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mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy
I
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
if i could give this book 10 stars, i would. I'll be really surprised if any book tops this one as my favorite read of 2025, it's that phenomenal! it was harrowing, heartbreaking, beautiful, and addicting. it slowly shattered me in the best way possible. it was so hard to put this book down, and i can not recommend it enough!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder
So this book is beautifully written. The character of Ellie is delightful and the rest of Ellie's family is alright but flawed. I found it really really really difficult though.
So Ellie is missing child. As it turns out she was kidnapped by her (female if it matters) maths tutor and kept in a basement. I didn't get a lot further than that but I think Ellie must have a child and then Ellie's mum, Laurel ends up in a relationship with the father of the child. I do feel bad for not persevering because obviously people suffer end are victims of crime so me feeling uncomfortable isn't that big a deal but the description of Ellie being locked up in the basement was too much for me. I know it's not real but the idea that the poor child ending up having the baby, then I'm sure she was living in the basement while the baby was in the house. Ellie also returns to her home address at one point? And turns up dead in a woodland. It's incredibly dark and heartbreaking.
As I say the book is beautifully written, the characters are really deep and multi layered - like the characters are awesome - but it's far too dark for me.
As I say the book is beautifully written, the characters are really deep and multi layered - like the characters are awesome - but it's far too dark for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Kidnapping
mysterious
tense
medium-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
The twist was kinda predictable and the end was somewhat a let down (not the happy ending - was glad about that) but overall seemed very anticlimactic and out of character. Also was a bit too dark and uncomfortable for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Kidnapping
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Suicide, Kidnapping, Pregnancy
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I found this so challenging to read due to such a dark subject matter. My second Lisa Jewell read after None Of This Is True, and whilst I find her writing incredibly gripping, I feel like I need a break for happier themes for a while!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death
Moderate: Sexual assault
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Very very good mystery story. I think it was much better than lisa jewell’s other book. But it was really fucked up so trigger warning
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Kidnapping, Grief
Moderate: Murder, Pregnancy
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Kidnapping