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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Yet another dark and crazy book by Gillian Flynn. This one was by far the darkest of her books that I have read. With each book I am annoyed at the abruptness of the ending. I want more. And I want to shake the people in the book 9 times out of 10. I am frustrated with not being able to know more. But, isn't that how it is in the real world? We are always left wanting more? Good play, Ms. Flynn, good play.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow... that was a dark, dark story. Lissy's tale got to me a little, because I found her motivation really sad.
The entire book is about lost characters, people who have lost a big part of themselves and are trying to either get it back or cope with their loss in a semi-functional way. It can all be a little overwhelming if you get too into it, as it was to me.
It was beautifully written, nostalgic and personal while still easyvto relate to. Libby was a problem to me because I really really didn't like her and found it difficult to understand her, but as the story ges on you start seing parts of her which are more open, more vulnerable and she finally gets you on her side.
Ben's story is heartbreaking and Patty's is too, although I was less.sympathetic to her, her being a mom and making a few choices which felt selfish to me. I have little patience for uninterested mothers, handicapped as thet may be.
All in all a good book with lovely, complex characters and a coherent, intriguing storyline.
The entire book is about lost characters, people who have lost a big part of themselves and are trying to either get it back or cope with their loss in a semi-functional way. It can all be a little overwhelming if you get too into it, as it was to me.
It was beautifully written, nostalgic and personal while still easyvto relate to. Libby was a problem to me because I really really didn't like her and found it difficult to understand her, but as the story ges on you start seing parts of her which are more open, more vulnerable and she finally gets you on her side.
Ben's story is heartbreaking and Patty's is too, although I was less.sympathetic to her, her being a mom and making a few choices which felt selfish to me. I have little patience for uninterested mothers, handicapped as thet may be.
All in all a good book with lovely, complex characters and a coherent, intriguing storyline.
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
This is less a thriller and more a psychological descent into the darkest corners of human relationships. Flynn doesn’t just flirt with the grotesque—she dives in and drags you with her. The story feels suffocating at times, with its broken characters, emotional bleakness, and a lingering sense of decay that’s both physical and moral. It’s brilliantly written... and deeply uncomfortable.
There’s no glamour in the darkness here. Everything is grimy, bitter, and painfully real. The characters don’t feel fictional—they feel like people you’ve read about in disturbing news articles or overheard in waiting rooms. The book captures a kind of everyday horror that’s hard to shake off, and honestly, that made the reading experience hard to sit with. Even for someone who enjoys crime fiction, this veered into territory that felt more exhausting than thrilling.
Some might love the slow-burn structure and dense atmosphere, but for me, it eventually felt heavy-handed. The narrative loops through trauma and dysfunction so relentlessly that it lost momentum. Add to that a main character who’s not easy to root for—and the emotional payoff feels just out of reach.
There’s no glamour in the darkness here. Everything is grimy, bitter, and painfully real. The characters don’t feel fictional—they feel like people you’ve read about in disturbing news articles or overheard in waiting rooms. The book captures a kind of everyday horror that’s hard to shake off, and honestly, that made the reading experience hard to sit with. Even for someone who enjoys crime fiction, this veered into territory that felt more exhausting than thrilling.
Some might love the slow-burn structure and dense atmosphere, but for me, it eventually felt heavy-handed. The narrative loops through trauma and dysfunction so relentlessly that it lost momentum. Add to that a main character who’s not easy to root for—and the emotional payoff feels just out of reach.
Be ready for intense and morbid, even more than I had expected and I’ve read a fair amount of thrillers. I do think it was very well written and you’ll definitely be intrigued to find out what happened. I think it took me longer to read because I couldn’t relate to any aspects of any of the characters. Not the best book I’ve read lately but I’d still give it a try!
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is mainly a ton of back story to the actual plot, which helps you understand everything it may seem like nonsense but at the end everything comes together .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Blood
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Gun violence, Pedophilia, Abortion
All I’m saying is Libby should have just left it alone god damn