Scan barcode
A review by muffinamy
Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I think this book sealed the deal on me desperately not liking Frieda’s writing style. I’ve read one of her other books and didn’t enjoy it, but this came up for free on audible so I thought I’d give her another chance, and I wish I hadn’t.
I love unreliable narrators as much as the next person, but I’m sorry, I hate it when authors totally switch up the way someone’s acting and pretend that makes them an unreliable narrator. We had absolutely 0 incline that Claudia was the big bad, she said she ‘fought’ for custody of her sister when her parents died, she pitied her when she blamed herself, she literally quoted that she was worried about her. To suddenly have her be all ‘I hated my sister and I was forced to drop out of school to look after her’ after it was pretty cut and dry that’s NOT the case, idk, I feel like it’s taking unreliable narrator to a new ridiculous level. Especially since Quinn seemed to love her and never possibly suspected anything else? I don’t buy it. This isn’t unreliable narration, this is simply lying for the sake of negating the reader from guessing what’s going on.
Another issue I had was the in all and end all of the book was that Claudia had a mental illness and stopped taking her meds, which essentially made her insane. I don’t like that. Frieda spent the whole book making quite irresponsible remarks on mental illness, but that took it too far in my opinion.
Finally, Frieda’s writing style gives year 9 English exam. How many times do I need to be told that Quinn was ‘just a sitting duck’ ?? I counted atleast 4, was that necessary??? And having Rosie reiterate the entire plot of the story to the reader at the end as if I hadn’t just read the stupid book? It’s giving elementary/VERY young adult, but handling the topics it does it clearly can’t be for such a young target audience. I found myself rolling my eyes over and over at the constant repetition.
I certainly won’t bother with Frieda’s books again.
I love unreliable narrators as much as the next person, but I’m sorry, I hate it when authors totally switch up the way someone’s acting and pretend that makes them an unreliable narrator. We had absolutely 0 incline that Claudia was the big bad, she said she ‘fought’ for custody of her sister when her parents died, she pitied her when she blamed herself, she literally quoted that she was worried about her. To suddenly have her be all ‘I hated my sister and I was forced to drop out of school to look after her’ after it was pretty cut and dry that’s NOT the case, idk, I feel like it’s taking unreliable narrator to a new ridiculous level. Especially since Quinn seemed to love her and never possibly suspected anything else? I don’t buy it. This isn’t unreliable narration, this is simply lying for the sake of negating the reader from guessing what’s going on.
Another issue I had was the in all and end all of the book was that Claudia had a mental illness and stopped taking her meds, which essentially made her insane. I don’t like that. Frieda spent the whole book making quite irresponsible remarks on mental illness, but that took it too far in my opinion.
Finally, Frieda’s writing style gives year 9 English exam. How many times do I need to be told that Quinn was ‘just a sitting duck’ ?? I counted atleast 4, was that necessary??? And having Rosie reiterate the entire plot of the story to the reader at the end as if I hadn’t just read the stupid book? It’s giving elementary/VERY young adult, but handling the topics it does it clearly can’t be for such a young target audience. I found myself rolling my eyes over and over at the constant repetition.
I certainly won’t bother with Frieda’s books again.