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robinsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This read like a house afire, then the ending... Huh??
Update:
Thanks to the publisher for the advance digital galley.
Update:
Spoiler
After I've had time to think about it I'm still thinking, Whaaat??? I loved the first half but was "meh" on the second half. The final outcome was fine UNTIL the last chapter that left me totally confused. Reminded me of Alice Feeney's SOMETIMES I LIE which also had a very confusing ending. So the bottom line is read at your own risk although you may have already read it if you are reading my spoiler review.Thanks to the publisher for the advance digital galley.
wildflowerz76's review against another edition
1.0
So much no. This is an ARC, but it comes out on Tuesday. Also, I hated it, so I'm not doing a formal review.
I didn't read A Simple Favor. I watched the movie and thought it was fine. But a few days ago, I was organizing the January ARCs at work for giveaway and came across this one. I'm doing a book challenge with a group and one of the categories for this month is "a book with a twist." I'm trying to do books that are actually published for the challenge so I can rec them if I like them and people don't have to wait for ages for them to be released. I didn't have any non-ARC twisty books I was looking forward to right now, so I picked this one. It was...not good.
The title comes from Wouldn't It Be Loverly from My Fair Lady. Well, by coincidence, I just watched this for the first time in AGES with my kid because they just read Pygmalion for AP Lit. I also didn't remember much from the movie, but I did not like it either. The otherwise lovely Audrey Hepburn with her screeching was intolerable, it was at least two times too long, and the love story was appalling. So I'm already starting out on the wrong foot here.
The writing here just wasn't good. It lacked a lot of depth and felt more like someone trying to get the bare bones of a story down before they go back and fix it up. Except they never went back. There was nothing really new in the story, except JD's thing from when he was a teenager near the end, though that made no sense. Then the final chapter was terrible. I was feeling a 2/5 before I started writing this, but now I'm feeling 1/5. Blech. And now I have that damn song stuck in my head.
I didn't read A Simple Favor. I watched the movie and thought it was fine. But a few days ago, I was organizing the January ARCs at work for giveaway and came across this one. I'm doing a book challenge with a group and one of the categories for this month is "a book with a twist." I'm trying to do books that are actually published for the challenge so I can rec them if I like them and people don't have to wait for ages for them to be released. I didn't have any non-ARC twisty books I was looking forward to right now, so I picked this one. It was...not good.
The title comes from Wouldn't It Be Loverly from My Fair Lady. Well, by coincidence, I just watched this for the first time in AGES with my kid because they just read Pygmalion for AP Lit. I also didn't remember much from the movie, but I did not like it either. The otherwise lovely Audrey Hepburn with her screeching was intolerable, it was at least two times too long, and the love story was appalling. So I'm already starting out on the wrong foot here.
The writing here just wasn't good. It lacked a lot of depth and felt more like someone trying to get the bare bones of a story down before they go back and fix it up. Except they never went back. There was nothing really new in the story, except JD's thing from when he was a teenager near the end, though that made no sense. Then the final chapter was terrible. I was feeling a 2/5 before I started writing this, but now I'm feeling 1/5. Blech. And now I have that damn song stuck in my head.
kmspedden's review against another edition
5.0
*I received a free eARC of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*
Oh my god. Literally I just finished the book and those are the only words playing over and over in my head. All I Want was the kind of book that you’re sucked into from the beginning and trying to figure out if it’s something supernatural or if Emma is starting to lose her mind a little and you need to know exactly what’s happening. I was invested from the start and the way that Darcey Bell writes leaves you with so many questions as you read but it’s in the best way. You aren’t confused and questioning things you’re coming up with your own scenarios for what’s going on and hoping that the coming pages will prove them right only to have more information come that changes everything. Honestly it’s the best kind of suspense. But the best part of all was the fucking twist at the end. Oh my god. You think the book is all wrapped up with a bow. But it's not! Seriously no spoilers you just need to read this book... like now.
Oh my god. Literally I just finished the book and those are the only words playing over and over in my head. All I Want was the kind of book that you’re sucked into from the beginning and trying to figure out if it’s something supernatural or if Emma is starting to lose her mind a little and you need to know exactly what’s happening. I was invested from the start and the way that Darcey Bell writes leaves you with so many questions as you read but it’s in the best way. You aren’t confused and questioning things you’re coming up with your own scenarios for what’s going on and hoping that the coming pages will prove them right only to have more information come that changes everything. Honestly it’s the best kind of suspense. But the best part of all was the fucking twist at the end. Oh my god. You think the book is all wrapped up with a bow. But it's not! Seriously no spoilers you just need to read this book... like now.
claireweers's review against another edition
1.0
This book sucked. Honestly, the pacing was so slow especially for this book to only be 257 pages. The fact that it takes place over the course of only 6-7 months and everything drained on was horrible. The book had some interesting and spooky qualities, and the twist towards the end was actually kind of nice, although I’m definitely not a fan of the massive gaslighting and the ridiculous references to old horror films that essentially give away the plot of the book. Honestly, the book wouldn’t be this bad if the last chapter didn’t completely ruin it. It doesn’t even make sense!!! You’re saying that Emma hallucinated everything??? Like how do we know what’s real and fake at that point. The book should’ve ended before the chapter titled the accident, as that was truly the accident of this book.
readingwithjessyt's review against another edition
3.0
Went into this one with low expectations because I haven't heard good things.
This book was just okay not as bad as what other people made it out to be.
This book was just okay not as bad as what other people made it out to be.
kindleandilluminate's review against another edition
1.0
I'm so sorry to say this was the actual worst book I've ever read. I read every page, and frankly, found nothing redeemable in it. Many reviews are (rightly) pointing out the letdown of the absurd final chapter, but everything leading up to that nonsense is terrible, too. A fun premise, dumpster fire execution.
I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
theresalynn's review against another edition
2.0
Wow that sucked. I wanted to give it a shot despite the low rating but I wish I listened. For some reason, I was really irritated about it being Lindsey planting everything and then even more irritated with the ending. I literally shut the book and yelled at it when it was finished lollll. Also I didn’t like any of the characters including Emma. Sally and JD were the only decent ones.
norapt505's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
2.0