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queendbw's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a juicy who-did-what-and-why tale - and the ending was quite unexpected.
Amaya receives an email inviting her to the wedding of her ex-best friend (Kaavi) to her ex-boyfriend(Spencer). She decides to go home to Sri Lanka to participate in the wedding festivities, but NOTHING goes according to plan - hers, Kaavi’s or Spencer’s.
The author does a great job of giving just enough of the story to keep you guessing and the juicy background gossip is delicious! I could totally see this adapted to film! Great story, characters and ending! 4/5 stars
#readsof2023 #audiobookreader #literacy #readingisfundamental
Graphic: Self harm, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Misogyny
b_gutermann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Graphic: Cursing, Self harm, Alcohol, and Death
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, and Gun violence
delphine_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The book goes back and forth between Amaya’s point of view of events over a few days, and the accounts of other characters who give their own perspective. It makes it really interesting and is a splendid set up for some really well engineered reveals and progression points.
The morals of everybody involved are delightfully twisted and the book left me feeling like well- that was even more messed up than I thought. But in a good way. The layers of morality.
It was also a really fun projection into both Sri Lanka and the high society of that place. It really felt like I could place myself there, the world was really well brought to life.
My only gripe with the book- but it’s a pretty big gripe- is the laying it on thick about one of the characters. I think it could have been more subtle and the result of it was just a lot. I would have been sold just as effectively with less.
This is a bit sad as the book otherwise does a great job of depicting tense relationships, two-faced individuals, and
Finally another gripe would be the little faux pas of implying
All in all I liked this book a great deal and couldn’t stop listening, I am delighted to have spent time with this, and picked up another book by this author. Read the trigger warnings REALLY carefully, because they’re no joke. But if you’re good to go, then I could not recommend it enough.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Self harm, Classism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Car accident, Pedophilia, Death of parent, and Physical abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Rape, Colonisation, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, and Blood
ekmook's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Classism, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Pregnancy
getlitwithamy_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The first thing you’d imagine when reading a book about an obsessive woman who plans to stop her best friend’s wedding at all costs, especially when she’s marrying your ex boyfriend, you normally know where things will go. But that was not the case here.
I ZIPPED through this book! There were times where I was sure I knew where the plot was going but was still left surprised when a new twist came up. Amanda Jayatissa really knows how to impact a reader!
The one downside is that the characters were hard to like. The main character Amaya seemed unlikeable for most of the book, but that was probably intended so we can see into her true intentions.
Overall, this is a great read about traumatic pasts, gossip, and the things people will do to get their way.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Death of parent
Minor: Car accident, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
toryann's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Self harm, Gun violence, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Moderate: Classism, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Sexism, and Homophobia