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A review by holdenwunders_
Parents Weekend: A Novel by Alex Finlay
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
I’ve been a fan of Alex Finlay for a while and have always found their books to be a 3-4 star so giving this less does hurt a bit.
I did quite like the intention, multiple POVs and overall idea for the plotline. But I did have trouble categorizing this as a thriller. The majority of the time stayed with the parents of the college kids that it felt more like a domestic family drama than it did on the thriller aspect. I wish there had been more thriller and more of the POV from the kidnapped perspective and think that would’ve made things more exciting.
While I didn’t dislike the perspective changes and the familial drama, there wasn’t a lot of emphasis on the college kids and their lives so when the “bad guy” was revealed, I had to remember who that person was and in relation to everyone else. It felt very choppy and thrown together in this aspect that I wish it just hit harder earlier in the book. I also absolutely despised one of the character deaths as it felt so unnecessary and happened “off camera” too and I just didn’t get the point. I thought it was a joke for a moment and had to go back and reread it multiple times and I still can’t get there for it.
Sadly rating this book lower than any other from Finlay but this unfortunately wasn’t his best. I didn’t hate that I read it but also didn’t feel good upon finishing it either.
I did quite like the intention, multiple POVs and overall idea for the plotline. But I did have trouble categorizing this as a thriller. The majority of the time stayed with the parents of the college kids that it felt more like a domestic family drama than it did on the thriller aspect. I wish there had been more thriller and more of the POV from the kidnapped perspective and think that would’ve made things more exciting.
While I didn’t dislike the perspective changes and the familial drama, there wasn’t a lot of emphasis on the college kids and their lives so when the “bad guy” was revealed, I had to remember who that person was and in relation to everyone else. It felt very choppy and thrown together in this aspect that I wish it just hit harder earlier in the book. I also absolutely despised one of the character deaths as it felt so unnecessary and happened “off camera” too and I just didn’t get the point. I thought it was a joke for a moment and had to go back and reread it multiple times and I still can’t get there for it.
Sadly rating this book lower than any other from Finlay but this unfortunately wasn’t his best. I didn’t hate that I read it but also didn’t feel good upon finishing it either.