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isabellehendo's Reviews (223)
AHHHH rating this book was difficult for me. There were many things in this book I loved, and also quite a few ways that I felt the book fell flat.
- I loved Addie - she was so problematic and felt so human. Her fear of irrelevance and stagnation, morphing into her desperate desire to make her mark on the world just felt like something that embodied so much of the human experience. I thought it was beautiful.
- Henry! My sweet Henry. His character added dimension to the story, yet I also felt like it ultimately took away from Addie in the end.
- LUC - God, I wish we got more of Luc. His character added so much to the story, but I think it could have added a lot more.
- THE END?
As much as I loved Henry, and cried in anticipation of his death, I don't know how to feel about the ending. Is it something special that Addie was finally willing to sacrifice her freedom for the love of another? Or is it a desperate kind of sadness, that she gave up the most important thing in her life for a man who willingly and consensually made a deal? I am leaning toward the latter... - The pacing was a bit difficult, and I felt that the first bit of the book was a bit slow, while the last *10?* percent seemed like it should have been drawn out.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I felt emotionally invested in the stories and the characters, and the book was written beautifully. More than anything, I enjoyed the creative concept.
Cute.
I'll start with the things I enjoyed:
The way that the author played with different characters and perspectives was engaging. In particular, I liked the several times she gave the point-of-view from a character outside of the immediate friend circle. I thought that gave the book some added whimsy (although more thoughts on this in the cons column).
I enjoyed the setting of the book, Nantucket being a beautiful beach town. Hollis's house seemed dreamy and idealistic and I found it to be a place I would desperately want to stay.
The Cons:
I couldn't find myself genuinely liking any character, except maybe the dog. There was only one character I actively did not like at all (*cough* Caroline *cough*), but I also didn't find myself truly liking any characters either. I can acknowledge that every character is flawed, as every character I've ever read about is...tis' the way of the world, but for most of these characters I found their positive qualities simply did not do enough to make them genuinely likable.
Overall this book didn't convince me to read any more of this author, like I had expected it to, but it was a cute, cozy read nonetheless.
I'll start with the things I enjoyed:
The way that the author played with different characters and perspectives was engaging. In particular, I liked the several times she gave the point-of-view from a character outside of the immediate friend circle. I thought that gave the book some added whimsy (although more thoughts on this in the cons column).
I enjoyed the setting of the book, Nantucket being a beautiful beach town. Hollis's house seemed dreamy and idealistic and I found it to be a place I would desperately want to stay.
The Cons:
I couldn't find myself genuinely liking any character, except maybe the dog. There was only one character I actively did not like at all (*cough* Caroline *cough*), but I also didn't find myself truly liking any characters either. I can acknowledge that every character is flawed, as every character I've ever read about is...tis' the way of the world, but for most of these characters I found their positive qualities simply did not do enough to make them genuinely likable.
Overall this book didn't convince me to read any more of this author, like I had expected it to, but it was a cute, cozy read nonetheless.
loved the slow burn. wasn’t crazy about much else???
simply didn’t believe the love story, it felt wrong and unbelievable in some way? dunno but didn’t buy it.
simply didn’t believe the love story, it felt wrong and unbelievable in some way? dunno but didn’t buy it.
let’s start with the things i really enjoyed with this book:
.i loved reading about the various characters and enjoyed the jumps between different POVs and timelines. not everyone’s cup of tea, but i enjoy it and found it kept me guessing and on my toes to some extent.
.i enjoyed the story told from the POV of the victims of the crimes, glad that the author seemed to call out the glorification of a really horrible person. i felt justified in some way since she did this.
.this was a super disturbing, infuriating read, but that’s necessary in a case like this.
what i didn’t like:
.a similar complaint to many others- it bothered me how the author seemed to mix together fact and fiction interchangeably. the mix i believed to have an opposite effect towards the authors goals, discrediting the victims and the story in some way
.i loved reading about the various characters and enjoyed the jumps between different POVs and timelines. not everyone’s cup of tea, but i enjoy it and found it kept me guessing and on my toes to some extent.
.i enjoyed the story told from the POV of the victims of the crimes, glad that the author seemed to call out the glorification of a really horrible person. i felt justified in some way since she did this.
.this was a super disturbing, infuriating read, but that’s necessary in a case like this.
what i didn’t like:
.a similar complaint to many others- it bothered me how the author seemed to mix together fact and fiction interchangeably. the mix i believed to have an opposite effect towards the authors goals, discrediting the victims and the story in some way
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
this book was addicting as all hell. it was tense and hard to get through at times, but overall i thought it was pretty good. what i struggled with was the romance/sex aspect of the book - at 24 years old i simply don’t want to read about the sex lives of children. (isabelle did you not read the fucking forward of the book?) i didn’t know what to expect exactly but when the book said 16+ i wasn’t expecting quite so much detail i guess? i realize that teens are sexually active, i just feel kinda icky reading about it.
otherwise i thought the actual plot of the book carried this story and that in itself was incredibly gripping. sad, upsetting, but gripping.
otherwise i thought the actual plot of the book carried this story and that in itself was incredibly gripping. sad, upsetting, but gripping.
social media set my expectations far too high for this but either way it was cute
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
this might just be my favorite new book - it was genuinely incredible.
the writing is clearly exceptional, but the way it was written and the perspectives were a major bonus for me. it was wonderful. i felt like i was dragged onto Chicken Hill, getting to know the characters and their quirks.
the mystery aspect was really a great addition. i couldn’t stop turning the pages, dying to know where the story would lead to next.
this book is really just incredible. i cried like a baby at the end, thanks to the emotional catharsis needed after that epilogue
the writing is clearly exceptional, but the way it was written and the perspectives were a major bonus for me. it was wonderful. i felt like i was dragged onto Chicken Hill, getting to know the characters and their quirks.
the mystery aspect was really a great addition. i couldn’t stop turning the pages, dying to know where the story would lead to next.
this book is really just incredible. i cried like a baby at the end, thanks to the emotional catharsis needed after that epilogue