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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
This is the first Picoult I gave up on. After Nina took matters into her own hands, I immediately lost interest in the book. One thing I have noticed, and don't like, is that many of the mothers in her books are the same character. I flipped ahead to see what happens, was a bit sick when I found out who the baddie was, and thought the end was rather meh. I think I need to stop reading her books. They are all starting to sound the same.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was thoroughly captivated by the storyline but there was something about the mother character that I just didn’t like. I don’t understand motherhood from a firsthand experience so maybe that’s it. I also thought the whole priest and DNA stuff was a bit far-fetched but I suspended my disbelief in the time of reading it. Also RIP to the cat!
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh boy was this a hard read. I didn't read the back of the book before opening it so when I found out what the book was about I was very... shocked and sickened
Jodi always has at least 2 plot twists in her books, one near the first quarter and one at the very end on top of whatever is going on in her books
I didn't realise how many of her books are to do with sitting in a courtroom, it can get a bit much if you're reading all of her novels back to back
I love her characters, I love that she gives them all flaws, it makes it so much more real
I also love all the research she does before starting her books, I also love all the different lives and viewpoints of everyone in her books, not told by only 1 person
I was definitely on Mums side in this book and it took me a very long time to see that she probably wasn't right and I too, would have done exactly as she did and dug myself into a huge hole
Jodi always has at least 2 plot twists in her books, one near the first quarter and one at the very end on top of whatever is going on in her books
I didn't realise how many of her books are to do with sitting in a courtroom, it can get a bit much if you're reading all of her novels back to back
I love her characters, I love that she gives them all flaws, it makes it so much more real
I also love all the research she does before starting her books, I also love all the different lives and viewpoints of everyone in her books, not told by only 1 person
I was definitely on Mums side in this book and it took me a very long time to see that she probably wasn't right and I too, would have done exactly as she did and dug myself into a huge hole
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Tropes/themes:
- Legal thriller/police procedural
- Multiple POVs
- Flashbacks
- Justice
- Morality
- Motherhood
- Emotional, moving, and thought-provoking.
- Heart-breaking, gut-wrenching, and unsettling at times, while also heartwarming and inspiring at others.
- Very well-written; great storytelling.
- Compelling and gripping.
- As always, Picoult tackles a very challenging and heavy topic expertly and with sensitivity and grace.
- Great twists thrown in, even if some were slightly predictable.
- Some cons that I ultimately didn’t mind: A lot of it was pretty unrealistic, the MC was a little annoying, and the ending was kind of a little too perfect but I feel like any other ending would have made me mad.
- Content warnings:
- Child SA
- Graphic detail of child SA
- Pedophelia/rape
- Adult/minor relationship
- Murder
- Gun violence
- Sexual violence
- Blood
- Mental illness
- Infidelity
Jodi Picoult stays above one star for her lone talent - creating page-turning plots. Her ripped-from-the-headlines stories and two-dimensional characters wear thin quickly. I wouldn't have read this after "The Pact" except it was a book group selection.