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ma_bster's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
3.75
Maybe it's because I binged 95% of the book in the middle of the night but this book scared the SHIT out of me. The scary scenes were incredibly effective especially when Bela goes to pee at Evelyn's house and ends up sitting on Other Mommy's lap . The story's arc feels a little predictable up until the end and the parents' characters could have been fleshed out more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Infidelity
Moderate: Cursing, Death, and Violence
Minor: Drug use and Death of parent
smithreads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing and Drug use
shesflippinpages's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
alicatreadsstuff's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Don’t read before going to bed…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infidelity, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Violence, and Murder
detective_dipstick's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Alcohol
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Violence, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying, Blood, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
nyx89's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
fairytalefootnotes's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Narrator(s): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes, etc: Haunted House, Dysfunctional Family, Child Sees Things
POV: Single, 1st Person
Brief Summary: Eight-year-old Bela didn’t mind being visited by her “Other Mommy” before the entity began to ask Bela to let her into her heart. Frustrated by Bela’s refusal, Other Mommy becomes increasingly belligerent, upending Bela’s life as she knew it.
The Praise: I really enjoyed the concept of having Bela as the narrator. I became almost protective of her by the end of the book. The audiobook was really great and the narration added to my feelings of protectiveness and overall sadness at Bela’s situation.
The Critique: Ursula was a true nightmare of a woman. Dismissive and rude to her own family and just overall unpleasant to read about.
And of course, Daddo. Not the character, he was wonderful. But why did Bela call him that? There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to it other than to irritate me.
Final Thoughts: The audiobook narration really saved this for me, making it more interesting and eerie than I think it would’ve been otherwise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Infidelity
pitbulls_and_prose's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Eight-year-old Bela loves her family. But lately, someone (or something) else has been spending time with her, and Bela calls her "Other Mommy". Scary things start happening around the house, and not only to Bela, but family and friends as well. Her parents are determined to fight whatever "Other Mommy" is and protect their daughter. They are desperate enough to try just about anything.
I liked this book. It delivered on being an extra creepy, haunted house story. The book is told entirely through Bela's perspective which lends to the creep factor because she's too young to fully grasp how much danger she is in. She eavesdrops on her parents a lot and you can tell she never quite thinks this haunting is as big of a deal as it is. You never fully know what's around each corner or who Bela is even talking to. Bela's inner monologue is at times very immature (rightfully so, she's eight) and at other times extremely mature. This was a very curious writing decision from the author. The parents' mental states both devolve throughout this book and you can tell by how they start talking to Bela like an adult more and more. While I did enjoy this, it wasn't anything new or special. If you're looking for a quick read to scare you for a bit, you can't really go wrong with this one, but there are better stories out there.
I liked this book. It delivered on being an extra creepy, haunted house story. The book is told entirely through Bela's perspective which lends to the creep factor because she's too young to fully grasp how much danger she is in. She eavesdrops on her parents a lot and you can tell she never quite thinks this haunting is as big of a deal as it is. You never fully know what's around each corner or who Bela is even talking to. Bela's inner monologue is at times very immature (rightfully so, she's eight) and at other times extremely mature. This was a very curious writing decision from the author. The parents' mental states both devolve throughout this book and you can tell by how they start talking to Bela like an adult more and more. While I did enjoy this, it wasn't anything new or special. If you're looking for a quick read to scare you for a bit, you can't really go wrong with this one, but there are better stories out there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body horror, Drug use, and Death of parent
Minor: Violence, Murder, and Pregnancy
aiden_mr2's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Absolutely terrifying novel. Making this story from the perspective of a child made it that much more scary
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Gore and Infidelity
lizgom's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I hated so many things about this book, solely because what the f*ck is up with this family. Sh*t hit the fan so early in the book, I wasn't expecting that lol.
I started reading the book and was creeping myself out so I decided to go the audiobook route because I wouldn't be able to push through if I was the one setting the tone. Overall the story was interesting, I really like all the reactions it got out of me. I don't remember the last time I actually felt SOMETHING while reading.
Definitely read the triggers to this before picking it up.
I started reading the book and was creeping myself out so I decided to go the audiobook route because I wouldn't be able to push through if I was the one setting the tone. Overall the story was interesting, I really like all the reactions it got out of me. I don't remember the last time I actually felt SOMETHING while reading.
Definitely read the triggers to this before picking it up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body horror, Drug use, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Violence, Murder, and Pregnancy