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beate251's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"I can't feel unless I'm killing. Then I feel everything."
This is book 2 in the 5 book Sweetpea series about serial killer and survivor of Priory Gardens crèche massacre Rhiannon Lewis. In the first book she killed and cut up her lover AJ, father of her unborn baby (amongst other people), and managed to frame her cheating boyfriend Craig for it.
Craig's parents Jim and Elaine take her and chihuahua Tink in as they think she's carrying their grandchild, and want to protect her from the reporters who hang around trying to get a good story from the girlfriend of a serial killer.
She still has a daily kill list of people who have annoyed her but it feels half-hearted. Truth is, Rhiannon is kind of subdued by being pregnant and her foetus talking to her, imploring her not to kill. Therefore she only manages a total of four kills, plus an assisted suicide.
So she tries to make friends with other Mums and soon-to-be Mums but apart from
Marnie she thinks they're all awful. Marnie's husband is a coercive controlling gaslighter and she tries to get her away from him to no avail.
You need a strong stomach for this book - the gory stuff often comes out of nowhere. She also swears like a whole ship full of sailors.
There is a good amount of dark humour in it like when Rhiannon complains how good murderers had it in the olden times and how difficult all the dismembering and fingerprint-hiding is.
While I still appreciate the narrative, this book was too pregnancy-centered for me. Rhiannon doesn't have a good pregnancy and we hear all about it. The little blighter doesn't even let her kill - every time I thought she was going to, she was threatened by her foetus. It was very frustrating and it's a miracle she got anything done.
Nevertheless, it's brilliantly written and I am starting book 3 right away to see what is next for our unhinged murderer. That's one drawback - none of the books in this series work well as a standalone so do me a favour and read them in order because they will start where the last book ended, with no time for a summary.
This is book 2 in the 5 book Sweetpea series about serial killer and survivor of Priory Gardens crèche massacre Rhiannon Lewis. In the first book she killed and cut up her lover AJ, father of her unborn baby (amongst other people), and managed to frame her cheating boyfriend Craig for it.
Craig's parents Jim and Elaine take her and chihuahua Tink in as they think she's carrying their grandchild, and want to protect her from the reporters who hang around trying to get a good story from the girlfriend of a serial killer.
She still has a daily kill list of people who have annoyed her but it feels half-hearted. Truth is, Rhiannon is kind of subdued by being pregnant and her foetus talking to her, imploring her not to kill. Therefore she only manages a total of four kills, plus an assisted suicide.
So she tries to make friends with other Mums and soon-to-be Mums but apart from
Marnie she thinks they're all awful. Marnie's husband is a coercive controlling gaslighter and she tries to get her away from him to no avail.
You need a strong stomach for this book - the gory stuff often comes out of nowhere. She also swears like a whole ship full of sailors.
There is a good amount of dark humour in it like when Rhiannon complains how good murderers had it in the olden times and how difficult all the dismembering and fingerprint-hiding is.
While I still appreciate the narrative, this book was too pregnancy-centered for me. Rhiannon doesn't have a good pregnancy and we hear all about it. The little blighter doesn't even let her kill - every time I thought she was going to, she was threatened by her foetus. It was very frustrating and it's a miracle she got anything done.
Nevertheless, it's brilliantly written and I am starting book 3 right away to see what is next for our unhinged murderer. That's one drawback - none of the books in this series work well as a standalone so do me a favour and read them in order because they will start where the last book ended, with no time for a summary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Grief
nicoleanaisx's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very unhinged. I love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, Stalking, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
emmalouisereads's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I found this book not quite as fun as the first book, but it’s still an easy and enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Rape
willowmae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Stalking, Murder, and Pregnancy
krissysbooked's review
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book follows Rhiannon further on her little murdery journey whilst navigating a very big impending change in her life. Will this change reign her in or will it tip her over the edge?
As with the first one lots of hilarious, sweary observations and moments where you just can’t believe she’ll get away with it for much longer. This one was made better by the excellent audiobook that I managed to borrow from the library. Excellent voice actor and can’t wait for the TV adaptation that’s in the works!
Another 5⭐️
As with the first one lots of hilarious, sweary observations and moments where you just can’t believe she’ll get away with it for much longer. This one was made better by the excellent audiobook that I managed to borrow from the library. Excellent voice actor and can’t wait for the TV adaptation that’s in the works!
Another 5⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
travelseatsreads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
I had a very difficult 7 hour round trip drive home ahead of me recently and wanted something that I could put on and switch off to, and In Bloom 100% gave me exactly that.
Everything about Sweet Pea and this series in theory should not work, but it does in ridiculous levels of perfection. This book takes off from where we left newly pregnant psychopath Rhiannon and her talking unborn baby. Yup, you did read that right and yes I did say this book works.
Rhiannon is one of the best characters I have read/listened to in a long time. So flawlessly developed, full of sarcasm, anger, rage and with an unrelenting self awareness of just how messed up she is. Rhiannon is almost one of those people you would want to be your friend for entertainment value but would be bloody terrified of at the same time. I lost count of the times I burst out laughing hysterically as I was driving along.
The audio version of this book is another burst of sheer perfection. Rhiannon's wit and sarcasm land plenty of blows and the voice for the unborn baby well...I'll just let you experience that for yourself...superb.
I cannot wait to go on the next step of this twisted and warped journey with Rhiannon, wherever it made lead. Ride or die?
Everything about Sweet Pea and this series in theory should not work, but it does in ridiculous levels of perfection. This book takes off from where we left newly pregnant psychopath Rhiannon and her talking unborn baby. Yup, you did read that right and yes I did say this book works.
Rhiannon is one of the best characters I have read/listened to in a long time. So flawlessly developed, full of sarcasm, anger, rage and with an unrelenting self awareness of just how messed up she is. Rhiannon is almost one of those people you would want to be your friend for entertainment value but would be bloody terrified of at the same time. I lost count of the times I burst out laughing hysterically as I was driving along.
The audio version of this book is another burst of sheer perfection. Rhiannon's wit and sarcasm land plenty of blows and the voice for the unborn baby well...I'll just let you experience that for yourself...superb.
I cannot wait to go on the next step of this twisted and warped journey with Rhiannon, wherever it made lead. Ride or die?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
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