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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Kidnapping, Murder, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.5 stars. Despite a promising premise, I found too many aspects of this book unbelievable and YA-ish. Yes it had a few good moments, and I wanted to know what happened….but it was a miss for more. Thank you NetGalley and Pendleton Publishers for my ARC. Expected pub date: 1/18/22
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This plot pulled me along so fast. I just let it and enjoyed the ride - the end was evident the whole time but it was fun getting to it.
dark
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
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
The characters all fell flat for me. The narration constantly changing is jarring. There are too many characters for the length of the book. The author tries so hard to manufacture a twist that she throws away all semblance of suspension of disbelief.
first thing that annoyed me: the journal entries. It’s a sloppy excuse to try and keep the reader is suspense of not knowing if Chloe/Abby is alive. But the way they’re revealed one by one is truly painful.
Two: there are lots of threads left unsolved. Jen mentioned being arrested, but it’s never confirmed if that was in relation to Nicole’s murder. Emilia says she told “the autograph story” but I seem to have missed what that story is.
Three: it’s annoying when someone can get all the references right but not seem to actually be able to consistently write from the perspective of a child. Abigail’s viewpoints in both the diaries and narration are awful.
Four: the flashbacks are awful. The pacing is awful. There’s no connective tissue to the narrative and that makes it hugely unpleasant to read.
Finally I highly doubt an investigator would have two suspects in the same room together if they think one of them is the murderer. Emilia is supposed to be the person we love and root for, but at the end she helps Nicole who was killed be found. So Jen, a teenage killer would have to face consequences. But the teenage killer Abby gets to walk free? Pretty scummy and inconsistent.
This book reads like a lifetime movie script combined with a true crime junkie podcast. It gives you no one to root for. The parts of the plot that aren’t predicable are simply outlandish. It had potential to be good but turns out it was just melodrama all the way down.
Two: there are lots of threads left unsolved. Jen mentioned being arrested, but it’s never confirmed if that was in relation to Nicole’s murder. Emilia says she told “the autograph story” but I seem to have missed what that story is.
Three: it’s annoying when someone can get all the references right but not seem to actually be able to consistently write from the perspective of a child. Abigail’s viewpoints in both the diaries and narration are awful.
Four: the flashbacks are awful. The pacing is awful. There’s no connective tissue to the narrative and that makes it hugely unpleasant to read.
Finally I highly doubt an investigator would have two suspects in the same room together if they think one of them is the murderer. Emilia is supposed to be the person we love and root for, but at the end she helps Nicole who was killed be found. So Jen, a teenage killer would have to face consequences. But the teenage killer Abby gets to walk free? Pretty scummy and inconsistent.
This book reads like a lifetime movie script combined with a true crime junkie podcast. It gives you no one to root for. The parts of the plot that aren’t predicable are simply outlandish. It had potential to be good but turns out it was just melodrama all the way down.
it would be 4 stars but i was tired of reading “holy shirt” and “what the fork”
grow a spine, jennifer. say the swear words
grow a spine, jennifer. say the swear words
I "read" this one on Audible during a road trip and I'm glad I did because i think it made Jennifer a much more disgusting character. I fully absorbed her awfulness as a mother through the narrator.