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justinekorson 's review for:
Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead
by Jenny Hollander
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you Netgalley for giving me access to this audiobook!!
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
I've read several thrillers before and usually find myself... unsatisfied by the end results for a few reasons. The first reason would be because I could predict how the story would end, the second is that the unreliable narrator actually had nothing to do with whatever the incident was in the first place. This book falls in that second category.
Finding out that Charlie didn't actually hurt anyone that night was a big let down. She's lived with the guilt that she'd killed people that night for over a decade. It affected every aspect of her life and in the end you find out she had nothing to do with that night at all, aside from being there when it happened. All of Charlie's trauma and anxiety felt like (to me) that it had been for nothing.
I was also very confused toward the end of the book because I thought Kate had died the night of Scarlett Christmas (or had been the one who had a breakdown and hurt their friends). I'm not sure if I thought this because that's what I was led to believe by the author or if I'd missed something during the beginning of the novel. I think we're meant to believe that Kate died/was the killer but I'm unsure....
This novel vaguely reminds me of "All The Missing Girls" because the FMC both have stable jobs in the city, a fiancee, and are being forced to relieve the murder of their friends but I liked ATMG more because the FMC actually had something to hide (i.e she did kill her friend on accident and felt guilt from it).
I think I would have preferred if Charlie, in EWCFMIS, actually had something to do with the death of Elise that night. If she had it would have made for a more compelling narrative. As it is, Charlie ends up being a very un-captivating character. I was rooting for her because I wanted her to have her happy life, despite what she might have done (which would have been in self defense if she had pushed Elise). When it was all said and done though, I was disappointed.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
I've read several thrillers before and usually find myself... unsatisfied by the end results for a few reasons. The first reason would be because I could predict how the story would end, the second is that the unreliable narrator actually had nothing to do with whatever the incident was in the first place. This book falls in that second category.
Finding out that Charlie didn't actually hurt anyone that night was a big let down. She's lived with the guilt that she'd killed people that night for over a decade. It affected every aspect of her life and in the end you find out she had nothing to do with that night at all, aside from being there when it happened. All of Charlie's trauma and anxiety felt like (to me) that it had been for nothing.
I was also very confused toward the end of the book because I thought Kate had died the night of Scarlett Christmas (or had been the one who had a breakdown and hurt their friends). I'm not sure if I thought this because that's what I was led to believe by the author or if I'd missed something during the beginning of the novel. I think we're meant to believe that Kate died/was the killer but I'm unsure....
This novel vaguely reminds me of "All The Missing Girls" because the FMC both have stable jobs in the city, a fiancee, and are being forced to relieve the murder of their friends but I liked ATMG more because the FMC actually had something to hide (i.e she did kill her friend on accident and felt guilt from it).
I think I would have preferred if Charlie, in EWCFMIS, actually had something to do with the death of Elise that night. If she had it would have made for a more compelling narrative. As it is, Charlie ends up being a very un-captivating character. I was rooting for her because I wanted her to have her happy life, despite what she might have done (which would have been in self defense if she had pushed Elise). When it was all said and done though, I was disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicide, Alcohol