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manikahemmerixh's Reviews (218)
I’m a little conflicted with this one. The book itself is not bad overall, what I can’t decide about is the Great Gatsby element of it all. As someone who loves The Great Gatsby and the heartbreaking, yearning, complexity of it - this does just feel a little bit wrong. I also kind of feel that the elements inspired by The Great Gatsby are not so crucial to the story, that this couldn’t have been written as it’s own story with new character names.
On the other hand I also think re-tellings and being inspired by works previous is fun and it doesn’t have to be that serious. I can’t really decide which part of me I agree with more but I’m rating while leaning on the side of letting it not be that serious.
On the other hand I also think re-tellings and being inspired by works previous is fun and it doesn’t have to be that serious. I can’t really decide which part of me I agree with more but I’m rating while leaning on the side of letting it not be that serious.
I struggled with the pacing of this one a little, and did feel like the way that information was put together by Callie was a bit slow (I as the reader always felt like I was 4 steps ahead of her). Overall though, I enjoyed this series quite a bit and I'm not mad at the way that it ended.
I think that there is 5 star potential here, but that I would need to read it again. It took some time for me to adjust to the writing style, and there is actually one sentence in here pretty early in the book that broke my brain (I read it over and over and eventually gave up, somehow I can't make sense of it). I adjusted though, and actually came to enjoy the way this book is written. I always say I love when books feel unique, and this definitely does.
So unique, in fact, that that's why I feel like I need to re-visit it. There's a lot you could unpack here, and the story itself feels quite subjective and like it is intentionally made to be perceived and explained differently by each reader based on their world view. I think that's awesome. I can see why it wouldn't be for everybody though.
So unique, in fact, that that's why I feel like I need to re-visit it. There's a lot you could unpack here, and the story itself feels quite subjective and like it is intentionally made to be perceived and explained differently by each reader based on their world view. I think that's awesome. I can see why it wouldn't be for everybody though.
From hearing others talk about it on TikTok, I thought it would be scarier. Fell kind of flat for me, but the concept is cool and I enjoy reading books with creative styling choices.
Kind of cool to get a bit more of Desmond's past and his life before Callie, but having just read the other two books recently, the end got a bit repetitive and boring.
In general, I find that all of the Freida McFadden books I've read have a certain rudimentary writing essence to them. I never rate them much higher than a 3.5. "Why do I keep reading them then?" You may ask. Well, because even if they aren't my favorite books - they're quick reads and often have a unique/entertaining plot. I've said before that sometimes I wish other authors were tackling ideas like those that Freida comes up with in her thrillers, but in a more evolved way.
This one did push the limits for me though. I think that the only way to enjoy this book and come out giving it a high rating is if you do not challenge a single thing you're reading. If you're just there for the vibes and able to disassociate from the fact that so much of this is way too convenient and frankly kind of stupid, then sure the story is pretty fun and the twist will likely surprise you.
Sydney, the FMC is meant to be a 34 year old woman, and all I can say is I hope I have more sense when I'm 34 than Sydney does. She talks herself out of blaring red flags constantly. Which is just silly, because to plant the idea in her head at one moment (so as to plant it on the reader's radar) and then go "naaahhh" or never let the character build on these revelations makes it hard as a reader to root for, or care about, the character. In fact, I really didn't care for any of them. Tom was the most interesting to me but that was sort of ruined by the ending.
HE'S JUST LETTING DAISY GET AWAY WITH KILLING ANYONE HE GETS CLOSE TO FOR TWENTY YEARS???? He's so clearly meant to be desperate to be a better person than his baser natures but there's no way that every girl you date could be murdered over and over again and you wouldn't think critically about that. At that point why didn't he just run off with Daisy after Cindy or something? He seems to be keeping an eye on Daisy, he knows exactly how to reach her. He somehow thinks the burner phone will help protect these women? I don't get it.
This one did push the limits for me though. I think that the only way to enjoy this book and come out giving it a high rating is if you do not challenge a single thing you're reading. If you're just there for the vibes and able to disassociate from the fact that so much of this is way too convenient and frankly kind of stupid, then sure the story is pretty fun and the twist will likely surprise you.
Sydney, the FMC is meant to be a 34 year old woman, and all I can say is I hope I have more sense when I'm 34 than Sydney does. She talks herself out of blaring red flags constantly. Which is just silly, because to plant the idea in her head at one moment (so as to plant it on the reader's radar) and then go "naaahhh" or never let the character build on these revelations makes it hard as a reader to root for, or care about, the character. In fact, I really didn't care for any of them. Tom was the most interesting to me but that was sort of ruined by the ending.
I have no quality complaints about this book, but I'm not sure how much I liked reading it. I actually listened to a fair amount of the audiobook, which is narrated by Tom Hanks and helped me get through the story when I was getting reading fatigue. I wouldn't call it boring, but it felt long and at times I had trouble immersing myself in the story. There are some really beautiful moments, and I would say without a doubt that part 3 was my favorite part of the book. The majority of the rest of it I just kind of pushed through. I can see how it could be a 5 star read, I just didn't connect with it in that way.
Pretty simple, if (like me) this type of book is your own personal form of kryptonite then you’re probably bound to enjoy it. It’s pretty fast paced and a little silly and even a little cringe but all in a really enjoyable, fun way. Love Desmond too.
The Safekeep has one of my biggest romance faux pas and yet I cannot help but give it 5-stars. It is beautifully well written, and though I went in blind anyway I loved to see the story develop from one thing on the surface, to something much deeper.
It's a fairly short book, and there's little to differentiate the passing of time to then build the relationship so it does feel like insta-love/lust. However, I can forgive it here because the book as a whole feels heightened. It is stark, dramatic representations of human experience. There's just something incredibly raw about The Safekeep, in it's emotions and the way that it portrays them, and I loved it.
It's a fairly short book, and there's little to differentiate the passing of time to then build the relationship so it does feel like insta-love/lust. However, I can forgive it here because the book as a whole feels heightened. It is stark, dramatic representations of human experience. There's just something incredibly raw about The Safekeep, in it's emotions and the way that it portrays them, and I loved it.