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A review by sarjanie
The Engagement by Chloe Hooper
2.0
Chloe Hooper's '[b:The Arsonist: A Mind on Fire|40852949|The Arsonist A Mind on Fire|Chloe Hooper|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531804599l/40852949._SY75_.jpg|63626640]' was such as great book that I was sure I'd like anything else she wrote. This psychological thriller proved me wrong.
The main thing that let this book down were the characters. In a thriller like this, I feel that the character who is being manipulated needs to have some redeeming feature that a reader can get attached to so they have a sense of empathy for them. But the problem with 'The Engagement' is that both characters are playing some game of manipulation and the reader is the one being gas-lighted. You can't really grasp which person is getting played, if it's all in Liese's head or if Alexander really is a deviant, and you're unable to feel anything towards either of them. By the end I was just left scratching my head with no patience to re-read sections to figure it all out.
On the plus side, I could see this being a great book club title as you could spend ages discussing the details of it all.
The main thing that let this book down were the characters. In a thriller like this, I feel that the character who is being manipulated needs to have some redeeming feature that a reader can get attached to so they have a sense of empathy for them. But the problem with 'The Engagement' is that both characters are playing some game of manipulation and the reader is the one being gas-lighted. You can't really grasp which person is getting played, if it's all in Liese's head or if Alexander really is a deviant, and you're unable to feel anything towards either of them. By the end I was just left scratching my head with no patience to re-read sections to figure it all out.
On the plus side, I could see this being a great book club title as you could spend ages discussing the details of it all.