A review by arellareads
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.75

Even though I saw the movie years ago, I’ve heard great things about this book and wanted to give it a try. Some things to note going into it…

  • The narrators are really obnoxious. I get this is the point, they’re both heavily faulted, but do BOTH leads need to constantly use derogatory language against women? Nick uses descriptors like “vaginal” and “fuck-doll of a girl,” and deems communication a “womanly art.” Amy talks as if being female means being shallow, needy, demanding, etc. (“I know, I know, I’m being a girl.”). She plays the perfect “poor me” damsel-in-distress.
  • The story is a battle between sexes. Again, that’s the premise: it’s a catastrophic drama between husband and wife. I see that some people find the ending really unsatisfying because of this, but if you go into it without expectations, I personally think it comes full circle in a way that fits the characters.
  • Great build-up with an engaging concept. We get Nick’s POV in present day, while Amy’s is slowly revealed through old diary entries. I love how the mystery feels like a game, between Nick’s secretiveness and Amy’s literal scavenger hunt clues.
  • Writing quality is solid. Paced well with a wide range of vocab. Chapters flow into each other and feel substantial, rather than filler or “hooky” just to keep the reader’s attention (like many others I’m reading these days).

Overall, the plot is as tense as I remember — this is one that I wish I could reread for the first time to properly process all the revelations and details. 
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