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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this was a dark and disturbing book. It was full of homophobia, racism, abuse, toxic small town mentality…I had trouble understanding some of the characters’ motivations - I can’t imagine being 22 and stuck in an awful situation…and just staying there, for example, but I was super into the story and enjoyed it.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5/5 ⭐️
Absolutely gut-wrenching. Impeccable storytelling with an amazingly complex cast of characters.
Words can’t express enough how much I love this book- definitely one of my favorites for the year.
—
The vast majority of critiques that I have seen mainly degrade the book for being too sad and two bleak. Respectfully, I disagree as the purpose of literature has inherently never been based on its entertainment value, but rather what the novel gives back to the reader. In this case, the novel gives its reader a world they must understand and have empathy for while facing uncomfortable realities and the consequences of others’ actions. Yes, this book is depressing and devoid of hope. But ultimately, that’s the point.
Absolutely gut-wrenching. Impeccable storytelling with an amazingly complex cast of characters.
Words can’t express enough how much I love this book- definitely one of my favorites for the year.
—
The vast majority of critiques that I have seen mainly degrade the book for being too sad and two bleak. Respectfully, I disagree as the purpose of literature has inherently never been based on its entertainment value, but rather what the novel gives back to the reader. In this case, the novel gives its reader a world they must understand and have empathy for while facing uncomfortable realities and the consequences of others’ actions. Yes, this book is depressing and devoid of hope. But ultimately, that’s the point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Drug use, Fatphobia, Pedophilia
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail
When teenaged Abi Blake goes missing after a party in the woods the search for her by her best friend Emma slowly uncovers the dark secrets the people of the small town of Whistling Ridge, CO have been hiding. Where The Truth Lies is a disturbing and very atmospheric novel about a town full of abusers, racists, bigots and homophobes, a fire and brimstone preacher, and a congregation of religious zealots who use God as an excuse for all their evil or for the secrets they keep about their abusers. Beautifully written considering the bleakness and sadness that pervade the novel you will not want to put it down in the hopes that at least the young can escape and find happiness and normalcy. Thanks to Libro.fm for the beautifully narrated audio book to review.
I found this book on a thriller and mystery list, and I guess that's technically accurate, but it's nothing like the thrillers I usually read. It's a very slow burn, full of disgusting characters who made my skin feel grimy just reading about them, a psychological drama more than anything else. Despite the atmosphere of despair and hopelessness and the lack of sympathetic characters, I really, really loved it. The writing, for one thing. It's so good. And the layers to the story and the people in this awful little town. the mystery was almost an afterthought, or rather, it was the driving force but not the thing I cared about. The secrets that were exposed to the light were far more compelling than the disappearance itself. I'll definitely be reading this one again, even though it's brutal in its misery.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I've been (internet) friends with anna since like??? 2014???? and it is so so wild to see her name on a book--and an excellent book, no less!!!!
I love a good dark, gritty, twisty thriller but this book was not that. The book overall was just miserable. Nothing good at all comes out of this story, dreadful things just keep happening over and over. If you have any triggers at all, stay away from this book. This story contains instances of, hate crimes, brutal child abuse, racism, domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, and incest. None of the characters in this small town did anything at all to stop any of the violence. In fact, most of the town participated in it(except for a select few).
None of the characters were very likable at all. Every single character in this book either knows of something horrible that has happened or has done something horrible themselves. The only reason I continued reading was that I kept hoping that something good would finally happen.
The author is not a bad writer, but this story and its characters were not well developed. I felt as if all characters were one-dimensional and the story just fell flat.
Many thanks to Atria Books, Netgalley, and Anna Bailey for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
None of the characters were very likable at all. Every single character in this book either knows of something horrible that has happened or has done something horrible themselves. The only reason I continued reading was that I kept hoping that something good would finally happen.
The author is not a bad writer, but this story and its characters were not well developed. I felt as if all characters were one-dimensional and the story just fell flat.
Many thanks to Atria Books, Netgalley, and Anna Bailey for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.