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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
OK, this book was creepy as all get out. Between the VLOGs, the SET Talks. So many self involved people. I think almost too many people to follow them all, and extraneous side plots. All in all a creepy, quick read.
Spoiler
and poor Millie thinking she's the one with the dark side when really she's everyone's pawn. Almost fitting that it's Tom who finally dies at Peter's hand after helping to enable him for so long. I'm still not actually clear how Gracie ended up brain damaged.
Dark, twisty and emotional thriller.
Millie acknowledges she is a psychopath and is aware of her strengths and weaknesses. Her inability to empathise means she does not get flustered, even when performing the most difficult heart surgeries.
Her next goal is to move to her dream home - the house known locally as The Glass House - and she won't let anything get in her way. She'll even find a way to tolerate the annoying podcast celebrity couple who are just as determined to buy her home.
When financial irregularities jeopardise the sale, a complex web of lies and ulterior motives surfaces, putting everyone involved in danger.
Millie acknowledges she is a psychopath and is aware of her strengths and weaknesses. Her inability to empathise means she does not get flustered, even when performing the most difficult heart surgeries.
Her next goal is to move to her dream home - the house known locally as The Glass House - and she won't let anything get in her way. She'll even find a way to tolerate the annoying podcast celebrity couple who are just as determined to buy her home.
When financial irregularities jeopardise the sale, a complex web of lies and ulterior motives surfaces, putting everyone involved in danger.
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A very clever, well-written book which kept my attention. The first I've read from the author -- I will absolutely read more!
I wanted to like this book, but two things really soured me on it. Both are major spoilers, one for its handling of domestic abuse, and one for the ending.
And when I say that I wanted to like this book, I mean it! I thought that the characters were consistent and compelling, that the central ideas were really interesting (i.e. about sociopathy and nature vs. nurture), and that the structure was very engaging. If it were just the handling of domestic abuse, I think I'd have rated it 3 stars or so, but as is with the ending, I'm so dissatisfied that I can't.
Regarding domestic abuse,
And regarding the ending (and we're going full blown spoilers here, you've been warned!),
But also--tacking on Peter murdering Tom as something that happens between the final chapter and the epilogue feels so cheap. There is a whole story in here about a mother discovering her love for her son, amputating fingers to rescue him, and then lying to cover up three murders he committed, only for him to murder his own father/her husband later on. But as written, it feels like the "I killed my father" bit was meant to throw off readers throughout the story.
And what's funny is that the author absolutely nailed this kind of surprise reveal earlier in the book, when Peter pushed Medusa out a window--I had to go back and reread the chapter because I was so certain that it had been the other way around. It's just a shame that a second Big Identity Twist fell so flat.
And when I say that I wanted to like this book, I mean it! I thought that the characters were consistent and compelling, that the central ideas were really interesting (i.e. about sociopathy and nature vs. nurture), and that the structure was very engaging. If it were just the handling of domestic abuse, I think I'd have rated it 3 stars or so, but as is with the ending, I'm so dissatisfied that I can't.
Regarding domestic abuse,
Spoiler
all of the stuff with Stacey and Felix had me close to not finishing the book. While the author did seem to take great pains to emphasize how important it is to believe victims, etc, hinging an entire plot on a woman faking being abused still doesn't sit right with me.And regarding the ending (and we're going full blown spoilers here, you've been warned!),
Spoiler
I figured early on that Millie wasn't the one doing the psycho interview. I sort of then expected it might be Stacey. But even though the voice fit Peter, the story he tells just absolutely does not. While I appreciate that he's a liar and therefore an unreliable narrator, it doesn't feel like a clever reveal at the end--it feels like it's more like, "Psych! It was Peter, and you wouldn't have guessed it because the details provided aren't true!"But also--tacking on Peter murdering Tom as something that happens between the final chapter and the epilogue feels so cheap. There is a whole story in here about a mother discovering her love for her son, amputating fingers to rescue him, and then lying to cover up three murders he committed, only for him to murder his own father/her husband later on. But as written, it feels like the "I killed my father" bit was meant to throw off readers throughout the story.
