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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
I thought the basis was pretty interesting - the mystery of why she fell and her pregnancy, but the book itself just didn’t wow me. I will say there were some twists that I didn’t expect and the ending took me by surprise. There was a lot of emotion in the last few chapters that you feel on a much deeper level than the rest of the book. Overall, the book felt very juvenile, the characters were cliche and shallow and the plot just felt obvious and predictable even when it wasn’t.
3.5 stars. The protagonist was so goddamn annoying that I had a hard time getting into this book. I recognize that the "mystery" was quite well done, but it was overhyped to the point that I didn't want to read it anymore. Sorry to the lovers of this book.
challenging
emotional
sad
3.5 Stars. I can't decide how I feel about it. Some of the plot felt predictable and I wasn't really wow-ed or surprised. But I enjoyed some of the character studies and exploring messy relationships. Life is messy and everyone was relatable.
Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Okay, okay, this is more like it. Phew. I swear to god, it's like 1 out of every 10 thrillers is a good one, and I have to slog through a lot of bullshit before I get joy. Almost makes it not worth it, until I get something like this.
This started out incredibly similar to another "thriller" I just finished reading, and I was so irritated by that one I almost quit. So, when it comes to this genre, this is a situation of pick This, not That.
Abi is a single mother to her 17-year old daughter Olivia. They are extremely close, and Abi is suuuuuuuuper helicopterish. There are strict rules and strict expectations, but their relationship really is a great one, despite Olivia's newfound pulling back.
Then Abi is woken up bright and early one morning to be told her daughter has had an accident. And she's now brain dead. Sorry about that, but by the way, she's going to have to live for a few more months because fetus.
Fetus, you say? What fetus?
I can't even get into the idea that this poor girl had to be kept alive in a vegetative state to keep the fetus alive, racking up medical bills her mother couldn't afford anyway, but WHATEVER, NOT THE TIME.
Abi sets off a mad dash to find out what the hell happened to her daughter that night. There are bruises on her wrists, suspicious circumstances, and a police force that says, "Enh, it was probably an accident, next."
Abi makes some monumentally dumb decisions. In the flashbacks told from Olivia's perspective, Olivia makes some monumentally dumb decisions. And the red herrings are a bit glaring at times. But this is a good, solid story about the secrets children hide from their parents, and vice versa, and a mother's need for justice for their child.
Solid work. Almost makes me not give up hope on the Thriller genre as a whole.
Okay, okay, this is more like it. Phew. I swear to god, it's like 1 out of every 10 thrillers is a good one, and I have to slog through a lot of bullshit before I get joy. Almost makes it not worth it, until I get something like this.
This started out incredibly similar to another "thriller" I just finished reading, and I was so irritated by that one I almost quit. So, when it comes to this genre, this is a situation of pick This, not That.
Abi is a single mother to her 17-year old daughter Olivia. They are extremely close, and Abi is suuuuuuuuper helicopterish. There are strict rules and strict expectations, but their relationship really is a great one, despite Olivia's newfound pulling back.
Then Abi is woken up bright and early one morning to be told her daughter has had an accident. And she's now brain dead. Sorry about that, but by the way, she's going to have to live for a few more months because fetus.
Fetus, you say? What fetus?
I can't even get into the idea that this poor girl had to be kept alive in a vegetative state to keep the fetus alive, racking up medical bills her mother couldn't afford anyway, but WHATEVER, NOT THE TIME.
Abi sets off a mad dash to find out what the hell happened to her daughter that night. There are bruises on her wrists, suspicious circumstances, and a police force that says, "Enh, it was probably an accident, next."
Abi makes some monumentally dumb decisions. In the flashbacks told from Olivia's perspective, Olivia makes some monumentally dumb decisions. And the red herrings are a bit glaring at times. But this is a good, solid story about the secrets children hide from their parents, and vice versa, and a mother's need for justice for their child.
Solid work. Almost makes me not give up hope on the Thriller genre as a whole.
This book was read as part of a subscription box. I was immediately taken with the premise of the book, but the execution was at times lacking. The reveal at the end is well-done, however. I appreciated how distinct the voices of Abi and Olivia were. It was a quick, fun read that kept me wanting to know more.
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a story. This book follows mother Abagail Knight as she seeks the truth behind what happened to her daughter Olivia. What caused her to fall and leave her brain dead and pregnant. Over the course of the story hidden relationships, intricacies and feelings are uncovered leaving the reader wanting to know more.
Beyond the plot points though, this book digs deep into themes of grief, pain and loss. I am amazed by McDonalds ability to bring readers back into deep feelings of loss and grief on behalf of the characters close to Oliva. Loving a person is complex and it must go deeper than loving their strengths. Throughout the book the exploration of Olivia’s life allows both the reader and the characters to see more than just her strengths, to see her weaknesses, her struggles and her pain. This is what connects us to Olivia and those who grieve her, to know her life, her love, her loss and her future and to see it so easily wiped away. May we each be loved not only for the good we bring into the world but also for the impact we have in it, may we be loved so deeply that the people around us desire to push past difficulties in order to love.
In the end, I am so great full for the life that came out of Olivia’s death. For her mother, her daughter and the family that formed around her in her last, fictional, days. But I do not see these beauties as something to discount or lighten grief but as an additional feeling. To feel joy and grief. Great fullness, peace, relief and pain. These feelings are the things of warriors, to learn and and appreciate the past without fear of the future.
Beyond the plot points though, this book digs deep into themes of grief, pain and loss. I am amazed by McDonalds ability to bring readers back into deep feelings of loss and grief on behalf of the characters close to Oliva. Loving a person is complex and it must go deeper than loving their strengths. Throughout the book the exploration of Olivia’s life allows both the reader and the characters to see more than just her strengths, to see her weaknesses, her struggles and her pain. This is what connects us to Olivia and those who grieve her, to know her life, her love, her loss and her future and to see it so easily wiped away. May we each be loved not only for the good we bring into the world but also for the impact we have in it, may we be loved so deeply that the people around us desire to push past difficulties in order to love.
In the end, I am so great full for the life that came out of Olivia’s death. For her mother, her daughter and the family that formed around her in her last, fictional, days. But I do not see these beauties as something to discount or lighten grief but as an additional feeling. To feel joy and grief. Great fullness, peace, relief and pain. These feelings are the things of warriors, to learn and and appreciate the past without fear of the future.
See my full review of this title on my blog: Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight): https://booksundertheblanket.com/whats-the-punishment-for-sneaking-out-these-days/
The mystery side of this book kept me guessing, but what really got my attention was the contemporary, drama side. My heart hurts: that bittersweet ending gave me goosebumps and ugly tears galore.
I loved this.
I loved this.