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sarait92's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
judithdcollins's review against another edition
5.0
I Loved THE STRANGER INSIDE 5 Stars ++ Laura Benedict hooks you from page one to the last word. Top Books of 2019 List. Move this one to the top of TBR list and pre-order now. You do not want to miss this one. Review coming!
shanshanshannon's review against another edition
3.0
The unravel was slow and then fast. I had trouble feeling any empathy for a narrator who treated everyone in her life like garbage. It takes place in St. Louis, so all the references to the neighborhoods were fun.
lydiaewinters's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It was a good book. I guessed some of the twists, but the end was so twisted no one could have untangled it all. (Not crazy about the ending btw. Without spoilers, I just feel like it left too much unanswered.)
The problem was everyone was so unlikeable. When your favorite character is canine, I think that says a lot. (Actually I liked Jenny too) I couldn’t stand Kimber. And it’s hard when you don’t have anyone to root for.
A lot of the plot lines were really good, but altogether they stopped me from liking a single character.
(Note: I listened to the first 25% or so on audio, and the narrator had such an obnoxious voice for the kid. It was so grating. Otherwise she did a decent job.)
jantefazal's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.25
msmadeline_5050's review against another edition
5.0
This book has the perfect amount of thrill, suspense, and romance all in one. I could not put this one down. The story is creative, interesting, and thrilling! Just when you think you know what comes next, this book goes another way!
thisisjusttheprologue_'s review against another edition
5.0
Wow! I loved this book... I would really recommend this book to other thriller lovers, especially for anyone looking to read a well-written book that hasn't been over-hyped lately.
The main character, Kimber, is such a dark, twisty, complex person who appears devoid of conscience. While she's not someone I would want to be friends with (or have as a sister!), she ended up being an enjoyable MC and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. She has a dark past and there are so many levels to her- so much more than what is in the blurb (but I don't want to give anything away!) Even though there was so much going on, I think that it was all perfectly executed and tied together well in the storyline, not just forced together like in some other books.
There was really good character development in this book. There weren't miscellaneous characters introduced just for the sake of filling pages. Every character had depth and history to them and they held weight in the storyline. All the characters just work. I think Michelle was my favorite character and I enjoyed the flashbacks to the 1990's for her chapters. Everything that happened in those chapters helps make sense of everything happening in the current-day storyline.
I liked this book because all of it felt realistic. Someone moves into your house while you're away, but has what looks like a valid lease? You have to wait for a court determination. You physically assault someone? You get arrested. You betray your best friend by having an affair with her husband? She never speaks to you again. While there were a lot of twists, none of them were outlandish or just for shock value. The ending of this book was good and satisfying, and not just so that everything could be wrapped up in a happy forced ending. The reader got closure and the answers that were needed.
The main character, Kimber, is such a dark, twisty, complex person who appears devoid of conscience. While she's not someone I would want to be friends with (or have as a sister!), she ended up being an enjoyable MC and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. She has a dark past and there are so many levels to her- so much more than what is in the blurb (but I don't want to give anything away!) Even though there was so much going on, I think that it was all perfectly executed and tied together well in the storyline, not just forced together like in some other books.
There was really good character development in this book. There weren't miscellaneous characters introduced just for the sake of filling pages. Every character had depth and history to them and they held weight in the storyline. All the characters just work. I think Michelle was my favorite character and I enjoyed the flashbacks to the 1990's for her chapters. Everything that happened in those chapters helps make sense of everything happening in the current-day storyline.
I liked this book because all of it felt realistic. Someone moves into your house while you're away, but has what looks like a valid lease? You have to wait for a court determination. You physically assault someone? You get arrested. You betray your best friend by having an affair with her husband? She never speaks to you again. While there were a lot of twists, none of them were outlandish or just for shock value. The ending of this book was good and satisfying, and not just so that everything could be wrapped up in a happy forced ending. The reader got closure and the answers that were needed.
melissadelongcox's review against another edition
3.0
*Thanks to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for the ARC!*
So, I'm having a hard time rating this one and here's why - the story is good! I like the past/present narrative (one told from each sister's perspective), and I appreciate how, while there are a lot of moving pieces, everything eventually comes together.
That said, I'm still feeling a little meh on it because it gets to be a little overzealous (extra, as the kids say!) as each piece of the story is revealed.Obviously, I'm not the editor, but I kind of wish that piece would've been left out. The story still all tied together well and all the pieces were made to fit, I think the book would've felt more cohesive that way.
Again - it's a good story! I enjoyed it and it hooked me right from the start, so it's one that I'll recommend to someone looking for a page turner.
So, I'm having a hard time rating this one and here's why - the story is good! I like the past/present narrative (one told from each sister's perspective), and I appreciate how, while there are a lot of moving pieces, everything eventually comes together.
That said, I'm still feeling a little meh on it because it gets to be a little overzealous (extra, as the kids say!) as each piece of the story is revealed.
Spoiler
I genuinely feel like the whole family story was enough on it's own and worked really well, the book didn't need the Gabriel/Brianna storyline to make it work. It would've been more than enough for her to have the ex-boyfriend thing happening, and her job could've easily had problems just by virtue of her bringing bad publicity to the station.Again - it's a good story! I enjoyed it and it hooked me right from the start, so it's one that I'll recommend to someone looking for a page turner.
hoovera's review against another edition
3.0
It's an interesting premise and I appreciate the twists and turns though it took a long time and then they all came at once. Some things I had already guessed at. So it was generally good but probably forgettable.
ropers16's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0