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layflock's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
michellefre's review against another edition
3.0
While I don’t think that this book was the psychological page turner it promised to be, I did enjoy the writing style of this book and I enjoyed the plot. I wish there had been a bit more to the story and I felt that some character development was lacking and I didn’t find myself wanting to reach for this book to finish it, but while I was reading it, I definitely enjoyed it. A solid 3.5 stars for this one. Thank you for providing me with an ARC for my honest feedback.
meebo's review against another edition
2.0
Idk if this is an ironic book or if an alt right dude bro with a podcast wrote this. If it’s the latter then 1⭐️
nerdmuffin's review against another edition
1.0
The choppy writing style in several of the POV chapters might have been intended to indicate how disordered the narrators thinking is, but I found more annoying than helpful. None of the characters are likable or relatable, the scenarios are definitely male gaze oriented, and there isn't even a mystery involved (unless the mystery is how far you are willing to read before giving up). I will definitely not be reading more by this author in the future.
jillmlong's review against another edition
2.0
This book was very hard to follow. I felt like I had missed the opening chapters and was thrown in about halfway through. The characters are very unlikeable and there was never a connection felt with them.
lisasabella82's review against another edition
4.0
Qucik suspenseful read, a little hard to believe all of the connections.
lit_with_leigh's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK my reviews are ALWAYS honest.
3.5 rounded down
Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: 3/5
SYNOPSIS
Everyone in this neighborhood is fked up.
MY OPINION
Yes, I rated this 4 stars, but would I recommend it? Not really LOL. First of all, this is NOT a thriller. It's barely a mystery. This is some kind of fked up domestic drama with a lil sprinkle of what's happening here????
This is classic "quirky male writing." I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek observations about liberals and their lawn signs. He said what he said and he wasn't wrong. I don't read a lot of male-authored books, in fact, I often go out of my way to avoid them, because they either 1) John Wick a totally normal mystery 2) write women like they're just flesh and orifices to be entered 3) write characters that are mad at the world for god knows what reason and think being an asshole is humorous. Timothy S. Lane somehow avoids all of these, in fact, I think he did a spectacular job describing postpartum struggles from breastfeeding to feeling like your body isn't yours. Not that I can relate, but from what I've heard from other mothers/read in books authored by women, this sounded pretty on-point.
I hated Adam. Shocker. It's rare I find a male character that I like, and my search continues. I'm not sure if we were supposed to empathize with Adam, but I wanted to beef tf outta him. He really is playing the world's smallest violin and loves a good ole self-sabotage. The whole window thing with Ali was absolutely disgusting (ok – this entire section is definitely male authored vibes, even when Ali explains her side you're like.... sure, Jan). He reminds me of that quote from Brooklyn 99: "well, well, well, if it isn't the consequences of my won actions." I double dawg dare him to take responsibility for being fiendishly horny to the point where it ruins his own life.
Tbh, none of the characters were likeable. Sarah is really on some shit, and that whole first scene with Kemp aka Crispin (what kind of name is this??? sounds like a type of low-calorie chip) was 1) classic male author and 2) ??????. Ok random sidetrack but I think I hate male authored books because the way they describe sex makes it seem like they're all sexual deviants and I just don't wanna know. Just pretend to be normal PLEASE. Anyways... Crispin was a freakazoid and we never really get an answer as to why. He's just on some shit and has way too much money. And then there's his mom... the classic Tiger Mom but plot twist! she's NOT Asian. I liked how her pov was written – sorta breaking the third wall. This is difficult to execute (usually comes off sounding "dear diary") but he did it properly so props.
I did see some reviews saying that Ali's pov made readers uncomfy given that she's African American and the author is most certainly not. I can see their point, but from black-authored books I've read, I would say he was pretty dead on with Ali's observations and feelings. It didn't make me feel uncomfy and I'm easily spooked when it comes to white people writing BIPOC povs... but to each their own and I can certainly respect the opinion of other readers.
Anyways. Like I said, I wouldn't recommend this to everyone... I'm not even sure who this is for. Me and my strange ass brain I guess. The prose was different and I liked his introspectiveness about political posturing but this isn't "perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn" like the blurb says. Ya'll gotta stop with these types of marketing blurbs... you aren't fooling anyone and tbh lots of people will dock stars solely based on being promised Flynn and ending up with whatever tf this is
3.5 rounded down
Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: 3/5
SYNOPSIS
Everyone in this neighborhood is fked up.
MY OPINION
Yes, I rated this 4 stars, but would I recommend it? Not really LOL. First of all, this is NOT a thriller. It's barely a mystery. This is some kind of fked up domestic drama with a lil sprinkle of what's happening here????
This is classic "quirky male writing." I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek observations about liberals and their lawn signs. He said what he said and he wasn't wrong. I don't read a lot of male-authored books, in fact, I often go out of my way to avoid them, because they either 1) John Wick a totally normal mystery 2) write women like they're just flesh and orifices to be entered 3) write characters that are mad at the world for god knows what reason and think being an asshole is humorous. Timothy S. Lane somehow avoids all of these, in fact, I think he did a spectacular job describing postpartum struggles from breastfeeding to feeling like your body isn't yours. Not that I can relate, but from what I've heard from other mothers/read in books authored by women, this sounded pretty on-point.
I hated Adam. Shocker. It's rare I find a male character that I like, and my search continues. I'm not sure if we were supposed to empathize with Adam, but I wanted to beef tf outta him. He really is playing the world's smallest violin and loves a good ole self-sabotage. The whole window thing with Ali was absolutely disgusting (ok – this entire section is definitely male authored vibes, even when Ali explains her side you're like.... sure, Jan). He reminds me of that quote from Brooklyn 99: "well, well, well, if it isn't the consequences of my won actions." I double dawg dare him to take responsibility for being fiendishly horny to the point where it ruins his own life.
Tbh, none of the characters were likeable. Sarah is really on some shit, and that whole first scene with Kemp aka Crispin (what kind of name is this??? sounds like a type of low-calorie chip) was 1) classic male author and 2) ??????. Ok random sidetrack but I think I hate male authored books because the way they describe sex makes it seem like they're all sexual deviants and I just don't wanna know. Just pretend to be normal PLEASE. Anyways... Crispin was a freakazoid and we never really get an answer as to why. He's just on some shit and has way too much money. And then there's his mom... the classic Tiger Mom but plot twist! she's NOT Asian. I liked how her pov was written – sorta breaking the third wall. This is difficult to execute (usually comes off sounding "dear diary") but he did it properly so props.
I did see some reviews saying that Ali's pov made readers uncomfy given that she's African American and the author is most certainly not. I can see their point, but from black-authored books I've read, I would say he was pretty dead on with Ali's observations and feelings. It didn't make me feel uncomfy and I'm easily spooked when it comes to white people writing BIPOC povs... but to each their own and I can certainly respect the opinion of other readers.
Anyways. Like I said, I wouldn't recommend this to everyone... I'm not even sure who this is for. Me and my strange ass brain I guess. The prose was different and I liked his introspectiveness about political posturing but this isn't "perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn" like the blurb says. Ya'll gotta stop with these types of marketing blurbs... you aren't fooling anyone and tbh lots of people will dock stars solely based on being promised Flynn and ending up with whatever tf this is