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zachnachazel's review against another edition
4.0
Not a book I would typically pick up but definitely wasn’t able to put it down within minutes of starting.
Maybe not the most advanced plot or character depth, but it capture my attention for a couple days.
Maybe not the most advanced plot or character depth, but it capture my attention for a couple days.
redvelvetpenguins's review against another edition
4.0
Ciera might actually be the most annoying character I’ve read in quite awhile. Talk about someone who is so completely incompetent and fragile. I do believe over half the book was just her crying about literally everything. So completely incapable of dealing with life and the naively jumping into all the wrong things. In fact the only thing worse than her constant victimhood was her love interests ability to see every breakdown and still be so completely at the ready to “go” after every horrible thing and Cieras ability to romanticize it to a gross point. Otherwise extremely strong story telling with a good stream of suspects to keep you guessing
pam2375's review against another edition
4.0
This is a twisted tale, for sure. It has some twists, turns and mind benders. It also helps shed light on mental illness.
My thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for this advanced readers copy. This book is schedule for release in January 2020.
My thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for this advanced readers copy. This book is schedule for release in January 2020.
magyklyxdelish's review against another edition
4.0
I love books that deal with mental illness honestly and realistically. For that this book nailed it on the head.
I know what it’s like to have close members in your family with mental illness. To grow up wondering if you will have that too. To question your own thoughts and wonder if you’re being reasonable or crazy.
For all of that this book knocked it out of the park. The dynamic between Sienna and her mother broke my heart and made it swell at the same time. Particularly the part where she begs her mother to take her pills. That scene was like a gut punch.
I wish this book was just about that. The murder and her relationship with her family. The love story/triangle was what took me out of it. I had zero attachment to either Jon or randy. When it focused on them the story lagged for me.
Circling back to her family though, another aspect I appreciated was her relationship with her brother. I too have a brother of similar age difference and I idolized him growing up (and even still today) and saw him as a hero. I loved her relationship with him, it was very realistic and relatable.
Overall I enjoyed this story, I liked the fast pacing, I loved the way the mental illness was handled, I liked the murder mystery itself. However the the parts with Jon and Randy fell flat for me.
4/5 ⭐️
I know what it’s like to have close members in your family with mental illness. To grow up wondering if you will have that too. To question your own thoughts and wonder if you’re being reasonable or crazy.
For all of that this book knocked it out of the park. The dynamic between Sienna and her mother broke my heart and made it swell at the same time. Particularly the part where she begs her mother to take her pills. That scene was like a gut punch.
I wish this book was just about that. The murder and her relationship with her family. The love story/triangle was what took me out of it. I had zero attachment to either Jon or randy. When it focused on them the story lagged for me.
Circling back to her family though, another aspect I appreciated was her relationship with her brother. I too have a brother of similar age difference and I idolized him growing up (and even still today) and saw him as a hero. I loved her relationship with him, it was very realistic and relatable.
Overall I enjoyed this story, I liked the fast pacing, I loved the way the mental illness was handled, I liked the murder mystery itself. However the the parts with Jon and Randy fell flat for me.
4/5 ⭐️
alwaysbooking's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 these two things are not alike stars!
This is not my first Erica Spindler book and I have previously loved all her books I read, and I thought this was going to be the same way. However, I felt maybe this book was not even close to their caliber. I’m not sure if it’s because she was trying to delve so much into the mental illness aspect of the book? Or maybe because she had to many players in the game. I knew from the beginning who did it which usually happens to me, but I still wanted to see the book through. There was a lot of inconsistency on whether she wanted the character to stick with the mental illness side or the mystery side or the romance side. The main female protagonist was very flighty which I could kind of see from her upbringing, maybe. I don’t know I just felt this book was all over the place.
Maybe it was a more me than you kind of a problem, like I said I really have loved her previous books. Did I hype this one up to much in my head… maybe..
This is not my first Erica Spindler book and I have previously loved all her books I read, and I thought this was going to be the same way. However, I felt maybe this book was not even close to their caliber. I’m not sure if it’s because she was trying to delve so much into the mental illness aspect of the book? Or maybe because she had to many players in the game. I knew from the beginning who did it which usually happens to me, but I still wanted to see the book through. There was a lot of inconsistency on whether she wanted the character to stick with the mental illness side or the mystery side or the romance side. The main female protagonist was very flighty which I could kind of see from her upbringing, maybe. I don’t know I just felt this book was all over the place.
Maybe it was a more me than you kind of a problem, like I said I really have loved her previous books. Did I hype this one up to much in my head… maybe..
sarahjane888's review against another edition
4.0
I think I've been reading too many good books lately. This book was good, but I just didn't love it quite as much as some others I've recently read. How many times have people wished for the ability to give half stars?! I think standing alone it still deserves a solid 3.5...maybe 4 stars.
I liked the characters. I found them and their relationships to be believable. The mother's psychological issues added an interesting layer to this murder mystery. The short chapters helped make it a quick read and I was guessing about the murderer right up to the end.
Not earth shattering or life changing, but worth a read.
I liked the characters. I found them and their relationships to be believable. The mother's psychological issues added an interesting layer to this murder mystery. The short chapters helped make it a quick read and I was guessing about the murderer right up to the end.
Not earth shattering or life changing, but worth a read.
melmertsis's review against another edition
3.75
This was my first Erica Spindler book.
What I liked:
- It kept you guessing about who the killer was (or at least doubting you were right)
- I like how it discussed the complications of mental illness and the benefit of seeking help
- I like that Sienna was a chef (random, but I'm not sure I've ever read a book with a female protagonist who is a chef)
What I didn't like:
- Honestly, a lot of the writing. I counted 3 instances of "I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding" a lot of juvenile-sounding words like "Crap," and some really cringey dialogue.
- A lot of characters were briefly introduced/l then never mentioned again? Mimi is mentioned twice (but only talks to Sienna once), the friend whose parents own the restaurant, etc.
Overall, an easy and pretty enjoyable read, but I won't be rushing to read another by this author.
What I liked:
- It kept you guessing about who the killer was (or at least doubting you were right)
- I like how it discussed the complications of mental illness and the benefit of seeking help
- I like that Sienna was a chef (random, but I'm not sure I've ever read a book with a female protagonist who is a chef)
What I didn't like:
- Honestly, a lot of the writing. I counted 3 instances of "I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding" a lot of juvenile-sounding words like "Crap," and some really cringey dialogue.
- A lot of characters were briefly introduced/l then never mentioned again? Mimi is mentioned twice (but only talks to Sienna once), the friend whose parents own the restaurant, etc.
Overall, an easy and pretty enjoyable read, but I won't be rushing to read another by this author.
justjoel's review against another edition
Main character is as dumb as a brick. I hope she died. Painfully.
justlily's review against another edition
I received an ARC of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. The second I have ever won. Hence I am sad that I'm DNFing.
Maybe the finished product will be better but the writing was awful. I'm sorry. I've read Erica Spindler before and it was fantastic! But here, it was formulaic and very cardboard. I felt nothing except confusion and mild annoyance.
If you're into thrillers, I would still try Erica Spindler, but maybe not this book.
Maybe the finished product will be better but the writing was awful. I'm sorry. I've read Erica Spindler before and it was fantastic! But here, it was formulaic and very cardboard. I felt nothing except confusion and mild annoyance.
If you're into thrillers, I would still try Erica Spindler, but maybe not this book.