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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Insufferable cast of characters where not a single one had any redeeming qualities except maybe Frankie. By about page 10 I was sick and tired of her selfishness and woe-is-me attitude and, spoiler alert, that does not go away.
Some of the writing in this was also kind of painfully bad. Like the repeated line of the monster who wears a mask….give me a break. A lot of tell don’t show here as well that was eye roll inducing at times. However I do love a murder mystery so that has this book at 2.5 stars for me.
Some of the writing in this was also kind of painfully bad. Like the repeated line of the monster who wears a mask….give me a break. A lot of tell don’t show here as well that was eye roll inducing at times. However I do love a murder mystery so that has this book at 2.5 stars for me.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
“I’ve known you since we were eighteen years old. Watched you closer than anyone. Do you want to know what I think?”
I was shaking my head, but he kept going.
“You’re a narcissist. You’ve always been vain and petty and ego-driven. You have serious daddy issues and a fucked-up dating history—including, most notably, with me. You always take the safe route because you’re scared. Case in point, your lame corporate job. You try so goddamn hard to make everything perfect because you’re convinced that’s the only way you’ll deserve—what? Love? Life, even? And as far as the world is concerned, you pushed my college roommate out a window to his death. You’re taking the fall, anyway, for reasons I honestly don’t understand.”
“Coop seized my shoulders. “Let me finish. I get it. You’re hungry. You want things so bad it hurts. You’d do anything to get them.”
“Coop—”
“And I fucking love you for it, all right? I always have. One look at you freshman year, and I was doomed. I know it’s wrong because of Caro. But it’s always been wrong, for one reason or another. Never the right time. And Christ, never worse than now. But I can’t hide from the truth any longer. Do the wrong thing with me, Jess. I promise, I will make you happy. I will love you for the rest of my life. I’m going to do it anyway; I accepted that a long time ago. But please. Do it with me.”
“I love you. I loved you at Myrtle Beach and that day I found you in Blackwell and at graduation when I turned you away. I’ve loved you ever since.”
“I know,” Coop said and kissed me again. “Come on.” He put me back on the ground. “Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know. I just want to be free with you in this city. I used to dream about it.”
We walked to the bike, and I fit myself on the seat behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “I like your dreams better than mine.”
What a journey it’s been. It’s been a while since I was this invested in a cast of characters, and I’m so glad to have found that again in this. Coop, my sweet emo lovesick fool, you are definitely my cup of coffee. Who would’ve thought I’d find a new book boyfriend in a thriller mystery novel? 🥹🖤 The final chapters were especially gripping and I literally could not put the book down. I was so surprised when I found out this was Ashley’s 1st novel, like sis job well done!
5 my-gawd-they-are-all-fucked-up-but-im-glad-i-met-them stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was shaking my head, but he kept going.
“You’re a narcissist. You’ve always been vain and petty and ego-driven. You have serious daddy issues and a fucked-up dating history—including, most notably, with me. You always take the safe route because you’re scared. Case in point, your lame corporate job. You try so goddamn hard to make everything perfect because you’re convinced that’s the only way you’ll deserve—what? Love? Life, even? And as far as the world is concerned, you pushed my college roommate out a window to his death. You’re taking the fall, anyway, for reasons I honestly don’t understand.”
“Coop seized my shoulders. “Let me finish. I get it. You’re hungry. You want things so bad it hurts. You’d do anything to get them.”
“Coop—”
“And I fucking love you for it, all right? I always have. One look at you freshman year, and I was doomed. I know it’s wrong because of Caro. But it’s always been wrong, for one reason or another. Never the right time. And Christ, never worse than now. But I can’t hide from the truth any longer. Do the wrong thing with me, Jess. I promise, I will make you happy. I will love you for the rest of my life. I’m going to do it anyway; I accepted that a long time ago. But please. Do it with me.”
“I love you. I loved you at Myrtle Beach and that day I found you in Blackwell and at graduation when I turned you away. I’ve loved you ever since.”
“I know,” Coop said and kissed me again. “Come on.” He put me back on the ground. “Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know. I just want to be free with you in this city. I used to dream about it.”
We walked to the bike, and I fit myself on the seat behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “I like your dreams better than mine.”
