Review by meeklovestoread - She's Not Sorry

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meeklovestoread 's review for:

She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubica

3.5

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I don't even know where to start. Okay, so this is my third book by the author in the span of a couple of years. I read "Local Woman Missing" in 2022 and LOVED it! Then, probably a few months later, I read "Just the Nicest Couple" and thought it was just alright. I've been wanting to read from this author again for a while, so I decided to bite the bullet and just pick this one up.

I don't know if it's just me, but thrillers have really been letting me down this year. Like 90% of the ones I've been reading have been sitting in the 3-star realm. Like, I can't even say the last time I read an adrenaline-pumping thriller. So, I was really hoping this book would be my saving grace.

Okay, so I'd say that the first 65-68% of this book is just straight build-up. We learn about Meghan, her relationship with her ex-husband, daughter, coworkers, a bit about her past, her job as an ICU nurse, etc. In addition to that, we get an intro of the plot, how she met this woman (Nat) who was her childhood acquaintance from highschool 20 years ago, this patient in her unit she's assigned to as well as her strange family, the murders going on in her state that have her and other women on edge, etc. You'd think that would be enough to excite you, but it isn't. There are a lot of plot threads in this book, and considering how short it is, I feel like some of them didn't have time to marinate as long as they should have to truly feel impactful to the story.

Going back to what I said previously, it's around the 65%-68% where the story started changing pace and getting "good". We finally find out the big twist in the story. I can't decide if the twist was good or not, considering the way it was executed.

The part where we find out Caitlin is Nat was good. I kinda thought that at the beginning of the book, but decided against it because of the way the story was told. And this is where the problem begins, because manipulating time as a twist can either be genius or sloppy. Finding out that Nat is the woman in the ICU and that Meghan is the one who pushed her begs a lot of questions on her character's thought process. But I would have to reread the book to see if her actions line up with what she already knows.

I understand why people would love it, though. I saw it as it was coming, but like I said before, twists like this can be tricky to execute.

Speaking of the twists, again, lots of things were happening during this part of the story.

Luke being the serial killer rapist guy. No shocker there. Again, if you read the number of thrillers I have, you know that you can never trust thriller men. That twist was meh to me, like I saw it coming. He was so unhinged, though. Kidnapping her daughter and holding her at gunpoint. Sheesh!

And before that we find out this

how Sienna knew her dad wasn't her dad, so instead of being a reasonable person and just talking to her mother about it, she goes all psycho crazy and locks her mother downstairs in a basement and sends her hate mail notes. Like why?! It just doesn't seem like something a teenager would do. And she's a bit crazy for that. She was so extreme for what?! The author blames it on a teenager simply lashing out, but like I said, she was willing to have her mother die for that. Again, very extreme considering they both agree to not tell the dad anyway.

Lots happening in this bit, but I still feel like certain questions and red herrings are just left in the dirt to be unanswered. Like, what about Caitlin's parents? It was hinted at that they were suspicious and potentially malicious, and that's just dropped.

Are they not worried about the fact that were just told their daughter was alive, and then late,r when they come back just find out she's died and it was the ICU nurse's fault.

Are we never gonna find out who took Meghan's $10K? In addition,

Caitlin's motivations for anything that she's ever done are never explained. Like, she went after Meghan for what? Cuz she was intimidated that her current boyfriend still has the hots for his ex-wife?! Huhhhhhhh?????? Her character was just so flat. I wanted more.

And what about the brother, Caitlin's brother? He was a red herring, too. We never heard from him again.

And I guess Meghan just gets away with murdering Caitlin. Which is fine, but like still. The way it was done. It was just an afterthought after the whole Luke situation. And probably should've mentioned this before, but why would she tell a stranger her 16-year secret? It makes no sense.

Also, last one, but the dad. I hated how that was left open-ended. I don't think he was involved, but I hate open-ended endings like that cuz how I'm left contemplating something that should've been answered. Also, this is pretty minor, but it is mentioned at the beginning of the book that Meghan already knows her husband has a girlfriend (ch. 3), but then later on in the book, she acts surprised when her daughter tells her. (ch. 14). Same timelines, too. I don't know. It was just such a weird discrepancy, considering her knowing or not knowing adds nothing to the book. Overall, this book was fine, but I will say that if it weren't for the latter half, this book would've been a 3-star. I will try her again one more time to see. I hear "The Other Mrs." by her is good, and if that doesn't work out, I fear I might be done with this author and her books. They're not bad, but they're just not spectacular enough for me to continue if my next read from her doesn't pan out.

Spice Rating:🫑/5 (nothing crazy, just brief mentions)

Oh, also, the author wrote "on fleek" in her book. No! No! No!😭

Content Warnings