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A review by gillian0231
The Split by Kit Frick
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
3.5
While I really enjoyed the whole concept of the book, not only the alternating timelines but exploring the complexities of toxic family dynamics, I don't think it was done really well. Overall, the book had a really strong start. At first I was a little confused with the changing timelines, but once I get into the rhythm, I really liked it. The writing was very good, the mysteries were layered and kept me guessing, and the characters, while not entirely likeable, were very realistic and interesting.
However, the closer we got to the end the more I was getting worried the ending would not be good. I was unfortunately correct. I really wish there could have been a connection between the two timelines. Obviously some big plot points happened in both stories, but it really just seems like the author had two different ideas for the mystery, couldn't chose between the two, and just decided to write both in the same book. I think a part of this disconnect is that we never get Esme's POV. The entire story is from Jane's POV, so everything we know about Esme is through Jane's perceptions of her. We never get Esme's inner thoughts or too much motivations for her actions besides what she eventually tells Jane. Because of this, Esme (in both timelines) seems really one dimensional and incredibly unlikable to the point that I really liked the ending of the Gone timeline. There is also a very stark difference in her personalities in the two timelines so it just seems so unrealistic that both endings are the same person. If we had gotten even just one chapter from Esme's POV explaining just a little bit of her feelings and actions, I think both personalities and endings could have been so more cohesive.
Maybe the whole point of the story is that one small action can lead to wildly different endings, but if that was the case it was not done well. It was a fast-paced book, which I really enjoy in mysteries, and I didn't want to put it down at times. There was so much potential that was so close to being fulfilled.
However, the closer we got to the end the more I was getting worried the ending would not be good. I was unfortunately correct. I really wish there could have been a connection between the two timelines. Obviously some big plot points happened in both stories, but it really just seems like the author had two different ideas for the mystery, couldn't chose between the two, and just decided to write both in the same book. I think a part of this disconnect is that we never get Esme's POV. The entire story is from Jane's POV, so everything we know about Esme is through Jane's perceptions of her. We never get Esme's inner thoughts or too much motivations for her actions besides what she eventually tells Jane. Because of this, Esme (in both timelines) seems really one dimensional and incredibly unlikable to the point that I really liked the ending of the Gone timeline. There is also a very stark difference in her personalities in the two timelines so it just seems so unrealistic that both endings are the same person. If we had gotten even just one chapter from Esme's POV explaining just a little bit of her feelings and actions, I think both personalities and endings could have been so more cohesive.
Maybe the whole point of the story is that one small action can lead to wildly different endings, but if that was the case it was not done well. It was a fast-paced book, which I really enjoy in mysteries, and I didn't want to put it down at times. There was so much potential that was so close to being fulfilled.