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nadiamasood's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
Okay, so first of all, I checked the reviews that gave this book a low rating. Most of them complain that the story was predictable and that it was easy to surmise who committed the crime. Well, I mean, isn't it already obvious from the book title itself?
For me, this fast-paced thriller isn’t mainly about <i>“who did it?”</i>. It’s more about a minor going through the unthinkable pain and trauma of sexual assault - feeling hurt, angry, confused, and extremely alone. It’s about perfectly happy and brilliant children doing bad things and lying to their parents. It’s about dealing with the shock of finding out that the crime is committed by someone you love with all your heart and soul and finding the strength and courage to do what’s right.
Prepare yourselves before diving in. The content this story centers on is brutal, and the author—a former childhood trauma specialist—does not shy away from the darkness involved here. The story is loosely based on her personal experiences with clients. It explores heavy themes such as suicide, domestic violence, and sexual assault. So while labeled a thriller, this is a real-world horror!
Despite its brevity, the audiobook manages to skillfully develop its characters within a span of less than 4 hours. What stood out to me was the deliberate choice to avoid dwelling on the specifics of Chloe’s trauma. Instead, the narrative prioritized clinical sensitivity, emphasizing the support and empathy provided by Felicia.
The part that hit the hardest for me was Felicia’s relationship with her son. I can’t begin to imagine how devastating it must be to fear the child you’ve loved with your entire being.
Narrators A.J. Cook and Tessa Albertson truly breathed life into the content. Rather than merely reading the story, they acted it out, allowing listeners to experience the fear and devastation through their voices. The inclusion of the phone call voice was a brilliant choice, intensifying the impact of the narrative.
For me, this fast-paced thriller isn’t mainly about <i>“who did it?”</i>. It’s more about a minor going through the unthinkable pain and trauma of sexual assault - feeling hurt, angry, confused, and extremely alone. It’s about perfectly happy and brilliant children doing bad things and lying to their parents. It’s about dealing with the shock of finding out that the crime is committed by someone you love with all your heart and soul and finding the strength and courage to do what’s right.
Prepare yourselves before diving in. The content this story centers on is brutal, and the author—a former childhood trauma specialist—does not shy away from the darkness involved here. The story is loosely based on her personal experiences with clients. It explores heavy themes such as suicide, domestic violence, and sexual assault. So while labeled a thriller, this is a real-world horror!
Despite its brevity, the audiobook manages to skillfully develop its characters within a span of less than 4 hours. What stood out to me was the deliberate choice to avoid dwelling on the specifics of Chloe’s trauma. Instead, the narrative prioritized clinical sensitivity, emphasizing the support and empathy provided by Felicia.
The part that hit the hardest for me was Felicia’s relationship with her son. I can’t begin to imagine how devastating it must be to fear the child you’ve loved with your entire being.
Narrators A.J. Cook and Tessa Albertson truly breathed life into the content. Rather than merely reading the story, they acted it out, allowing listeners to experience the fear and devastation through their voices. The inclusion of the phone call voice was a brilliant choice, intensifying the impact of the narrative.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Domestic abuse
leaettaaa's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I couldn't put down "One of Our Own." This book delves deep into the complexities of parental love and the harsh reality that it isn’t always unconditional. As a single mom, I found myself reflecting on my own parenting, especially when I read the poignant quote, "People never believe that bad kids can come from good parents." It left me endlessly questioning if I’m doing enough as a mother. This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever doubted themselves as a parent. Truly enlightening and profoundly moving!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
hellishpelican's review
challenging
dark
emotional
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
3.0
Fast-paced and great acting for an audiobook. That said, the story was a little predictable and trope-y.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Suicidal thoughts
jaimeowens's review
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, and Rape
authenticallybria's review
dark
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? N/A
5.0
This was a short audiobook but worth it. It felt like I was watching a movie as I listened to the narrators. Excellent narration! It gave crime drama feels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual assault
fashion37's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? No
4.75
This was a good listen. Love the person that read it. So sad. Even your children can do some imaginable things. And lose love for your child is the hardest thing to do!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Sexual assault, Grief, and Self harm
krystleclear88's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Suicide, Rape, Suicide attempt, and Sexual violence
cynireads's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Bullying
Minor: Sexism
daphelba's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Gun violence
adaskam's review
dark
emotional
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
2.5
Let me start by saying, I love Lucinda’s writing. She combines darkness and fantastic thrillers with great twists, and I just love all of her reads. However, this one fell short for me. This one was predictable from the get go and there were truly zero twists that you couldn’t see coming. The main character drove me bonkers with her internal monologue and poor choices as a suicide hotline operator. The redeeming qualities were that the narrator for this audio was fantastic and it was a quick listen!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts