Scan barcode
maddiefish09's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
2.5
litwithleigh's review
Ok my new policy is I'll force myself to read 20% of a book before officially DNF-ing.
So yeah. This book is a big hell nah. I crawled my way to 20% and then skimmed the rest. Sad to say I was super excited about this one. I usually love books that explore women's issues at length, but this was a waste of my Friday morning off work. BYE.
My thoughts
The author was trying waaaayyyy too hard to make this a literary masterpiece and it was coming across more like a wattpad fanfic. For example:
One that lasts, one that explores the connection between two people. An opening making way. Tongues interlocking, inviting. Her mouth tells him how much she likes him, even loves him, although they have never said the words to each other. Under their kiss, the remoteness of their location seems sharper than ever. Only they remain in this frozen Eden, Adam and Eve—a woman who seems to be made for him. They're literally kissing in the woods on their six-month anniversary weekend trip... get a fking grip.
-I wanna fight Steven. He obviously is the baddie but I wanna fight him SO bad.
-This is a rip off of My Dark Vanessa plain and simple. Not saying that every book about grooming is inspired by that book, but c'mon, the similarities are glaring: English professor, he gives his victim Jane Eyre to read and calls her My Darling Jane and she's pumped about it, the whole thing with the pjs. This lacked originality to say the least.
-But unlike My Dark Vanessa there was no deep dive into the characters' inner thoughts and emotions to explain wagwan. Instead the author describes the plushness of the carpet, the skeletal trees in the forest, and just about everything else. And often the attempts to show why Steven is this way were illogical; he couldn't respect him mom because she didn't respect herself just because she loved him and showered him with attention?? How does this make sense?
THIS IS A SPOILER SO SKIP AHEAD
Like I said I skimmed ahead so I could understand the entire storyline. And shocker, it was illogical. So you're telling me, you have hard proof he's a pedo and groomed/was an an accessory to your friend's death but instead of going to the police you thought it was a better idea to have sex with him for six months to lure him to the woods, tie him up, torture him and hopefully kill him? Yep. Seems like the best course of action.
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. As you can see, I kept it honest.
So yeah. This book is a big hell nah. I crawled my way to 20% and then skimmed the rest. Sad to say I was super excited about this one. I usually love books that explore women's issues at length, but this was a waste of my Friday morning off work. BYE.
My thoughts
The author was trying waaaayyyy too hard to make this a literary masterpiece and it was coming across more like a wattpad fanfic. For example:
One that lasts, one that explores the connection between two people. An opening making way. Tongues interlocking, inviting. Her mouth tells him how much she likes him, even loves him, although they have never said the words to each other. Under their kiss, the remoteness of their location seems sharper than ever. Only they remain in this frozen Eden, Adam and Eve—a woman who seems to be made for him. They're literally kissing in the woods on their six-month anniversary weekend trip... get a fking grip.
-I wanna fight Steven. He obviously is the baddie but I wanna fight him SO bad.
-This is a rip off of My Dark Vanessa plain and simple. Not saying that every book about grooming is inspired by that book, but c'mon, the similarities are glaring: English professor, he gives his victim Jane Eyre to read and calls her My Darling Jane and she's pumped about it, the whole thing with the pjs. This lacked originality to say the least.
-But unlike My Dark Vanessa there was no deep dive into the characters' inner thoughts and emotions to explain wagwan. Instead the author describes the plushness of the carpet, the skeletal trees in the forest, and just about everything else. And often the attempts to show why Steven is this way were illogical; he couldn't respect him mom because she didn't respect herself just because she loved him and showered him with attention?? How does this make sense?
THIS IS A SPOILER SO SKIP AHEAD
Like I said I skimmed ahead so I could understand the entire storyline. And shocker, it was illogical. So you're telling me, you have hard proof he's a pedo and groomed/was an an accessory to your friend's death but instead of going to the police you thought it was a better idea to have sex with him for six months to lure him to the woods, tie him up, torture him and hopefully kill him? Yep. Seems like the best course of action.
