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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honestly I didn’t like the beginning of the book. It just felt like a very casual, slightly childish (teenager-ish) conversation, but the plot thickens — and I mean it thickens.
This was sort of disappointing for me, since I had some expectations riding on it.
The main characters were so out-of-a-catalogue, the perfect girl who hates perfection, the poster boy boyfriend, the bad friend, the scumbag ex. I love certain types of character molds, but none of the ones here were likable for me, I liked the Abi-Anthony storyline but it didn't get much space.
The mystery itself wasn't flashy, I guess you could say the book was about feelings rather than thrill. But I came looking for another 2019 good thriller since I had a good streak with them. This book was in the top 5 of some 2019 thriller list and I've read the other 4 and liked 2 of them so very much and didn't hate the other 2 mostly, I even enjoyed them a little.
The audio had a good narrator and another narrator who wasn't necessarily bad but wasn't great. Laurel Lefkow -who narrated for Abi- had such a great voice and I'll look her up to see what else is there by her. Kelly Burke -who narrated for Olivia- did a good job with the character but not with male voices or certain lines that required certain emotions, and her voice reminded me so much of the girl from One Of Us Is Lying that I was surprised she didn't narrate it.
The main characters were so out-of-a-catalogue, the perfect girl who hates perfection, the poster boy boyfriend, the bad friend, the scumbag ex. I love certain types of character molds, but none of the ones here were likable for me, I liked the Abi-Anthony storyline but it didn't get much space.
The mystery itself wasn't flashy, I guess you could say the book was about feelings rather than thrill. But I came looking for another 2019 good thriller since I had a good streak with them. This book was in the top 5 of some 2019 thriller list and I've read the other 4 and liked 2 of them so very much and didn't hate the other 2 mostly, I even enjoyed them a little.
The audio had a good narrator and another narrator who wasn't necessarily bad but wasn't great. Laurel Lefkow -who narrated for Abi- had such a great voice and I'll look her up to see what else is there by her. Kelly Burke -who narrated for Olivia- did a good job with the character but not with male voices or certain lines that required certain emotions, and her voice reminded me so much of the girl from One Of Us Is Lying that I was surprised she didn't narrate it.
A fantastic mystery writer, Christina McDonald manages to pull all readers in, making them feel for each character - even those no longer alive.
In The Night Olivia Fell, the book starts off with a prologue depicting the scene of how Olivia actually falls off of a bridge. It's also clear that it was not an accident, but the extent to which she was pushed or harmed remains unknown to readers until the very end.
This novel splits chapters up between Olivia, in the past, and her mother, Abi, in the present, as she finds out about Olivia's "accident" and how she deals with it over the following months.
The Plot
Olivia grew up with a single mother who told her that her dad passed away in a car accident while Abi was pregnant with her. It isn't until Olivia goes to visit the University of Washington with her school and runs into a girl who looks like she could be Olivia's sister that she begins to question whether or not her mom's story had been true.
Upon further talking, she discovers her name (Kendall), begins talking to her, and looks into Kendall's father. Without her strict mother's permission, she begins researching her father, who seems to have a lot of power in a nearby community.
While all of this is going on, Olivia is battling with her own challenges. Her boyfriend, Tyler, has become needy and clingy. On top of this, his parents are getting divorced, which has caused Tyler's mindset to become nothing but negative - except for when he's around Olivia.
But at the same time, Olivia has discovered that her childhood crush - her best friend's brother - also has a crush on her. Too afraid to break up with her dependent boyfriend, Olivia begins seeing her crush behind the boyfriend's back.
The web of lies that Olivia spins becomes too complicated to manage. She becomes ashamed of her lies, proud of her new strength, and welcoming of the new identity she has formed for herself.
Until she becomes surprised by one of her own actions and everything in her life is about to change. But she can't tell her mom - not yet. But by waiting, she runs out of time.
Abi, Olivia's mother, had grown up with her older sister after her own mother had committed suicide. She lived her entire life not knowing why her mother left.
