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A review by marthadude
The Grownup by Gillian Flynn
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I half read this, half listened to the audiobook, and I think both formats are great. I think the general consensus is that the first 2/3's of the book are excellent, which they are. The protagonist and premise are both interesting, and the pacing is great for such a short book. Not to mention the elements of foreshadowing are masterful. However, the last half/ ending really brings down the rest of the book. The first twist was shocking and well done, but, once there were a few contradictory twists proceeding the first, things got too convoluted. While I like the idea of a con artist taking on a protege but it wasn't well executed here.The ending was too abrupt, confusing, and was ambiguous but not in a fun way. The conclusion wasn't satisfying to me and felt like sort of a cop out. I wish she had just stuck to one of the twists. I would say that the shortness of the book and the first two thirds really save it, but the ending made it drop from a 5 star to a 4 star.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Vomit, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
Minor: Death and Murder