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A review by crypticspren
The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4* because I use the CAWPILE rating system.
This book was honestly a complete rollercoaster for me. The book is split up into 3 sections. The first POV is Amber. Throughout this section I was very iffy on how I should feel. It wasn't morally grey... It was straight up morally awful and I felt a little uncomfortable at points. She is essentially a sociopath and con artist, intent on stealing a woman’s husband and doesn’t care who she hurts in order to do so.
The second section is from Daphne's POV. This took me totally by surprise and gave the story an entirely new outlook. This section is also the one worthy of the trigger warnings. I have a personal history with this kind of stuff and the weight management element (if you've read it, you know exactly which bit I mean) absolutely floored me at once point... However, I think it got the balance between "trauma dumping" and "empowering story of survival" just right.
The third POV is a narrator that covers both. It is by far the most satisfying section of the book and the ending was really enjoyable for me for the most part. The way in which daphne played 2 sociopaths against each other and used their greatest weakness (their ego) to escape was nothing short of genius. The only thing that rubbed me the wrong way was how Amber “got what she deserved”. As someone who lived in an abusive relationship, I would go through it again to get to where I am now but I wouldn’t wish it on anyone - not even an enemy.
It is definitely a book I don’t regret reading, but I couldn't recommend it to anyone without a significant warning for its contents.
This book was honestly a complete rollercoaster for me. The book is split up into 3 sections. The first POV is Amber. Throughout this section I was very iffy on how I should feel. It wasn't morally grey... It was straight up morally awful and I felt a little uncomfortable at points. She is essentially a sociopath and con artist, intent on stealing a woman’s husband and doesn’t care who she hurts in order to do so.
The second section is from Daphne's POV. This took me totally by surprise and gave the story an entirely new outlook. This section is also the one worthy of the trigger warnings. I have a personal history with this kind of stuff and the weight management element (if you've read it, you know exactly which bit I mean) absolutely floored me at once point... However, I think it got the balance between "trauma dumping" and "empowering story of survival" just right.
The third POV is a narrator that covers both. It is by far the most satisfying section of the book and the ending was really enjoyable for me for the most part. The way in which daphne played 2 sociopaths against each other and used their greatest weakness (their ego) to escape was nothing short of genius. The only thing that rubbed me the wrong way was how Amber “got what she deserved”. As someone who lived in an abusive relationship, I would go through it again to get to where I am now but I wouldn’t wish it on anyone - not even an enemy.
It is definitely a book I don’t regret reading, but I couldn't recommend it to anyone without a significant warning for its contents.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Rape