Abi takes it upon herself to discover just what happened to her daughter. She refused to live another moment without having answers for someone's death. She knows Olivia's fall wasn't an accident, she knows the detectives aren't doing their jobs, and she knows that there are answers out there that she needs. In the meantime, her daughter remains alive via ventilators that are breathing for her in order to keep her unborn baby alive.
Part of what she has to discover is just who the father is.
---
Christina McDonald paints a beautiful story between mother and daughter, a challenging tale about the changing mindset of a teenager, and the truth behind what lies could do to one person as well as to the people around them.
A phenomenal story that everyone should read, McDonald leaves readers with a beautiful sentiment:
Whatever, whenever, I'll be here forever.
In The Night Olivia Fell, the book starts off with a prologue depicting the scene of how Olivia actually falls off of a bridge. It's also clear that it was not an accident, but the extent to which she was pushed or harmed remains unknown to readers until the very end.
This novel splits chapters up between Olivia, in the past, and her mother, Abi, in the present, as she finds out about Olivia's "accident" and how she deals with it over the following months.
The Plot
Olivia grew up with a single mother who told her that her dad passed away in a car accident while Abi was pregnant with her. It isn't until Olivia goes to visit the University of Washington with her school and runs into a girl who looks like she could be Olivia's sister that she begins to question whether or not her mom's story had been true.
Upon further talking, she discovers her name (Kendall), begins talking to her, and looks into Kendall's father. Without her strict mother's permission, she begins researching her father, who seems to have a lot of power in a nearby community.
While all of this is going on, Olivia is battling with her own challenges. Her boyfriend, Tyler, has become needy and clingy. On top of this, his parents are getting divorced, which has caused Tyler's mindset to become nothing but negative - except for when he's around Olivia.
But at the same time, Olivia has discovered that her childhood crush - her best friend's brother - also has a crush on her. Too afraid to break up with her dependent boyfriend, Olivia begins seeing her crush behind the boyfriend's back.
The web of lies that Olivia spins becomes too complicated to manage. She becomes ashamed of her lies, proud of her new strength, and welcoming of the new identity she has formed for herself.
Until she becomes surprised by one of her own actions and everything in her life is about to change. But she can't tell her mom - not yet. But by waiting, she runs out of time.
Abi, Olivia's mother, had grown up with her older sister after her own mother had committed suicide. She lived her entire life not knowing why her mother left.
Abi takes it upon herself to discover just what happened to her daughter. She refused to live another moment without having answers for someone's death. She knows Olivia's fall wasn't an accident, she knows the detectives aren't doing their jobs, and she knows that there are answers out there that she needs. In the meantime, her daughter remains alive via ventilators that are breathing for her in order to keep her unborn baby alive.
Part of what she has to discover is just who the father is.
---
Christina McDonald paints a beautiful story between mother and daughter, a challenging tale about the changing mindset of a teenager, and the truth behind what lies could do to one person as well as to the people around them.
A phenomenal story that everyone should read, McDonald leaves readers with a beautiful sentiment:
Whatever, whenever, I'll be here forever.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very predictable plot
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
This was a slow burn for a thriller in my opinion. The book sets the tone as being a mystery. What happened to Olivia the night she fell, and what will happen?
Unfortunately, I think I'm more of a fast-paced thriller fan, as I felt like this book dragged along and had more words than actual content.
BUT I still liked the storyline overall. I didn't predict the ending, as the author did a good job of leading us readers in different directions. I also feel like the author did a good job of tying up all the loose ends.
Other than the pacing and how wordy the book was, the only thing I would change is being able to hear the narrator's saliva while narrating Olivia's part. It was a pet peeve of mine throughout the book.
2.5 stars. Essentially just an unoriginal retelling of Reconstructing Amelia.
dark
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
Oh my... Haunting. Heartbreaking. Suspenseful. I couldnt put it down. Olivia fell, and so did my heart by the end. McDonald certainly knows how to keep the reader's attention.