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njgareau's review
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
ryleehorton's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
amandas_good_books's review against another edition
5.0
It’s One Of Us
By JT ELLISON
02/29/2023
From the book
By JT ELLISON
02/29/2023
From the book
melissadelongcox's review against another edition
1.0
No One Knows is one of my all time favorite books, so I really set myself up to feel disappointed picking this up expecting something as good. I haaaaated so much about this story – the implication the Olivia couldn’t stay pregnant because she had an abortion, the fact that there were *so many* unnecessary “reveals” – it just disappointed me over and over again. Usually, there’s a big twist and that’s the only reason I hung in until the end.
tams53's review against another edition
4.0
The book was intriguing in its uniqueness! It had a great plot, lots of interesting characters and kept me guessing until the end.
amerz's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.25
kellyhook_readsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Don’t you love when a book with a fantastic premise really delivers? IT’S ONE OF US by j.t Ellison is one such story. Olivia and Park are navigating infertility in their marriage when DNA evidence links a child of Park’s to a murder investigation. Olivia is baffled as Park has no children that she is aware of and the unraveling of secrets ensues.
@jtellison raises some fascinating questions about nature vs nurture that would make for a really great book club discussion. It’s important to know that infertility is a cornerstone of this plot but it is handled with great care and sensitivity. A heartfelt author’s note is included that shares her personal experience with infertility.
Julia Whelen fans, rejoice! She knocks this audiobook narration out of the park and I enjoyed pairing it with my gifted ARC from Alana at my local indie @schulerbooks (thank you!)
RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: February 21, 2023
@jtellison raises some fascinating questions about nature vs nurture that would make for a really great book club discussion. It’s important to know that infertility is a cornerstone of this plot but it is handled with great care and sensitivity. A heartfelt author’s note is included that shares her personal experience with infertility.
Julia Whelen fans, rejoice! She knocks this audiobook narration out of the park and I enjoyed pairing it with my gifted ARC from Alana at my local indie @schulerbooks (thank you!)
RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: February 21, 2023
greengaybles's review against another edition
4.0
I don't have a ton to say about this book, and it took me a couple of months to finish it, but that's not really a commentary on its quality. It was just a slow start for me, and then I put it down and read a bunch of other books, and finally a few days ago I came back to it and finished it very quickly.
It's good, I think, and certainly emotional. I liked the writing and thought it flowed well, and the characters were...something. Entertaining and interesting to read about even if I didn't follow all their motivations. Scarlett's mom was so protective and worried about her all the time, and then she suddenly just decided she was in love with Park as soon as they met? How could she sit there in his living room chatting away after knowing that his wife was upstairs extremely hurt and out of it? Did she feel no remorse? Did Park feel no remorse? Was Scarlett not even concerned about any of it? Was her desire to know her father really that strong?
And how could Olivia just peace out of her own life and never even go back? I understand why she did it and I think she deserved a more relaxing and healing environment, but...just goodbye marriage, goodbye home, goodbye best friend? And speaking of best friend, Lindsey just dropped her for good after she and Park divorced? I get that it would be awkward to navigate that dynamic, but still. Some best friend.
Sure, the marriage was over long before it all blew up. I get it. I still think the way they handled it was wild. I did love the reveal of who the killer was and how his whole descent into evil was depicted, and the way parts of it were a little humorous but it was also awful stuff he was doing. I didn't fully buy into his motivation, but whatever, it's fine. Consistent with the rest of the people in the book.
It might seem weird for me to give it such a high rating when I have so many complaints, but listen. I love thrillers and I expect very little from them. Keep me entertained and guessing, give me lots of things to exclaim out loud about, whether from disbelief or surprise, take me on a wild ride, and I'm happy. This book did all of that. I only took off a star because the actions of the characters sometimes felt unhinged in a way I can't get behind because I couldn't believe in them.
Big big trigger warning for infertility and miscarriages. That subplot was brutal and very detailed, both in the emotional aspects and the physical. I felt for Olivia so much. The author has personal experience with it, so I assume it's an accurate representation, and when I say brutal, I don't mean gratuitously so. Just guttingly sad.
It's good, I think, and certainly emotional. I liked the writing and thought it flowed well, and the characters were...something. Entertaining and interesting to read about even if I didn't follow all their motivations. Scarlett's mom was so protective and worried about her all the time, and then she suddenly just decided she was in love with Park as soon as they met? How could she sit there in his living room chatting away after knowing that his wife was upstairs extremely hurt and out of it? Did she feel no remorse? Did Park feel no remorse? Was Scarlett not even concerned about any of it? Was her desire to know her father really that strong?
And how could Olivia just peace out of her own life and never even go back? I understand why she did it and I think she deserved a more relaxing and healing environment, but...just goodbye marriage, goodbye home, goodbye best friend? And speaking of best friend, Lindsey just dropped her for good after she and Park divorced? I get that it would be awkward to navigate that dynamic, but still. Some best friend.
Sure, the marriage was over long before it all blew up. I get it. I still think the way they handled it was wild. I did love the reveal of who the killer was and how his whole descent into evil was depicted, and the way parts of it were a little humorous but it was also awful stuff he was doing. I didn't fully buy into his motivation, but whatever, it's fine. Consistent with the rest of the people in the book.
It might seem weird for me to give it such a high rating when I have so many complaints, but listen. I love thrillers and I expect very little from them. Keep me entertained and guessing, give me lots of things to exclaim out loud about, whether from disbelief or surprise, take me on a wild ride, and I'm happy. This book did all of that. I only took off a star because the actions of the characters sometimes felt unhinged in a way I can't get behind because I couldn't believe in them.
Big big trigger warning for infertility and miscarriages. That subplot was brutal and very detailed, both in the emotional aspects and the physical. I felt for Olivia so much. The author has personal experience with it, so I assume it's an accurate representation, and when I say brutal, I don't mean gratuitously so. Just guttingly sad.
cupcakereads's review against another edition
4.0
I devoured this book! I thought the writing was excellent- it pulled me in and kept me wanting more. The POV switches between several different characters, and it was done well. Not confusing at all, very intriguing to see what was going on in everyone’s mind. The killer wasn’t too, too surprising but it didn’t take away from the book (and they let you in on it around the halfway mark). Knocked a star off because I’m not too sure I liked how it ended, hmm.