fucking drama queen" when Veronica slashed her wrists. Yes, her behavior was attention-seeking, but she clearly needed help. She would show understandable emotions and ppl would shit all over her.
There was also more catcalling than I have heard in my life, basically so Che could be like "Wow, I must recognize my privilege in being a guy." Like, yeah, do that, but not every other page. It's so boring.
In the end, I loved the diversity, but the author wouldn't let her characters be just characters. She made them into internet essays on racism. They could have had good conversations about the racism they faced, but instead it was set up very unnaturally.
3 stars bc Rosa was a really-well character. Minus 2 stars bc Che was too dumb to believe and his friends were annoying AF.
Then there was Leilani, who was actually very cool, but at times, it felt like the author was using her to be a mouthpiece of Important Conversations. Leilani, who's half Korean, had a white girlfriend named Veronica who was, admittedly, super annoying. Veronica didn't understand why Leilani's heritage mattered to her, etc. But at the same time, Veronica's "friends" treated her really badly. At one point, Leilani dumped Veronica, got back with her just for sex, and then dumped her again. Yeah, Leilani was going through an extremely difficult time, but ppl acted like Veronica had no feelings at all. When Leilani broke up with her, ppl rolled their eyes like "what a fucking drama queen" when Veronica slashed her wrists. Yes, her behavior was attention-seeking, but she clearly needed help. She would show understandable emotions and ppl would shit all over her.
There was also more catcalling than I have heard in my life, basically so Che could be like "Wow, I must recognize my privilege in being a guy." Like, yeah, do that, but not every other page. It's so boring.
In the end, I loved the diversity, but the author wouldn't let her characters be just characters. She made them into internet essays on racism. They could have had good conversations about the racism they faced, but instead it was set up very unnaturally.
3 stars bc Rosa was a really-well character. Minus 2 stars bc Che was too dumb to believe and his friends were annoying AF.
reeyabeegale's review against another edition
3.0
Finally done!
It's somewhere in 3.50-3.40. So this book, it wasn't as scary as I wished it would be. I don't know what it is, but there's something subtle about the horror of this book. But of course, it is a good read!
I need a few minutes to think about my actual thoughts on this book; I'll be posting my full review in my blog.
https://raveintotheabyss.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/inherited-genes/
It's somewhere in 3.50-3.40. So this book, it wasn't as scary as I wished it would be. I don't know what it is, but there's something subtle about the horror of this book. But of course, it is a good read!
I need a few minutes to think about my actual thoughts on this book; I'll be posting my full review in my blog.
https://raveintotheabyss.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/inherited-genes/
crimsoncor's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely fantastic. Creepiest thing I've read since Patricia Highsmith's Strangers on a Train. Can't recommend this enough.
suvata's review against another edition
4.0
S L O W B U R N of a novel about a creepy little sister who, for all intents and purposes, appears to be a psychopath. It kind of took a long time to get there but the ending was very satisfying.