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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
taylaclark14's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, and Murder
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
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
issymaae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body horror, Drug use, and Death of parent
Minor: Violence, Murder, and Pregnancy
sammba's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Stalking, Murder, and Alcohol
alexisvana's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
It's not good, folks! Writing from the perspective of a child (who btw was simultaneously barely past infancy but also could somehow read the word exorcism?) was 100% a cop out to justify poor writing that lacks any sort of description, tension, monster-building, context-setting, or frankly beauty. The writing just sucked!
If you're not gonna tell a good horror story, at least be good horror. SO many missed opportunities for real scares. And if you're not gonna be good at horror, at least be entertaining! And if you're not gonna be entertaining, for the love of GOD at least get an editor that knows the difference between "your" and "you're"
If you're not gonna tell a good horror story, at least be good horror. SO many missed opportunities for real scares. And if you're not gonna be good at horror, at least be entertaining! And if you're not gonna be entertaining, for the love of GOD at least get an editor that knows the difference between "your" and "you're"
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
keen's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Infidelity
Moderate: Body horror and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Violence, and Murder