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savvyrosereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Jules is facing rock bottom when she agrees to move into a luxury apartment building as a paid house sitter. But when another sitter goes missing, Jules quickly realizes all is not what it seems…
I want to preface this by saying I’m a huge Riley Sager fan, and count some of his other books among my favorite thrillers. I think he’s super talented and he’ll always be an auto-buy author for me on the strength of some of his other work. Unfortunately, this one absolutely did not land for me.
I was bored for 99% of this book (the 1% was basically the very beginning, when I was waiting for the premise to set up, and my enthusiasm didn’t even return for the ending and final reveals). The FMC made some absolutely ridiculous choices and decisions, and I didn’t really like any of the other characters. I also never felt super invested in the mystery aspect of the plot, and I thought the big reveal was pretty bonkers and didn’t have great foundation laid to suggest it throughout.
I know a lot of people do love this one, so it may well have been a “me” problem…but the bottom line is if you’re reaching for a Riley Sager I personally think there are much better ones to grab.
CW: Death/death of parent/suicide; fire; blood/injury/violence
Graphic: Suicide, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death of parent, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Violence, and Death
dizpig's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Body horror, Drug use, Death of parent, Classism, Death, Blood, Car accident, Forced institutionalization, and Murder
Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Dementia, Body horror, and Cancer
Minor: Stalking
doodlebeanz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I could see the plot twist a mile away, nearly figuring it all out before I even got halfway through the book which was odd considering Only One Left kept me guessing until the bitter end... maybe I put too much pressure on this book and comparing it to it's book sibling is wrong to do, but it's impossible for me not to do!
This book, like many thrillers nowadays, was tied up nicely and too quickly.
That being said, the book was good; it kept me entertained and I couldn't put it down, I also didn't find myself skimming as much as I usually do. It didn't scare me, it didn't really freak me out *too* much, but the writing of such a spooky and creepy building was incredible! I also love that it's based on the Dakota since I see that building daily and now it looks so different to me lol!
Graphic: Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Classism, Confinement, Kidnapping, Murder, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
astoriareader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
- Jules is a 25 year old, and she has had a bit of a rough patch. She was recently let go from her job, and she is having money problems. Her live-in (now) ex-boyfriend cheated on her, so she moved in with her friend, Chloe. She doesn’t have any family left, as her parents died & her sister Jane disappeared
- She gets the opportunity to apartment sit at a fancy building in Manhattan for $4000/month for 3 months, but there is a catch. She isn’t allowed to have any guests, and she is required to spend the night there every night. There are some other rules re: secrecy as well.
- There are a few other sitters living in the building. Jules befriends one, and shortly thereafter, the other sitter is MIA.
- What’s going on in the apartment building? What happened to the other sitter?
- I got through this quickly, and it is an easy read. The writing is fine, but there isn’t very much depth or character development.
- The ending was mehhh. Not great, not terrible.
- It is a slow burn, but pretty predictable.
- The main character overlooks so many things, and she comes off as a stereotypical woman written by a man in a thriller novel.
- Side note: I am intrigued at this point as to why Riley Sager always writes women as the MCs. He has written some books that I love, and some that I don’t.
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Medical content, and Suicide
kiwichill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Violence, Self harm, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Terminal illness, Medical content, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Car accident, Cursing, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
badwolfbae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Minor: Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Terminal illness, Medical content, Death of parent, Death, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Confinement
woahemjo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Murder and Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Kidnapping, Cursing, Death of parent, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cannibalism and Cancer
thejenstamps's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
But this one? Oh my goodness!
Unlike his other books, I figured out the "who" and part the "how" but good gracious, I never suspected the "why" and the details of the "how." How intricate and far back and involved everything and everyone was. Mind. Blown.
This dark and twisted book will take you on a wild ride that you'll simultaneously want to stop and also not stop.
If you like horror thrillers (because this book is more horror than not), I recommend it 100%
I kind of feel like this should be a mini series on Netflix.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Classism
Moderate: Murder, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Kidnapping
charlottesometimesreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Graphic: Medical content and Violence
Moderate: Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, and Medical content
aprilblues348's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, Murder, Classism, Death of parent, Self harm, Violence, Blood, and Death
Minor: Alcohol