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onceandfuturereaders's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I donβt want to give anything away because Cole did such a good job of making me question absolutely everything about this book in the best way possible. Overall, it had me hooked from the start and there were times that I legitimately gasped out loud or wondered if everything was truly happening, as Sydney and Theo both read like somewhat unreliable narrators. The book unfolded in such a great way and I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a good thriller.
Graphic: Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Racism
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Though it feels obvious throughout where the book is going, I still found myself anxiously following along to see where the story would go and what the ultimate result of the plot would be. The things that are revealed about all the characters, sometimes even just briefly, add so many additional layers to the storyline.
My only actual complaint is that some elements of the story are never really resolved and just sort of forgotten in the end, like Sydney's fear of bed bugs and why Drea was working with the enemy (or even how long she was or what the story was there).
Fans of Get Out or The Other Black Girl would definitely like this book.
Graphic: Alcohol, Murder, Violence, Death, Torture, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, and Blood
Minor: Suicide
vasha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Murder, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Gun violence, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Police brutality
Moderate: Physical abuse, Suicide, Vomit, and Blood
Minor: Addiction, Slavery, Cultural appropriation, and Genocide
taelights's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I loved the general concept and what we found out was going on was very interesting and fucked up. However, it took forever to get to that element of the book and nothing really seemed to happen until the later 75% of the book. There seemed to be way too much filler in this book and not enough of the payoff. In fact it felt like there wasn't a true conclusion to the book at all with it stopping abruptly and the epilogue leaving so many unanswered questions.
Sydney I thought was underdeveloped and I hated Theo. His POV was always so annoying to read and I thought he was a major creep. Like he's always watching Sydney in the apartment across the street and getting boners for her and acting like a teenage boy going through puberty with how often he's getting horny for her and it's like dude.... Yet he's supposed to be seen in a good light and as like the only non racist and non threatening white person who moved inβ¦. Yikes. Like sure he's not part of the overall group of bad guys but. The bar is in hell.
The romance between Sydney and Theo was unbearable too. Like I hated them together and thought Theo didn't deserve her and her suddenly wanting him after treating him like a crap until they hooked up made the romance make zero sense. So much of the book is developing this boring gross romance though. Like I know now that this author is a romance author trying her hand at thrillers but my god this seemed like a romance with a side of a fucked up plan featuring gentrification and racism rather than an actual thriller.
I didn't vibe with the writing style. I saw someone say it read like a YA and I kind of agree. The characters felt very immature and Theo's especially it felt like reading a teenager's POV.
Overall this thriller really disappointed me and was lacking in so many areas. I have way more complaints about this book than praise unfortunately.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Police brutality, Racism, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Sexual content, Stalking, Terminal illness, Violence, Addiction, Classism, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Colonisation and Cultural appropriation
lorie336's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, Confinement, Bullying, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content, Suicide, Death, and Death of parent
uhhlexiconic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, and Racism
Moderate: Suicide
nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Kidnapping
katyallred's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Blood, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Racism, Hate crime, and Violence
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Police brutality, Slavery, and Kidnapping
Minor: Death of parent, Suicide, and Panic attacks/disorders
paolina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Suicide
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
π There are so many wonderful details, from each neighbor's life story to the look of the buildings they live in.
π Cole weaves in so much actual history, too. She includes a list of resources at the end, lest a reader think this story is entirely fabricated.
π As much as I love Cole's romance novels, I could have done without the romantic thread in this book. It didn't really seem to add much.
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence