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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
i understand a lot of the negative reviews about this book but i absolutely devoured this. this book is a rollercoaster that i thoroughly enjoyed.
i can't really comment on the "retelling of the picture of dorian gray" aspect of this because i haven't read the classic but i know that i do want to read it now lol
let's start by acknowledging that the romance in this is toxic and absolutely not an example of a healthy sapphic romance. the MC and the LI fall hard and fast and there's a lot of red flags in the relationship that kind of get brushed over by the characters because they're "in love". but honestly, these kinds of relationships happen in real life and happen in media with heterosexual couples so let the sapphics have it. these girls are young and naive and neither have been raised seeing examples of a healthy relationship so is it really that unrealistic? i don't think so
ANYWAY what i loved most about this book was Wendy Heard's writing style, especially when the plot started to pick up and the thriller aspect of this book came to life. it's hard to talk more about it without involving spoilers but the situation with nico was so well done and i just appreciate that it never became a love triangle.
i haven't read a book like this in a long time and really all i have to say is "wow".
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
More like a 3.5? It had a very slow, but intriguing start, and REALLY picked up halfway through, but then continued to meander like the first half. Not a terrible YA thriller, just a bit too predictable for me.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*3.5
Ugh fuck that ending man.
See, the plot of this book was really captivating, lots of twists and turns, fascinating characters and backstory which kept me on my toes. The plot was definitely a super interesting concept and a fresh take I haven't seen before. Unfortunately, because the author tried to jam pack so much action into this novel, it lacked the depth and connection that could've made this a 5 star read. If this would've been a lot longer & had more setting descriptions it could've been amazing.
I just didn't really feel connected to any characters enough to actually feel emotion. It was like an action movie in a book.
I did love the queer representation tho! Happy pride month :)
Ugh fuck that ending man.
See, the plot of this book was really captivating, lots of twists and turns, fascinating characters and backstory which kept me on my toes. The plot was definitely a super interesting concept and a fresh take I haven't seen before. Unfortunately, because the author tried to jam pack so much action into this novel, it lacked the depth and connection that could've made this a 5 star read. If this would've been a lot longer & had more setting descriptions it could've been amazing.
I just didn't really feel connected to any characters enough to actually feel emotion. It was like an action movie in a book.
I did love the queer representation tho! Happy pride month :)
I would have enjoyed it a lot more if the relationship between mick and veronica was not so toxic. I didn't really care about any of the characters. The second half was definitely better than the first half but as a whole I was kinda disappointed.
It would have been a lot better if I didn't go in with "The picture of Dorian Grey" as the standard.
It would have been a lot better if I didn't go in with "The picture of Dorian Grey" as the standard.
1.5 This book required too much of a suspension of disbelief for me to fully get into. I’m still really worried about Veronica’s camera bag when she had to dive into the ocean to hide from the cops… What did she do with it? Did she hide it in the bushes? Wouldn’t the cops have been combing the grounds for fire starting paraphernalia? Did she jump in with it?? Was it a miraculous waterproof bag that kept her sacred “1980’s Leica” completely protected from the elements while she nearly drowned in the rip-current??? The author never mentioned her going to find it after washing up on the beach and trudging back to the car looking a hot mess but that “thank god we left our purses in the trunk or else our phones would be at the bottom of the sea rn.” This is what I’m left with. And that there is no possible way for an artist to make all the things Nico makes happen in the time he has to execute them. No freaking way. But this book is not for me, it is for the youngs.