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robyntothetee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
2.75
I have read almost all of McManus' books. Her series are good, but her stand-alones struggle a bit more, but are still good. This one just did not do it for me.
It was helpful to read the author's note at the end to realize that she struggled to pull this book together and keep the plot from unraveling because that made me understand why this book was such a struggle to get into. She struggled with it herself, but was probably on deadline and had to get it out there.
First, all of the characters were lame, except maybe Augustus and Liam. But even those two were kind of lame because she never really gave them enough depth. Liam was vindictive about his dad catfishing women but then seemed weak and lacking confidence in anything else. Augustus' character was dependent on Liam, so we didn't get enough depth with him outside of Liam.
Kat was a mess. There was not ever one moment in the book where I thought she was at all capable of pulling off the heist in her mom's stead. And there were moments where she absolutely thinks and acts like a thief and others where she is so naive and unthinking. It actually was kind of infuriating at times.
And Jaime being sick from basically jump was convenient. She had to be out of the way so that Kat could play a more prominent role. Jaime was just a character to prop up Kat when she was finally needed, and that felt lame.
I skimmed the last third of the book just trying to finish. And the thing is, I still am not quite sure who has the real necklace. Honestly. I can't remember that detail actually coming out, but I can't be bothered to go back in the book and find out. And unfortunately, you could see the plot twist at the very end basically from the beginning. It was just a matter of how the story gets to that point.
I will continue to read McManus' books because, overall, I like her writing style and stories. But this one missed the mark for me.
It was helpful to read the author's note at the end to realize that she struggled to pull this book together and keep the plot from unraveling because that made me understand why this book was such a struggle to get into. She struggled with it herself, but was probably on deadline and had to get it out there.
First, all of the characters were lame, except maybe Augustus and Liam. But even those two were kind of lame because she never really gave them enough depth. Liam was vindictive about his dad catfishing women but then seemed weak and lacking confidence in anything else. Augustus' character was dependent on Liam, so we didn't get enough depth with him outside of Liam.
Kat was a mess. There was not ever one moment in the book where I thought she was at all capable of pulling off the heist in her mom's stead. And there were moments where she absolutely thinks and acts like a thief and others where she is so naive and unthinking. It actually was kind of infuriating at times.
And Jaime being sick from basically jump was convenient. She had to be out of the way so that Kat could play a more prominent role. Jaime was just a character to prop up Kat when she was finally needed, and that felt lame.
I skimmed the last third of the book just trying to finish. And the thing is, I still am not quite sure who has the real necklace. Honestly. I can't remember that detail actually coming out, but I can't be bothered to go back in the book and find out. And unfortunately, you could see the plot twist at the very end basically from the beginning. It was just a matter of how the story gets to that point.
I will continue to read McManus' books because, overall, I like her writing style and stories. But this one missed the mark for me.
ladyluma93's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
michaelap0511's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sparky8's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
jdh_ky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
the_jolly_elf's review against another edition
mysterious
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
1.0
This should have been a DNF.
Kat is the early 2010s era female protagonists who would have failed at being even remotely interesting next to the equally less than stellar female characters of the time.
Liam had potential but he never advanced as a character
Augustus was...Augustus. I think his value as a character is tightly linked to Liam so the dynamic would have been very interesting if it was just the two of them.
Kat and Liam: the author fails to portray them both as friends and as step-siblings. That friendship was so stiff
Liam and Augustus: romantic potential when Liam has the crush but we didn't get time with them to see it develop so everything after that was very forced and obviously a check in the author's list of events.
Kat and Augustus: non-existent.
Others: Jamie is such a lame mother AND character. Luke has something going but just like Liam he never advances.
The conversations are too unreal. Nobody talks like that in real life.
The plot wanted to do things and failed. That last 25% with all the twists did not hit the aim. I actually skimmed it the rest after the first revelation.
I have read all of the authors books and i have fiund that I have been steadily enjoying them less and less so this will be the last book i try.
caroljc's review against another edition
mysterious
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? No
3.25