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smileyjayna's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
* “ghosts” generally, not like 👻
I do not love the narrative voice (if that’s the right term for it, how it’s always “I give a strained smile” or “I jolt up in bed”) but I haven’t read anything else by Lovering so I’m guessing it was it was a choice for a thriller.
I DO like the way choices are dissected and discussed, how they do or do not belong to their characters, if that makes sense.
I like the pacing of the book overall, but I have not decided my opinion on the moments in which two characters experience the same event.
I think it was a sloppy choice to use weight as shorthand for virtue/virtue (wade, ava (to a lesser extent)).
Graphic: Abandonment, Dementia, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Rape, Emotional abuse, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Incest, Classism, Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Chronic illness, and Terminal illness
Minor: Infidelity, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Eating disorder, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Lesbophobia
astoriareader's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
- Billie & Cassie were childhood best friends. Through glimpses of the past, we learn about their secrets, their traumas, and their friendship.
- In the present day, they aren’t as close, and we slowly learn why.
- Cassie is a micro-influencer, as well as the owner of an upscale boutique. Billie works at an expensive, luxury travel consultancy.
- I wouldn’t characterize this as thriller/suspense, but rather, a well-written drama about toxic, one-sided friendships.
- Multiple POVs (Billie & Cassie) with both present & the past.
- Fast-paced.
- Set mostly in NYC (at least the present). I live in NYC, so I love reading books with this setting.
- Lovering is an incredible writer, and she expertly creates a familiar, relatable story about old friendships. She crafted and plotted a seamless story that you’ll find yourself breezing through until the very end.
- The main characters are both imperfect and flawed. I really liked Billie, and I felt sorry for her throughout the book. The book deals with Billie constantly trying to maintain a friendship with Cassie, instead of letting the friendship run its natural course.
- Cassie wasn’t a likable character, and I thought she was very shallow & nauseating.
- Lovering also explores motherhood AND choosing to be a childfree woman. I loved that she incorporated this, as it isn’t something that many writers acknowledge or incorporate.
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Pregnancy, Abortion, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent and Eating disorder
torturedreadersdept's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Murder, Pregnancy, Classism, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Dementia, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Chronic illness, Cursing, Gaslighting, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, and Stalking
Minor: Infidelity, Abortion, Drug use, and Eating disorder