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stephaniezd's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
2.5
One star for finishing. Not this author’s best foot forward. Story was choppy and dragged a bit at times. The ending didn’t seem to match the rest of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Gun violence
carolibrary's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Stalking, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Gun violence and Murder
midnightrose_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Will be checking out Samantha Downing’s other books!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Animal death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Murder, Car accident, and Death
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Stalking
ruthypoo2's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Though it took a while for the story to establish background for its two main characters, Wes and Ivy, it was still an interesting book. Let’s just say it’s a really long set up for a decade old mystery, but the reader generally stays engaged as clues are dropped throughout the current day lives of the characters and flashbacks.
Regardless of the secret being protected by Wes and Ivy, they’re an odd on again off again couple with peculiar mating rituals. This isn’t a smutty story, but sex often drives the reckless and volatile actions of what are otherwise successful adults. The question is, will their dedication to each other end up being their demise?
This story is told from multiple character POVs and that helped to provide relief from the sometimes frustrating and unreliable narration provided by Wes and Ivy. Maybe they aren’t what would traditionally be termed an unreliable narrator, but they frequently left out a lot of the facts. I’m guessing that was intentional to keep the big secret a carrot for the reader to remain curious. And truly, I did find the story interesting enough to make me want to finish. I liked the twist at the end.
Regardless of the secret being protected by Wes and Ivy, they’re an odd on again off again couple with peculiar mating rituals. This isn’t a smutty story, but sex often drives the reckless and volatile actions of what are otherwise successful adults. The question is, will their dedication to each other end up being their demise?
This story is told from multiple character POVs and that helped to provide relief from the sometimes frustrating and unreliable narration provided by Wes and Ivy. Maybe they aren’t what would traditionally be termed an unreliable narrator, but they frequently left out a lot of the facts. I’m guessing that was intentional to keep the big secret a carrot for the reader to remain curious. And truly, I did find the story interesting enough to make me want to finish. I liked the twist at the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Sexual content
Minor: Rape
kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Car accident, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Alcohol
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was already interested in this book, but I ultimately picked it up now because it is the Literally Dead Book Club pick for the month.
"A Twisted Love Story" follows Wes and Ivy, two people who are madly in love, but maybe not the best couple together. They know how to shower each other with gifts and surprises, being the partner people dream about, but when things go bad, they go very bad. They are vengeful and spiteful and will stop at nothing to ensure the other feels their wrath. On the night of their worst breakup, someone ends up dead, but Wes and Ivy refuse to ever talk about it, until now when they have to face it head on.
I do not think I have ever read such a toxic relationship in my entire life. I felt like I was getting whiplash reading this story. Everything seemed fine, I might even say "normal", and then all of the sudden a switch was flipped, and all hell breaks loose. Ivy posts a picture of another man to make Wes jealous, Wes ghosts Ivy to drive her insane. I feel like this type of relationship depiction was a risky choice to write about because it could be really off-putting to a reader, however, I was so invested in the story. As a mature adult, I know this type of behavior has "red flag" written all over it, but I was still so intrigued to see where Ivy and Wes ended up. The duo was both extremely unlikeable, and honestly had very few redeeming qualities.
There were a few moments that felt kind of too convenient to feel realistic and were inserted to move the plot along. For example, Ivy has a stalker, so she reports it to the police and tells them she thinks it is Wes. After the police talk to Wes and "close the case", the police begin to investigate Ivy and Wes further because they have a linked past in their system. The police officer becomes very invested in their story which is how this old crime comes to light. I felt like realistically, a police officer would not focus so intently on a situation like this. I think more realistically they would chalk it up to a waste of their resources and move on to bigger problems their city is facing.
Samantha Downing is a wonderfully talented author, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next.
"A Twisted Love Story" follows Wes and Ivy, two people who are madly in love, but maybe not the best couple together. They know how to shower each other with gifts and surprises, being the partner people dream about, but when things go bad, they go very bad. They are vengeful and spiteful and will stop at nothing to ensure the other feels their wrath. On the night of their worst breakup, someone ends up dead, but Wes and Ivy refuse to ever talk about it, until now when they have to face it head on.
I do not think I have ever read such a toxic relationship in my entire life. I felt like I was getting whiplash reading this story. Everything seemed fine, I might even say "normal", and then all of the sudden a switch was flipped, and all hell breaks loose. Ivy posts a picture of another man to make Wes jealous, Wes ghosts Ivy to drive her insane. I feel like this type of relationship depiction was a risky choice to write about because it could be really off-putting to a reader, however, I was so invested in the story. As a mature adult, I know this type of behavior has "red flag" written all over it, but I was still so intrigued to see where Ivy and Wes ended up. The duo was both extremely unlikeable, and honestly had very few redeeming qualities.
There were a few moments that felt kind of too convenient to feel realistic and were inserted to move the plot along. For example, Ivy has a stalker, so she reports it to the police and tells them she thinks it is Wes. After the police talk to Wes and "close the case", the police begin to investigate Ivy and Wes further because they have a linked past in their system. The police officer becomes very invested in their story which is how this old crime comes to light. I felt like realistically, a police officer would not focus so intently on a situation like this. I think more realistically they would chalk it up to a waste of their resources and move on to bigger problems their city is facing.
Samantha Downing is a wonderfully talented author, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Blood, Murder, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death, Car accident, and Domestic abuse
aileron's review against another edition
dark
tense
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? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Car accident
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Stalking, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Gaslighting and Murder
katiemack's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I requested this eARC because I've heard good things about Samantha Downing's other books, and a psychological thriller about a toxic relationship seemed intriguing. I disliked all of the characters here--especially Ivy and Wes--but Downing's ability to parcel out aspects of the plot is strong enough to prompt me to keep reading to find out what happened. After a while, though, the mind games and crimes started to wear thin and become less interesting; while there are some small twists, I expected more daring ones. The culprit at the very end of the novel is also predictable.
I requested this eARC because I've heard good things about Samantha Downing's other books, and a psychological thriller about a toxic relationship seemed intriguing. I disliked all of the characters here--especially Ivy and Wes--but Downing's ability to parcel out aspects of the plot is strong enough to prompt me to keep reading to find out what happened. After a while, though, the mind games and crimes started to wear thin and become less interesting; while there are some small twists, I expected more daring ones. The culprit at the very end of the novel is also predictable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Animal death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Car accident, Murder, and Sexual assault
Minor: Stalking
shannanigans92's review against another edition
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Car accident, Murder, and Sexual assault
Minor: Stalking
clairebonney's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Car accident, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, and Stalking
Animal Death: Squirrel is killed by a car
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