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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
liked the writing style but found the plot a bit predictable, also found the main character harder to understand / empathize with than Dr. Shields
This book had a great premise. I love the therapist angle of the book and the different perspectives that go back and forth. I think it was very beneficial for two authors so that the writing styles differed.
Nevertheless, we soldier on.
It wasn’t that I didn’t like the book. I didn’t understand the ending and I will not give that away but I saw everything coming and the measure of a thriller genre book is how much I can guess and if I can be surprised. I guessed everything and I wasn’t surprised. I think I was just disappointed because everything was going so well until part three.
My expectations for this book weren’t high because it was hyped or anything like that but because I thought that the premise held a lot of promise. I didn't really know what I was getting into when I first pick this up. It was at my library and I had seen it on bookstagram and I thought this was going to be fast-paced and scary. To compare this to Gone Girl is a mistake. It just is. I didn't connect with the characters and they felt really one-dimensional with tragic backstories. The way we are given information felt disjointed to the rest of the story.
There are certain aspects of the story that don't make any sense like a single girl being able to live alone on a freelance salary in New York City. What? Also there is an assault that happens but we just kind of gloss over it because it isn't part of the main plot.
I get what they were trying to do here. The book asked some really difficult questions and tried to get us, the audience, to see the gray in certain situations. You can say that you would never do something but when you are in the thick of it, can you really stick to your word?
I’m hoping that their next book is about something other than a woman scorned.
I would read it.
3 stars.
Spoiler
*Update: I’ve read the Wife Between Us and I was completely wrong* However, this is their second book together and it’s the same subject matter. A husband and wife and another woman. I haven’t read A Wife Between Us, just the prologue and it seems like it is again about a jilted married woman.Nevertheless, we soldier on.
It wasn’t that I didn’t like the book. I didn’t understand the ending and I will not give that away but I saw everything coming and the measure of a thriller genre book is how much I can guess and if I can be surprised. I guessed everything and I wasn’t surprised. I think I was just disappointed because everything was going so well until part three.
My expectations for this book weren’t high because it was hyped or anything like that but because I thought that the premise held a lot of promise. I didn't really know what I was getting into when I first pick this up. It was at my library and I had seen it on bookstagram and I thought this was going to be fast-paced and scary. To compare this to Gone Girl is a mistake. It just is. I didn't connect with the characters and they felt really one-dimensional with tragic backstories. The way we are given information felt disjointed to the rest of the story.
There are certain aspects of the story that don't make any sense like a single girl being able to live alone on a freelance salary in New York City. What? Also there is an assault that happens but we just kind of gloss over it because it isn't part of the main plot.
I get what they were trying to do here. The book asked some really difficult questions and tried to get us, the audience, to see the gray in certain situations. You can say that you would never do something but when you are in the thick of it, can you really stick to your word?
Spoiler
but to make it ultimately about a woman trying to see if her husband is faithful and then killing herself is so dumb.I’m hoping that their next book is about something other than a woman scorned.
I would read it.
3 stars.
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I really liked this book; it drew me in and kept me interested throughout. I enjoyed the short, digestible chapters.
Psychological suspense without being scary or violent. Told from two different perspectives, Dr. and study participant, it is full of manipulation and gaslighting. I would definitely recommend this read.
Contains some reference to suicide and sexual abuse, but not heavily steeped.
Semi-Spoilers
The reduction of one star: For the level of slow burn, the ending was lackluster for me. Dr. Shields deviated so far from her character setup in the last few pages by breaking down and giving up. Maybe that was the point, but it just felt abrupt and not very satisfying.
Psychological suspense without being scary or violent. Told from two different perspectives, Dr. and study participant, it is full of manipulation and gaslighting. I would definitely recommend this read.
Contains some reference to suicide and sexual abuse, but not heavily steeped.
Semi-Spoilers
The reduction of one star: For the level of slow burn, the ending was lackluster for me. Dr. Shields deviated so far from her character setup in the last few pages by breaking down and giving up. Maybe that was the point, but it just felt abrupt and not very satisfying.