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. As you can see, I kept it honest.
babs_reviews's review
3.0
3.5 for this slow burn suspenseful read!
Ellie and Steven, grad student and professor, are celebrating their sixth month anniversary, they opt for a romantic get away in a remote snow covered area. It becomes apparent right away that things are taking a dark turn and it's possible one of them won't make it out alive.
This one feels like it's not going for shock and awe and more about exploring a theme and controversial topic that should be considered. I really liked the way this was written, both POV's offer a different perspective and then a third one that's impossible to ignore. Though I knew where it was headed I still enjoyed seeing it all unfold.
If you're looking for something chilling where you get the who but the why is a little more complicated, this one is for you.
Warnings: Sexual assault/rape, including statutory rape; blood/injury/bodily-harm; suicide; animal death.
Thank you so much to @novelsuspects and @grandcentralpub for the gifted copy!
Ellie and Steven, grad student and professor, are celebrating their sixth month anniversary, they opt for a romantic get away in a remote snow covered area. It becomes apparent right away that things are taking a dark turn and it's possible one of them won't make it out alive.
This one feels like it's not going for shock and awe and more about exploring a theme and controversial topic that should be considered. I really liked the way this was written, both POV's offer a different perspective and then a third one that's impossible to ignore. Though I knew where it was headed I still enjoyed seeing it all unfold.
If you're looking for something chilling where you get the who but the why is a little more complicated, this one is for you.
Warnings: Sexual assault/rape, including statutory rape; blood/injury/bodily-harm; suicide; animal death.
Thank you so much to @novelsuspects and @grandcentralpub for the gifted copy!
zowielikezoey's review
2.0
This was hard for me to get through. It took me a couple of days to read and the twists were good, but I felt a lot was left out.
georgiarae_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
1.0
kyvenn's review
5.0
This book. Was. WILD. I really enjoyed it, and all the twists and turns and everything that happened. I love the awareness it brought, the love, the unbreakable bonds of friendship and revenge. I was confused at parts, but it all made sense in the end. I thought the writing was absolutely spectacular! I felt some Gillian Flynn vibes from this book. I’m so glad grand central publishing sent me a copy!
aripialbastre's review
dark
slow-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
1.25
I hate it because I spent money on it. It was a waste of potential and I should have read the reviews before buying it because I just finished reading it and I feel so disappointed.
My only thought about it currently is
"Eh."😕
My only thought about it currently is
"Eh."😕
mariasimson's review
4.0
Thank you @grandcentralpub for sending me the finished copy.
I am rating this 4.5 because as deranged as this story was, I loved it! I could not put it down and it was an easy read for me. Starting with the good things, the #meetoo movement captivated our attention back in 2016 and since then it has lost its flame in the media but I'm so happy that the author brought our attention back to it. The writing was excellent and there was a cinematic feeling while reading this. The visualization and imagination and thought put into this book is obvious from the very start. Steven's POV was my favorite because we get to reading his thought process and how he self0rationalizes his actions. Now the not so good things, I don't agree with Ellie's actions. She is vulnerable and grief is making her act in such way. There were movements where I was confused as to what was happening and I think the author lost the smoothness to her writing because she was adding so much to build momentum. Overall, I think the message is important. I believe this author did justice to the #meetoo movement and for a debut I think this excellent considering the heavy topic.
I am rating this 4.5 because as deranged as this story was, I loved it! I could not put it down and it was an easy read for me. Starting with the good things, the #meetoo movement captivated our attention back in 2016 and since then it has lost its flame in the media but I'm so happy that the author brought our attention back to it. The writing was excellent and there was a cinematic feeling while reading this. The visualization and imagination and thought put into this book is obvious from the very start. Steven's POV was my favorite because we get to reading his thought process and how he self0rationalizes his actions. Now the not so good things, I don't agree with Ellie's actions. She is vulnerable and grief is making her act in such way. There were movements where I was confused as to what was happening and I think the author lost the smoothness to her writing because she was adding so much to build momentum. Overall, I think the message is important. I believe this author did justice to the #meetoo movement and for a debut I think this excellent considering the heavy topic.