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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
!! SPOILERS BELOW !!
This book is much darker compared to the first two books, and it makes sense considering what Pip has been through. I was genuinely scared by some of the things that happened in the first half (like the stick figures & the printer going off omg), and I thought the build up to the reveal was so intense and done well. Though, I was surprised that the kidnapping was done so early in the book. Something else I reallyyy liked about this book was how it linked all the books together with little clues and callbacks. Some of the events that happened in this book really did come full circle (this phrase was overused a little in this book lol).
Where this book let me down was part II, which I thought was too long and kind of boring because after it was revealed that Pip was going to frame the murder, it felt like reading a step by step guide of what was happening. Additionally, the writing was slightly repetitive at times.
I understand the themes that Holly Jackson was trying to explore: the themes of morality, the theme of what justice actually is and what role the legal system plays (or does not) in it. I liked how this book highlighted what it means to be "good" or "bad"... it really isn't that simple to sort everyone in these two finite categories. However, I don't think it was executed well. I especially didn't like the ending. The part with her interrogation with Hawkins was a small redeeming part of the second half. I was holding my breath when Hawkins revealed that her headphones were at Jason Bell's house & Pip realized that her headphones were going to be his trophy. Definitely got chills from that.
And again my issues with the first two books are still consistent in this one: 1) everything falls into place sooo easily & conveniently 2) the characters are not fleshed out.
Everyone loves Ravi sooo much but I really do not feel that his character is developed well at all. Any development we got from him stopped at the end of the first book. I really felt like he had little to no personality in this book and pretty much just went along with whatever Pip was doing which I personally felt did not match his characterization from the first book.
Pip's development across the series was interesting to follow, especially because of all the things that she has been through. I think Holly Jackson did a great job at showing how those things affected Pip and how she can't go back to being the person she was. So, the change in Pip's mindset/actions makes sense. However, I really have a hard time believing that Pip, who is suffering from PTSD from having seen Stanley shot, was willingly able to kill Jason with a hammer. And on top of that, she was willing to involve and potentially implicate all of her friends and family. Didn’t she mention in the previous book that she knew she had harmed some people’s lives during her original investigation and didn’t want to do that again? So while I do understand that the Pip in this book is not the same Pip we knew in the first book, I felt like the change in her character went too far.
I really did want Pip to get her own form of justice and revenge, but I wish it was shown in a better and more believable way.
I think my favorite book was the second one, followed by this one (because I actually was really engrossed in the first half!), and the first one was actually my least favorite... I think my ranking may be an unpopular opinion lol.
This book is much darker compared to the first two books, and it makes sense considering what Pip has been through. I was genuinely scared by some of the things that happened in the first half (like the stick figures & the printer going off omg), and I thought the build up to the reveal was so intense and done well. Though, I was surprised that the kidnapping was done so early in the book. Something else I reallyyy liked about this book was how it linked all the books together with little clues and callbacks. Some of the events that happened in this book really did come full circle (this phrase was overused a little in this book lol).
Where this book let me down was part II, which I thought was too long and kind of boring because after it was revealed that Pip was going to frame the murder, it felt like reading a step by step guide of what was happening. Additionally, the writing was slightly repetitive at times.
I understand the themes that Holly Jackson was trying to explore: the themes of morality, the theme of what justice actually is and what role the legal system plays (or does not) in it. I liked how this book highlighted what it means to be "good" or "bad"... it really isn't that simple to sort everyone in these two finite categories. However, I don't think it was executed well. I especially didn't like the ending. The part with her interrogation with Hawkins was a small redeeming part of the second half. I was holding my breath when Hawkins revealed that her headphones were at Jason Bell's house & Pip realized that her headphones were going to be his trophy. Definitely got chills from that.
And again my issues with the first two books are still consistent in this one: 1) everything falls into place sooo easily & conveniently 2) the characters are not fleshed out.
Everyone loves Ravi sooo much but I really do not feel that his character is developed well at all. Any development we got from him stopped at the end of the first book. I really felt like he had little to no personality in this book and pretty much just went along with whatever Pip was doing which I personally felt did not match his characterization from the first book.
Pip's development across the series was interesting to follow, especially because of all the things that she has been through. I think Holly Jackson did a great job at showing how those things affected Pip and how she can't go back to being the person she was. So, the change in Pip's mindset/actions makes sense. However, I really have a hard time believing that Pip, who is suffering from PTSD from having seen Stanley shot, was willingly able to kill Jason with a hammer. And on top of that, she was willing to involve and potentially implicate all of her friends and family. Didn’t she mention in the previous book that she knew she had harmed some people’s lives during her original investigation and didn’t want to do that again? So while I do understand that the Pip in this book is not the same Pip we knew in the first book, I felt like the change in her character went too far.
I really did want Pip to get her own form of justice and revenge, but I wish it was shown in a better and more believable way.
I think my favorite book was the second one, followed by this one (because I actually was really engrossed in the first half!), and the first one was actually my least favorite... I think my ranking may be an unpopular opinion lol.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So I get why other people would be freaking out about the whole Pip murdering and framing thing, but hear me out - I think it's actually in character for her to do this, and it totally goes along with the first two books.
I personally totally agree with Pip on her views of Stanley Forbes and Charlie Green, and after experiencing something of that magnitude, something that traumatic and tragic, it's more than likely for her to change. PTSD can completely change a person, so I'm not sure why people are so surprised that Pip would change as well. She got herself involved too deeply and I've now realized that even though she herself wasn't tied to any of the cases she was investigating, she's a highly sympathetic character and is extremely affected by what happens in these cases.
I think the charm of this book is the twist, in that it gives readers the "Good Girl's Guide to Murder" that was not present in the first two books, and that's why I'm more than willing to give this book more leeway in who the obvious killer is.
I personally totally agree with Pip on her views of Stanley Forbes and Charlie Green, and after experiencing something of that magnitude, something that traumatic and tragic, it's more than likely for her to change. PTSD can completely change a person, so I'm not sure why people are so surprised that Pip would change as well. She got herself involved too deeply and I've now realized that even though she herself wasn't tied to any of the cases she was investigating, she's a highly sympathetic character and is extremely affected by what happens in these cases.
I think the charm of this book is the twist, in that it gives readers the "Good Girl's Guide to Murder" that was not present in the first two books, and that's why I'm more than willing to give this book more leeway in who the obvious killer is.
4.75 stars
jeez that got dark really fast
i don’t get the hate for this book, i feel like each book in the series got better and better, more engaging and dark and mysterious and high stakes each time, and honestly i feel like this is a great conclusion for a great series. ravi and pip are couple GOALS and i’m satisfied with how it ended <3
jeez that got dark really fast
i don’t get the hate for this book, i feel like each book in the series got better and better, more engaging and dark and mysterious and high stakes each time, and honestly i feel like this is a great conclusion for a great series. ravi and pip are couple GOALS and i’m satisfied with how it ended <3
Um. So. Leaning more towards a 2.5. It was watching the last season of Pretty Little Liars. It made absolutely no sense and was a shit show, but you get so invested in the story and characters that you’ve just got to carry it out until the end.