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optimisticbooknerd's review
3.0
3.5 ⭐
I enjoyed this one, it had such a creepy eerie vibe to it and I really enjoyed the writing too. However, I did find it slow throughout most of the book
I usually don't like mulitple pov's like this one had but I feel like for this story while it did drag on for a while the pov's kinda helped if that makes sense.
I would definitely read again from this author in the future.
The cover is also so pretty in my opinion lol
I enjoyed this one, it had such a creepy eerie vibe to it and I really enjoyed the writing too. However, I did find it slow throughout most of the book
I usually don't like mulitple pov's like this one had but I feel like for this story while it did drag on for a while the pov's kinda helped if that makes sense.
I would definitely read again from this author in the future.
The cover is also so pretty in my opinion lol
alerycelery's review
5.0
A 2023 Michigan Notable Book. This is a coming-of-age story set in the late 1960’s with some time hopping to 2014. It’s told from three prospectives, Scarlet, Blue and Henry. I really enjoyed the changing narrators and timelines. It kept the storyline moving. They way that Murphy depicts mental health and it’s affect on familial relationships is lovely. I especially found the ending to be moving.
maria_reads76's review against another edition
3.5
This book almost made it to a “loved it” but every time I thought it would, it went off the rails a bit instead. It ended up being just a bit too heavy, a touch too dark, and a notch too far beyond belief to rise above a “liked it”. I felt so sorry for Blue, and I wanted someone (ANYONE) to step in and help her…to see that her mom needed help and things weren’t healthy at home. But as Scarlet spiraled out of control everyone around them just looked the other way. I wanted so badly to believe in Scarlet, but (even looking back with 20/20 hindsight) there wasn’t enough there to make it all make sense. I don’t want to give anything away (because I hate spoilers) so I’ll just leave it at this - the pieces just never quite fit right. It was enjoyable enough, but not believable and that’s sad because it could have been BRILLIANT if Murphy could have bridged that believability gap.
booksandbedtime's review
4.0
This psychological novel is about a mother (Scarlet) and daughter (Blue) who are constantly on the run for their lives. Except Blue doesn’t really know why.
Scarlet sees HIM every few months. When that happens the duo packs up everything, picks a crayon color to start their new identity, and moves to a new area. They eventually end up in a South Haven Michigan. Blue starts to finally make friends and live her life. Scarlet has a secret plan but will they move again before that happens?
I’m a fan of unreliable narrators and Scarlet’s POV was a perfect example of this. I loved how the same scenes would play out from different perspectives. I went into this book mostly blind, and found myself not being able to put it down. It’s a gripping novel!
Thank you to Dutton for the early copy of this book! I enjoyed it!
Scarlet sees HIM every few months. When that happens the duo packs up everything, picks a crayon color to start their new identity, and moves to a new area. They eventually end up in a South Haven Michigan. Blue starts to finally make friends and live her life. Scarlet has a secret plan but will they move again before that happens?
I’m a fan of unreliable narrators and Scarlet’s POV was a perfect example of this. I loved how the same scenes would play out from different perspectives. I went into this book mostly blind, and found myself not being able to put it down. It’s a gripping novel!
Thank you to Dutton for the early copy of this book! I enjoyed it!
emily_loves_2_read's review
4.0
Scarlet in Blue
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Fiction Mystery
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 3/8/22
Author: Jennifer Murphy
Publisher: Dutton Books
Pages: 384
Goodreads Rating: 4.10
TW ⚠️: Self-harm, child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual abuse.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for providing a digital copy of the book for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.
Synopsis:. When Scarlet and Blue arrive in the beachfront town of South Haven, Michigan, it seems that Blue's wishes might finally come true. She makes a good friend, is falling in love for the first time, and has found a piano teacher who recognizes her budding talent. But even as Blue thrives, she cannot shake her worry about her mother, whose eccentricities and art are only becoming increasingly difficult to understand. Scarlet, meanwhile, has very different intentions for their stay in South Haven. It was no accident that she brought them there and, with the help of the psychoanalyst she's sought out, Henry, she is determined to find a way to finally escape the shadow of her traumatic past, no matter the cost.
My Thoughts: The story is narrated by Blue (daughter), Scarlet (mother), and Henry (Scarlet’s Psychoanalyst). This story has a mixture of a few things, a love story, the act of revenge, art, and creepiness. The characters are developed well, so much so that at times you cannot tell if it is the storyline or imaginations of the characters. The book did start as a slow burn but started to heat up about a third of the way through. The slow burn was necessary in this book to set the stage for the plot. The author writing describes the scenes well, is creative, and kept me engaged. Overall I really enjoyed this book and it kind of gave me the Silent Patient vibe.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Fiction Mystery
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 3/8/22
Author: Jennifer Murphy
Publisher: Dutton Books
Pages: 384
Goodreads Rating: 4.10
TW ⚠️: Self-harm, child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual abuse.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for providing a digital copy of the book for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.
Synopsis:. When Scarlet and Blue arrive in the beachfront town of South Haven, Michigan, it seems that Blue's wishes might finally come true. She makes a good friend, is falling in love for the first time, and has found a piano teacher who recognizes her budding talent. But even as Blue thrives, she cannot shake her worry about her mother, whose eccentricities and art are only becoming increasingly difficult to understand. Scarlet, meanwhile, has very different intentions for their stay in South Haven. It was no accident that she brought them there and, with the help of the psychoanalyst she's sought out, Henry, she is determined to find a way to finally escape the shadow of her traumatic past, no matter the cost.
My Thoughts: The story is narrated by Blue (daughter), Scarlet (mother), and Henry (Scarlet’s Psychoanalyst). This story has a mixture of a few things, a love story, the act of revenge, art, and creepiness. The characters are developed well, so much so that at times you cannot tell if it is the storyline or imaginations of the characters. The book did start as a slow burn but started to heat up about a third of the way through. The slow burn was necessary in this book to set the stage for the plot. The author writing describes the scenes well, is creative, and kept me engaged. Overall I really enjoyed this book and it kind of gave me the Silent Patient vibe.
danidsfavereads's review against another edition
4.0
This was such an interesting story about family, secrets and art.
It follows Scarlet and her daughter, Blue as they move back to a town in Michigan. Scarlet’s a painter and lives her life in a very different way. She starts seeing a local psychoanalyst, Henry, where she begins to share her history.
The story is told in 4 perspectives - Scarlet, Blue, Henry and “the Pianist”. As the book progresses you learn more about Scarlet, and what led to her behaving the way she does. You also learn about Blue, the ways she must take care of her mom and her passion for the piano.
This was such an interesting story and felt like both family drama and mystery. You work to put together the pieces of the story and understand the big event that is teased at the beginning.
It follows Scarlet and her daughter, Blue as they move back to a town in Michigan. Scarlet’s a painter and lives her life in a very different way. She starts seeing a local psychoanalyst, Henry, where she begins to share her history.
The story is told in 4 perspectives - Scarlet, Blue, Henry and “the Pianist”. As the book progresses you learn more about Scarlet, and what led to her behaving the way she does. You also learn about Blue, the ways she must take care of her mom and her passion for the piano.
This was such an interesting story and felt like both family drama and mystery. You work to put together the pieces of the story and understand the big event that is teased at the beginning.