A review by rchll
Heartsick by Chelsea Cain

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

This book was completely different than what I was expecting - at the same time though, I was all the more impressed by it and am weirdly glad it went in the direction it did (at least for book 1 - I'm weak and had to spoil some future plot points for other books in this series which I'll briefly touch on in my review so be warned!!).

As a dark romance/erotic horror girlie, I totally thought this was going to be a cop/serial killer 'romance' thats incredibly messed up and toxic but you can't help but simultaneously dread and desire their progression?? Instead, my very generalized one sentence impression is that this is a story about a weak man whose life is irrevocably f*cked up, and I couldn't help but see it as all the more tragic because of his role in his downfall. Has he been horribly tortured and is he a victim in some ways? Absolutely - but theres more to it than that.

(Spoilers for future books ahead)

Upon finding out that its revealed in book 2 that Archie and Gretchen had begun an affair before he found out she was the Beauty Killer/his torture at her hands, it completely changed my perception of him. While I saw him at first as this terribly traumatized man with a severe case of Stockholm syndrome where Gretchen is concerned, I now see him as also complicit in his role in a way - much like the other nameless men Gretchen seduces and manipulates for her purposes. Not to oversimplify lol but Archie loses Debbie, someone who truly loves and knows him, not to mention his children, prior happy life, for the attention of someone who strokes his ego. Its gut-wrenching and as wonderful a writer as Chelsea Cain is, I really can't continue to read about a character like Archie knowing he is the main protagonist and he's going to get a semblance of a happy ending at the expense of those who deserve a real one. I'm talking here about Susan because she deserves so much more than that - Debbie I know is basically like "I'm done with you," and means it, but Susan is absolutely sucked into Archie's life, and after everything she's been through???

So basically, despite my enjoyment of this book I probably won't be continuing the series. Susan, Gretchen, Debbie and the majority of characters other than Archie are all so interesting to read about - they're so incredibly complex and layered, even the ones with limited page time. Archie on the other hand, is by no means 1D, and if he was a side character, it would have worked for me. However as a main character, the phrase "he's literally just a guy!!" comes to mind and I can't help but just be uninterested in his journey.