What a journey it’s been. It’s been a while since I was this invested in a cast of characters, and I’m so glad to have found that again in this. Coop, my sweet emo lovesick fool, you are definitely my cup of coffee. Who would’ve thought I’d find a new book boyfriend in a thriller mystery novel? 🥹🖤 The final chapters were especially gripping and I literally could not put the book down. I was so surprised when I found out this was Ashley’s 1st novel, like sis job well done!
5 my-gawd-they-are-all-fucked-up-but-im-glad-i-met-them stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5 ⭐️ I read this book because I really enjoyed Winstead’s “The Last Housewife,” and while I can definitely say she’s a solid author that I would like to continue reading, this one falls short of “The Last Housewife” for a couple reasons.
But first the positive - lots of twists and I felt like it had more crazy reveals than the average whodunnit. It definitely always kept my attention.
Now, it’s downfalls - I had trouble liking/rooting for any of the characters in this book. Everyone felt very surface level and a bit underdeveloped. So as things started to unwind and everyone kept getting into deeper shit, it was honestly just entertaining, and not heartbreaking like maybe it would’ve felt if I was rooting for any of the main players. I guess that could be seen as a good thing in a strange way?
But first the positive - lots of twists and I felt like it had more crazy reveals than the average whodunnit. It definitely always kept my attention.
Now, it’s downfalls - I had trouble liking/rooting for any of the characters in this book. Everyone felt very surface level and a bit underdeveloped. So as things started to unwind and everyone kept getting into deeper shit, it was honestly just entertaining, and not heartbreaking like maybe it would’ve felt if I was rooting for any of the main players. I guess that could be seen as a good thing in a strange way?
This book has the vibes of 13 reasons, but with every single character being questionable and unlikeable.
This is not my usual genre to read, but I was in it to win it. I found myself reading more and more even though I didn’t really care about the mystery all that much. I was enthralled by the characters that I didn’t like, and the ones I wanted to like.
Generally when a story flips timelines, there is a disconnect with the narrative. However, this narrative plays out like flashbacks from an episode of CSI.
I would recommend this to anyone that’s looking for an introductory mystery/thriller novel
This is not my usual genre to read, but I was in it to win it. I found myself reading more and more even though I didn’t really care about the mystery all that much. I was enthralled by the characters that I didn’t like, and the ones I wanted to like.
Generally when a story flips timelines, there is a disconnect with the narrative. However, this narrative plays out like flashbacks from an episode of CSI.
I would recommend this to anyone that’s looking for an introductory mystery/thriller novel
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So this mystery thriller follows six college friends (friends, if you can even call them that) as they attend a reunion 10 years after graduation. All the characters are insufferable and the MC is a whole new level.
Whilst at college, one of their friends was murdered and during the reunion her brother is trying to serve justice by solving the crime and outing all their secrets and motives. Sounds good? Wrong.
*potential spoilers ahead*
Right I will say, I did enjoy that every character could have potentially been a suspect and the main twist - who the murderer was - I couldn’t have guessed. This had so much potential, but the moment it became slightly gripping it was lost in unnecessary, boring details.
The characters were not likeable at all, so immature, and they are made out to be this solid group of best friends but in actual fact all despise each other?! They are all selfish, nasty people. Also, why do they all have daddy issues?!?!
The fact her brother was portrayed to be a little, weasel of a character who everyone pitied yet he was scaring them into revealing the truth was bizarre as well.
Perhaps some justice for Jack and Coop, as they seemed to be the only decent characters.
It wasn’t awful, but it sure as hell wasn’t great either.
Whilst at college, one of their friends was murdered and during the reunion her brother is trying to serve justice by solving the crime and outing all their secrets and motives. Sounds good? Wrong.
*potential spoilers ahead*
Right I will say, I did enjoy that every character could have potentially been a suspect and the main twist - who the murderer was - I couldn’t have guessed. This had so much potential, but the moment it became slightly gripping it was lost in unnecessary, boring details.
The characters were not likeable at all, so immature, and they are made out to be this solid group of best friends but in actual fact all despise each other?! They are all selfish, nasty people. Also, why do they all have daddy issues?!?!
The fact her brother was portrayed to be a little, weasel of a character who everyone pitied yet he was scaring them into revealing the truth was bizarre as well.
Perhaps some justice for Jack and Coop, as they seemed to be the only decent characters.
It wasn’t awful, but it sure as hell wasn’t great either.
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
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read this on a flight or by a pool.