And what's funny is that the author absolutely nailed this kind of surprise reveal earlier in the book, when Peter pushed Medusa out a window--I had to go back and reread the chapter because I was so certain that it had been the other way around. It's just a shame that a second Big Identity Twist fell so flat.
Short and sweet of it:
Part one -the first 50% of book could have been reduced to maybe 10%. There was a lot of medical jargon unnecessary to the story. It doesn't add to anything.
Part two - it started to get better and more interesting
Part three - the meat and potatoes of the book
Part Four- just one chapter and could have been reduced to an epilogue.
I would not recommend to anyone looking for a psychological thriller.
Part one -the first 50% of book could have been reduced to maybe 10%. There was a lot of medical jargon unnecessary to the story. It doesn't add to anything.
Part two - it started to get better and more interesting
Part three - the meat and potatoes of the book
Part Four- just one chapter and could have been reduced to an epilogue.
I would not recommend to anyone looking for a psychological thriller.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
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
dark
mysterious
tense
What's it like being a psychopath? This book will tell you.
This book was soooooo unexpected. I've had it on my shelf for a while but just decided to read it. It got a lot of good reviews and let me tell you the hype is real. What a ride.
The story follows three women:
Stacey is a wealthy glamorous host of a morning show. Well liked and famous. Her and her husband Felix are selling their beautiful unique "glass house"
Millie is a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon who dreams of living in the glass house.
Harper is a well known vlogger who wants to buy Millie's home. She a little quirky and a little annoying.
Of course things go wrong. One of the sales does not go through and it basically throws a monkey wrench into the plans of the other couples. But it's crazy the lengths people will go to to get what they want.
I'm not familiar with this author but she does an amazing job. I don't know if she already had medical knowledge or if it's all research but everything was accurate. I'm in the medical field and I can't tell you how annoying it is when you read or watch something that isn't medically accurate.
The story gives an insight into the mind of a psychopath. One of the main characters deem themselves a psychopath or sociopath. It's interesting reading how a person doesn't have the same instincts as other people. How some people have no remorse or empathy.
The chapters are told in the perspective of Millie, Stacey and Harper. There's the blog that Harper is writing that is also mixed in as well as a SET talk with the "psychopath" who witnessed the events at the glass house.
So what happened at the glass house?
This book will make you question everything. It's left me shocked at the end and a little sad.
I'm definitely recommending this book. I'm fact I may have to check out some more by this author.
5/5 stars
This book was soooooo unexpected. I've had it on my shelf for a while but just decided to read it. It got a lot of good reviews and let me tell you the hype is real. What a ride.
The story follows three women:
Stacey is a wealthy glamorous host of a morning show. Well liked and famous. Her and her husband Felix are selling their beautiful unique "glass house"
Millie is a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon who dreams of living in the glass house.
Harper is a well known vlogger who wants to buy Millie's home. She a little quirky and a little annoying.
Of course things go wrong. One of the sales does not go through and it basically throws a monkey wrench into the plans of the other couples. But it's crazy the lengths people will go to to get what they want.
I'm not familiar with this author but she does an amazing job. I don't know if she already had medical knowledge or if it's all research but everything was accurate. I'm in the medical field and I can't tell you how annoying it is when you read or watch something that isn't medically accurate.
The story gives an insight into the mind of a psychopath. One of the main characters deem themselves a psychopath or sociopath. It's interesting reading how a person doesn't have the same instincts as other people. How some people have no remorse or empathy.
The chapters are told in the perspective of Millie, Stacey and Harper. There's the blog that Harper is writing that is also mixed in as well as a SET talk with the "psychopath" who witnessed the events at the glass house.
So what happened at the glass house?
This book will make you question everything. It's left me shocked at the end and a little sad.
I'm definitely recommending this book. I'm fact I may have to check out some more by this author.
5/5 stars