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isla_reads_now's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
siakou's review against another edition
3.0
I don’t know I’m conflicted.
I started reading this right after finishing the first book, without reading the synopsis, thinking it’d be pretty straightforward but nope I was instantly confused.
Fist of all, the beginning was really weird.
Introducing new characters without context straight off the bat with Henry’s thoughts along the lines of "remember when we wrapped up the last book with me telling everyone I was coming along for the safari to find my long lost obsession? Well guess what I’m really going bitches!".
Then, I’ve read too many procedural crime novels to be content with this shit Lisa Jewell refers to as "police" but I played ball for the sake of moving things forward but my god this was ridiculous.
That interrogation scene with Henry at Chicago, I fully thought the cop would call him out on knowing how the victim died when he never told him and was shocked that he never did! That along with the passport fiasco, I couldn’t even!!
I didn’t give a single fuck about Michael or Rachel.
I gave a fuck about how Libby’s life turned out though, but we hardly got a glimpse.
I gave a fuck about Henry because I couldn’t figure out if he was gonna be the greatest villain or have the greatest gay redemption arc where he reunites with his first crush and live happily ever after but guess what, we have no idea.
I still don’t understand the writing in that reunion scene and I still don’t get the creepy double meaning ending.
I think someone at least should have taken the blame and faced the music, Henry preferably as it’s completely not logical for everyone to be off the hook and live happily ever after.
But despite all the issues I had, at the same time I really couldn’t turn pages fast enough so wtf is this sorcery?
Obviously it could have been a million times better but I just don’t understand why I still liked it.
The logical part of my brain can’t accept the million plot holes and the tidy wrapped ending but at the same time I was seriously rooting for those characters.
I started reading this right after finishing the first book, without reading the synopsis, thinking it’d be pretty straightforward but nope I was instantly confused.
Fist of all, the beginning was really weird.
Introducing new characters without context straight off the bat with Henry’s thoughts along the lines of "remember when we wrapped up the last book with me telling everyone I was coming along for the safari to find my long lost obsession? Well guess what I’m really going bitches!".
Then, I’ve read too many procedural crime novels to be content with this shit Lisa Jewell refers to as "police" but I played ball for the sake of moving things forward but my god this was ridiculous.
That interrogation scene with Henry at Chicago, I fully thought the cop would call him out on knowing how the victim died when he never told him and was shocked that he never did! That along with the passport fiasco, I couldn’t even!!
I didn’t give a single fuck about Michael or Rachel.
I gave a fuck about how Libby’s life turned out though, but we hardly got a glimpse.
I gave a fuck about Henry because I couldn’t figure out if he was gonna be the greatest villain or have the greatest gay redemption arc where he reunites with his first crush and live happily ever after but guess what, we have no idea.
I still don’t understand the writing in that reunion scene and I still don’t get the creepy double meaning ending.
I think someone at least should have taken the blame and faced the music, Henry preferably as it’s completely not logical for everyone to be off the hook and live happily ever after.
But despite all the issues I had, at the same time I really couldn’t turn pages fast enough so wtf is this sorcery?
Obviously it could have been a million times better but I just don’t understand why I still liked it.
The logical part of my brain can’t accept the million plot holes and the tidy wrapped ending but at the same time I was seriously rooting for those characters.
stormyanja's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
nenation's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
belle2022's review against another edition
4.0
What an amazing and riveting sequel! The way the first book left off I definitely did have some questions because it all felt too good to be true. There were quite a few I left questions to which we did get the answers too!
We open with a body, a body we recognise from book 1. And it’s starting to lead into a murder investigation which of course leads the police to start poking their noses into the mystery of 16 Cheyne Walk.
I didn’t think Rachel would play a part in this book but the horror of her past with Micheal was really shocking and I couldn’t help but be transfixed by her life.
Henry is literally one of the most interesting characters I have EVER read. His mind is so strange but so puzzling too. He was a huge reason I loved the first book and it’s the exact same in book 2. There’s just something about him and reading about what goes on in his head…
Overall, an amazing sequel that had me hooked and trying to piece things together with the characters. Book 1 was incredible and I highly recommend! 4.5 stars. Thank you to the publisher for this free copy for review ✨
We open with a body, a body we recognise from book 1. And it’s starting to lead into a murder investigation which of course leads the police to start poking their noses into the mystery of 16 Cheyne Walk.
I didn’t think Rachel would play a part in this book but the horror of her past with Micheal was really shocking and I couldn’t help but be transfixed by her life.
Henry is literally one of the most interesting characters I have EVER read. His mind is so strange but so puzzling too. He was a huge reason I loved the first book and it’s the exact same in book 2. There’s just something about him and reading about what goes on in his head…
Overall, an amazing sequel that had me hooked and trying to piece things together with the characters. Book 1 was incredible and I highly recommend! 4.5 stars. Thank you to the publisher for this free copy for review ✨
ninasbooks57's review against another edition
5.0
Wow I couldn’t put this book down!! It took a short time to get all the characters set in my mind but I’m glad I kept at it!! I loved how characters from her first book “The Family Upstairs” were continued in this book!! Even though it probably wasn’t a correct ending I found myself being glad!!! Now we need a third book!
Language was rough. That’s my only complaint!
Language was rough. That’s my only complaint!
janrich2's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
naimar's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I finished this book in one day on an international flight. I didn’t know it was a sequel when I checked it out, and had no way to search it up until after I was already mostly finished. I think part of my disappointment and feeling that the book was incomplete definitely came from me never reading the first book, however I think regardless the ending felt rushed and too neat.