Reviews with content warning for Drug use - The Girls

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a suspense/thriller, let alone Lisa Jewell. I’ve always loved this author but this story was not one of my favorites. The characters were well developed but the excitement/thrill of the story was quite low. I did really enjoy all the background information provided on the characters and how it allowed for multiple people to be side-eyed. I enjoyed the ending - which is all I will say otherwise I will spoil it. If you’re going to check out Lisa Jewell, don’t start with this book! This story does not do her justice.

Content Warnings

bookthief's review

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

I really enjoyed this book however it was not as thrilling as I expected a thriller book to be.
The first half of the book was getting to know the characters and what life was like living in the garden. In the second half of the book was were the action began with Grace being found unconscious. I thought the book could have been shorter since both parts of the story dragged on for a bit to long.
I thought the Howees were a weird but nice family and I did initially have concerns about Leo, as did Pip, but it turns out he was an all right dude. I thought Pips family scenario was sad and rare with her dad having schizophrenia causing him to go mad but I was glad they were all reunited at the end. Dylan gave mixed signals but he was a good lad in the end. Tyler was quite a questionable character from the beginning with her aunt’s history and her mum neglecting her and her jealousy issues with Grace and Dylan.
Overall I thought the actual plot of Grace being unconscious and everyone trying to figure out what happened and who did it was quite anticlimactic since it was obvious Tyler had something against Grace and the investigation was pretty slow.

Content Warnings

minimicropup's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Atmosphere: 👌 This story couldn’t have taken place anywhere else. The park and surrounding homes were a vital character, and the scenes brought to life so well - both for the environment and how people let their guard down in such familiar, communal settings.

Main POVs: 👌
-a parent with a 12 and 13 year old who is kind but distracted and exhausted, dealing with the hospitalization of their spouse who has paranoid schizophrenia
-a parent with one preteen and two teens who is well-meaning in homeschooling and insulating their family from the world, but results in them letting their guard down and missing glaring red flags. They are lenient with the hopes of their children growing up to be unashamedly their true selves…but they have never considered if those true selves may be rotten ones
-a 12 year old younger sibling who is observant, intuitive, and unfailingly loyal to their family but suspicious of strangers

Reading Journey: 👌
Riding through the neighbourhood in a golf cart on a crisp, relaxing summer day.

Show’n’tell: 👌 Perfect show - I wasn’t just in the characters heads I briefly became them. Includes a little map of the park and houses.

Great match if you like:
-neighbourhood mysteries
-dark cozy mystery
-coming-of-age drama
-nostalgic summer energy
-people giving off creepy vibes behind closed doors
-teens behaving badly

Vibes: 🙂😲🤭

Format: Kindle Unlimited

Content Warnings