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collegiate_assessor_kovalyov's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Michelle Frances is definitely one to watch!
It took me longer to get to this book than it should've for a couple of reasons; last year's book by the same author was my favourite book of the year and to be honest, the blurb just didn't hook me. I was so worried it couldn't live up to The Daughter that I just kept putting it off which I now massively regret. This book was great. What's not to love?
The writing style was easy and quick - every time I picked this up by the time I'd put it down I'd made a decent 75-100 page dent in it at least, but it never dragged. Even when I spent hours reading it I was constantly engaged.
I honestly don't think their blurbs do Frances' books enough justice, as with both of hers I've read now I only wished I'd gotten to them sooner - but maybe that's part of the magic; I don't know what I'm getting into.
As with her last, the mystery in this book was expertly done. It kept me guessing right up until the last page and yet by the end there were no loose ends. Not only were there constant plot-twists and changes happening in the story to keep me eagerly reading on but I never caught up with the author - every time I thought I had a grasp on what was going on she'd throw in a curve-ball that would leave me reeling right up until the next plot-twist.
Not only are the mysteries in Frances' books genius but I truly adore her exploration of relationships. In The Daughter it was a mother-daughter relationship and in this one it was the relationship between two sisters. It felt petty and funny and difficult and just totally real. Relationships, especially those between siblings, are messy and the dynamic between Abby and Ellie rang entirely true.
I will absolutely be reading her next book and probably the one after that and the ones after that too.
I implore you to pick this up, no matter if you typically enjoy mysteries or not. It is so worth your time, and you won't have to worry about dedicating a lot of time to it because I'm certain you'll fly through it just as I did.
Michelle Frances is definitely one to watch!
It took me longer to get to this book than it should've for a couple of reasons; last year's book by the same author was my favourite book of the year and to be honest, the blurb just didn't hook me. I was so worried it couldn't live up to The Daughter that I just kept putting it off which I now massively regret. This book was great. What's not to love?
The writing style was easy and quick - every time I picked this up by the time I'd put it down I'd made a decent 75-100 page dent in it at least, but it never dragged. Even when I spent hours reading it I was constantly engaged.
I honestly don't think their blurbs do Frances' books enough justice, as with both of hers I've read now I only wished I'd gotten to them sooner - but maybe that's part of the magic; I don't know what I'm getting into.
As with her last, the mystery in this book was expertly done. It kept me guessing right up until the last page and yet by the end there were no loose ends. Not only were there constant plot-twists and changes happening in the story to keep me eagerly reading on but I never caught up with the author - every time I thought I had a grasp on what was going on she'd throw in a curve-ball that would leave me reeling right up until the next plot-twist.
Not only are the mysteries in Frances' books genius but I truly adore her exploration of relationships. In The Daughter it was a mother-daughter relationship and in this one it was the relationship between two sisters. It felt petty and funny and difficult and just totally real. Relationships, especially those between siblings, are messy and the dynamic between Abby and Ellie rang entirely true.
I will absolutely be reading her next book and probably the one after that and the ones after that too.
I implore you to pick this up, no matter if you typically enjoy mysteries or not. It is so worth your time, and you won't have to worry about dedicating a lot of time to it because I'm certain you'll fly through it just as I did.
noaouweneel's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
aleksandra_jot's review against another edition
3.0
Waham się pomiędzy 2 a 3, bo nie siadło tak jak mogło, no i nie wiem, niech już ma te 3 gwiazdki, trudno.
klilja's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emmagbsn9's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
erin_woolton3's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
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
1.0