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k_cavacini's review against another edition
4.0
I agree with Courtney that, while I enjoyed this book, I didn't like it as much as Beautiful Lies or Sliver of Truth. Part of the reason that I didn't enjoy this book as much is because I didn't trust Ophelia/Annie as a narrator. The constant jumps in time did get confusing at times and may have been easier to understand if there was a simple indicator when the time was changing (ie. asterisks surrounding the flashbacks/flashforwards).
One of the things that I love about Lisa Under's writing is that it's suspenseful and I was constantly changing my mind about where the story was going (and who I thought "done it"). Definitely a fast-paced, intriguing read!
One of the things that I love about Lisa Under's writing is that it's suspenseful and I was constantly changing my mind about where the story was going (and who I thought "done it"). Definitely a fast-paced, intriguing read!
petersenftleben's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this, I really did. But I put it down about 150 pages in and just had no desire to pick it up again, even after renewing it at the library. There was so much potential for a good psychological suspense novel, but I never felt much suspense in the chapters that I read, and when I did, it turned out to be a dream or was written off in some other way.
I do admit that the author is a good writer, and there were some well-crafted passages. And as hesitant I was about the choice to use present throughout, I ended up not being as confused by the timeline as I was expecting. But, still, as curious as I was about the Annie/Ophelia question, the plot didn't grab me. I would have liked to have seen more of the scenes on the boat, but the rest of the story felt kind of pedestrian and unexciting to me.
I do admit that the author is a good writer, and there were some well-crafted passages. And as hesitant I was about the choice to use present throughout, I ended up not being as confused by the timeline as I was expecting. But, still, as curious as I was about the Annie/Ophelia question, the plot didn't grab me. I would have liked to have seen more of the scenes on the boat, but the rest of the story felt kind of pedestrian and unexciting to me.
jannenemarie's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. It was confusing at times when it would switch from past to present. It also got confusing when things started happening to Annie and no one believed her. The end of the book clears everything up which makes this book such a good read. My heart goes out to poor Ophelia because she was abandoned by her family. Then in the end, she gets the unconditional love she so desperately deserved.
kristinisreading's review against another edition
4.0
This book had a can't put it down quality. The suspense and the lack of reliability of the narrator kept me guessing. At times, the twists and turns could actually become confusing, but even then I just wanted to read more to try to understand. I was a little bit disappointed at the ending of the book, because it's so difficult to build up that much suspense and then make it pay off. Overall I enjoyed the book and I would try reading another book by this author.
mrsfligs's review against another edition
3.0
2 Words that describe the book: Amnesia thriller
3 Settings where it took place or characters you met:
* Setting: Florida in the far past, the recent past and the present
* Annie Powers—a devoted but isolated mother whose past is starting to catch up with her, despite her own best efforts to avoid it
* Ophelia March—the person who Annie used to be and “killed” but who just won’t stay dead until her past is dealt with
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
* I liked the whole “what is real/what isn’t” aspect of the book. Annie often cannot tell what is real and what is an illusion and neither can the reader. This leads to fake-outs, red herrings and sudden abrupt changes in what you think is happening.
* I disliked the whole “what is real/what isn’t” aspect of the book. (Having deja vu?) Although it was kind of neat device, it often led to some confusion. I think the idea was to reflect what is happening in Annie’s confused mind, but it began to seem a bit too much at times. It seemed that everything in Annie’s life was called into question after awhile. At points, I began feeling unsure what I knew to be “real” and what wasn’t.
* I liked that the book alternated between three times: Ophelia’s life in the past, Annie’s life recently, and Annie’s current situation as she fights for her life. Unger does a relatively good job of keeping you on the right path, but I sometimes had to figure out where exactly I was. Unlike other books that jump back and forth, Unger does not provide any dates or time clues. You have to figure it out on your own. This might be annoying to some readers.
* I disliked that the characters never felt really fleshed out to me. This might be because some are “figments” of Annie’s imagination … or are they?
5 Stars or less for your rating?
I’m giving the book 3 stars. If you’re a fan of thrillers where the protagonist suffers from amnesia or blocked memories, this would be great read for you. You need to keep on your toes to follow along (at least I did), so if jumping back and forth in time bothers you, this book might be a struggle. Overall, I thought it was a decent thriller that kept me interested. I might read more by this author some day when I need a “don’t want to invest too much but I kind of want to read a thriller” type book.
3 Settings where it took place or characters you met:
* Setting: Florida in the far past, the recent past and the present
* Annie Powers—a devoted but isolated mother whose past is starting to catch up with her, despite her own best efforts to avoid it
* Ophelia March—the person who Annie used to be and “killed” but who just won’t stay dead until her past is dealt with
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
* I liked the whole “what is real/what isn’t” aspect of the book. Annie often cannot tell what is real and what is an illusion and neither can the reader. This leads to fake-outs, red herrings and sudden abrupt changes in what you think is happening.
* I disliked the whole “what is real/what isn’t” aspect of the book. (Having deja vu?) Although it was kind of neat device, it often led to some confusion. I think the idea was to reflect what is happening in Annie’s confused mind, but it began to seem a bit too much at times. It seemed that everything in Annie’s life was called into question after awhile. At points, I began feeling unsure what I knew to be “real” and what wasn’t.
* I liked that the book alternated between three times: Ophelia’s life in the past, Annie’s life recently, and Annie’s current situation as she fights for her life. Unger does a relatively good job of keeping you on the right path, but I sometimes had to figure out where exactly I was. Unlike other books that jump back and forth, Unger does not provide any dates or time clues. You have to figure it out on your own. This might be annoying to some readers.
* I disliked that the characters never felt really fleshed out to me. This might be because some are “figments” of Annie’s imagination … or are they?
5 Stars or less for your rating?
I’m giving the book 3 stars. If you’re a fan of thrillers where the protagonist suffers from amnesia or blocked memories, this would be great read for you. You need to keep on your toes to follow along (at least I did), so if jumping back and forth in time bothers you, this book might be a struggle. Overall, I thought it was a decent thriller that kept me interested. I might read more by this author some day when I need a “don’t want to invest too much but I kind of want to read a thriller” type book.
hugbandit7's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good book but strange too...I mean the book ended and I still wasn't sure about Ophelia/Amy's state of mind and what was real and what wasn't. That aside I really did like the book and the back and forth between the past and the present and how it intertwined what happened during Ophelia's childhood and how it affected her as Amy. It definitely gives you an insight into the mental state of people and how they might act or react to different situations.
ashleylillis's review against another edition
3.0
I felt like it took too long to pull me in and then it wasn’t until the last 100 pages that I couldn’t put it down. It was a slow burn.
cpriley401's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cassstillwill's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.25