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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
I've rarely read a book in which I despise every single character but this was definitely one. Some chapters were all whining and "Poor me", but pushing through was worth it as the ending saved at least some of the book. I would not read it again, neither recommend it, but if you stumble over it and use Kindle Unlimited it's not that you'd completely waste your time reading this.
“We always think we want to know secrets, but what we forget is that they come with their own weights, heavy as millstones, and if you aren’t careful this weight can crush you.”
Trigger warning: sexual assault, rape
“What You Did” is about a group of old school friends who reconnect after a long time. Except the party they have goes wrong. One of the friends, Karen, is raped, and she claims that it’s Ali’s husband, Mike. And from there things unravel. The story mostly follows Ali’s point of view as she grapples between her advocacy of sexual assault victims while wanting to defend her husband. Slowly as the book progresses you start to see that the friend group was not as happy as they were made out to be. For starters, Mike and Karen had been having an affair for years, even fostering a son. Ali and Bill have been harboring feelings for each other, that they never acted on until after Mike is put in jail. Jodi and Callum, while appearing to be the innocent couple, have had problems of their own - Callum has cheated with her lots of times and she helps to cover them up, and Callum feels he’s not a man because he’s infertile and had to get a donor for Jodi to get pregnant. Basically, there’s a lot of issues between all of them. I think the book does a good job at giving all of them something to hide; they’ve all made mistakes and done bad things. Except maybe Bill. He was mostly good throughout the book, but I definitely suspected him for the entire book. I thought maybe he had tried to ruin Ali and Mike’s marriage so he could finally be with Ali. But it was actually Callum who was the rapist and murderer. I did suspect Callum but not immediately, but the clues throughout the book eventually added up. I wish that Ali would have been more supportive of Karen but I get that would be hard to hear your husband was a rapist. It was an interesting mystery, and while the plot was slow at times it was still good a mystery I enjoyed reading.
Trigger warning: sexual assault, rape
“What You Did” is about a group of old school friends who reconnect after a long time. Except the party they have goes wrong. One of the friends, Karen, is raped, and she claims that it’s Ali’s husband, Mike. And from there things unravel. The story mostly follows Ali’s point of view as she grapples between her advocacy of sexual assault victims while wanting to defend her husband. Slowly as the book progresses you start to see that the friend group was not as happy as they were made out to be. For starters, Mike and Karen had been having an affair for years, even fostering a son. Ali and Bill have been harboring feelings for each other, that they never acted on until after Mike is put in jail. Jodi and Callum, while appearing to be the innocent couple, have had problems of their own - Callum has cheated with her lots of times and she helps to cover them up, and Callum feels he’s not a man because he’s infertile and had to get a donor for Jodi to get pregnant. Basically, there’s a lot of issues between all of them. I think the book does a good job at giving all of them something to hide; they’ve all made mistakes and done bad things. Except maybe Bill. He was mostly good throughout the book, but I definitely suspected him for the entire book. I thought maybe he had tried to ruin Ali and Mike’s marriage so he could finally be with Ali. But it was actually Callum who was the rapist and murderer. I did suspect Callum but not immediately, but the clues throughout the book eventually added up. I wish that Ali would have been more supportive of Karen but I get that would be hard to hear your husband was a rapist. It was an interesting mystery, and while the plot was slow at times it was still good a mystery I enjoyed reading.
This was OK -- a quick read with unlikable characters.
mysterious
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
Good
I really enjoyed this book. I wouldn’t say it’s the best mystery/thriller I’ve ever read but it was a good one. I didn’t work out the ‘twist’ until the very end, though I had felt pretty sure of my suspicions a couple of times before then. I didn’t like a single character apart from Cassie but I don’t have to like a character to enjoy a book, and I appreciated that it wasn’t a ‘self-insertion’ plain main character. I appreciated the commentary on rape culture and slut shaming, and although I didn’t think it was flawless in how it tackled them, I appreciated the fact it addressed them at all. Overall, definitely worth picking up!
I really enjoyed this book. I wouldn’t say it’s the best mystery/thriller I’ve ever read but it was a good one. I didn’t work out the ‘twist’ until the very end, though I had felt pretty sure of my suspicions a couple of times before then. I didn’t like a single character apart from Cassie but I don’t have to like a character to enjoy a book, and I appreciated that it wasn’t a ‘self-insertion’ plain main character. I appreciated the commentary on rape culture and slut shaming, and although I didn’t think it was flawless in how it tackled them, I appreciated the fact it addressed them at all. Overall, definitely worth picking up!
This was good!
Was this the most amazing book I’ve ever read? No. But it was good! The ending definitely took me by surprise! However Ali (the main character) drove me crazy.
Was this the most amazing book I’ve ever read? No. But it was good! The ending definitely took me by surprise! However Ali (the main character) drove me crazy.
TW: rape, suicide attempt
Six friends gather for a college reunion years later and one ends up raped at the end of the night. She accuses the main characters husband and we watch what unfolds from that encounter.
I did not like this book. The protagonist was insufferable! A women’s rights activists who’s husband gets accused of rape and all her decency and activism goes out the window… She must be blind deaf and dumb because literally so much happens right under her nose it’s impossible that she was not able to suspect anything until it was revealed to her. A lot of the major plot points were guessable and the book dragged on before getting to the point.
Six friends gather for a college reunion years later and one ends up raped at the end of the night. She accuses the main characters husband and we watch what unfolds from that encounter.
I did not like this book. The protagonist was insufferable! A women’s rights activists who’s husband gets accused of rape and all her decency and activism goes out the window… She must be blind deaf and dumb because literally so much happens right under her nose it’s impossible that she was not able to suspect anything until it was revealed to her. A lot of the major plot points were guessable and the book dragged on before getting to the point.
Who would you believe, your husband, or your best friend? The unbelievable happens and Ali has to make that choice. Who is lying? The book had my own my toes trying to figure out what the truth was. Loved all the little twists and surprises this book has to offer. Very good read.
I would love to go on a rant about how awful and uncaring and hypocritical the main character in this story is throughout this book, but I am not going to waste my time on it. This is a book about victim-blaming and rich people who care more about maintaining their lifestyle and keeping up their social status than their relationships with their spouses and best friends. It is sickening.