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bookishpip's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Grief, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Child abuse
heykimi's review against another edition
2.0
*SPOILER*
It was too long when it was too obvious who did it. You would get it immediately because the apple tree. It was unnecessarily long, like prolonging-my-agony long. Reading about Joanna was a sad roller coaster ride.
What I love about this is the human + pet connection.
It was too long when it was too obvious who did it. You would get it immediately because the apple tree. It was unnecessarily long, like prolonging-my-agony long. Reading about Joanna was a sad roller coaster ride.
What I love about this is the human + pet connection.
lisaar91's review against another edition
2.0
This was okay. I finished it. But it took a long time.
It spans over quite a long period of time so you just get into one bit and then it’s like a few months later.
I also think the ending was predictable but that might just be me!
It spans over quite a long period of time so you just get into one bit and then it’s like a few months later.
I also think the ending was predictable but that might just be me!
ali_w15's review against another edition
4.0
Couldn't put it down but guessed the real murderer too soon before the end
judithdcollins's review against another edition
4.0
A special thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
THE BONES OF YOU, dark psychological suspense thriller debut by Debbie Howells, a haunting novel of deceit and lies. A young girl’s murder and one woman’s obsession with uncovering dark secrets in this idyllic English village, drawing you into this intriguing world of mystery. A taunt chilling novel which will keep you page-turning into the wee hours of the morning.
“Stars are the souls of dead poets, but to become a star, you have to die.” Vincent van Gogh
“It’s true, what they say about when you die. In the final, terrible seconds of my life, eighteen years flash before my eyes. It’s when I understand the difference between life and death.”
Rosie has gone missing. . as the book opens. Rosie is looking at the movie of her life. THE BONES OF YOU, is an intense character driven novel---readers get an inside glimpse into all the people surrounding the life of Rosie Anderson, an eighteen-year-old teen who has been murdered. Their dark secrets, lies, fears, and deceit (and there are many) are slowly unraveled piece by piece.
Rosie “There are always two camps. Good and evil. Beautiful and ugly. Winners and losers. Andersons are never losers, just as they’re never anything less than perfect."
Gripping and tragic, flashing back and forth from Rosie, narrator, as she plays back the events of her life, to Kate, narrator, and sister, Delphine--readers slowly learn of all the suspects which touched Rosie’s short life.
Living on opposite sides of a small village with daughters at the same school, Jo and Kate belong to a group of mothers who meet now and then. Jo is married to Neal, a renowned journalist, who reports from the middle of war zones. They have a nice house and nice cars; however, Kate is drawn to Rosie. She is the same age as her daughter Grace. Rosie is also deeply drawn to Kate and her horses.
Rosie is a shy girl, quieter than Grace and share a love of horses with Kate. A feeling of foreboding hits Kate, a fear, a raw panic engulfs her and she is terrified, and she senses Rosie’s voice screaming her name. Rosie was murdered. Her body was discovered in the woods. Evidence of struggle, suffering several blows to her head, before being stabbed viciously a number of times. She was found in the same clearing where Kate fell off horse Zappa and she did not see her.
Everyone begins to speculate the reasons behind her murder. An unnamed boyfriend, the mother, perhaps the father with many faces, the charming one, or friends? A stranger? Are they all suspects? Behind the façade of constrained smiles and familiar exchanges there is a shift in the village. They could have a murderer in their midst.
A secret boyfriend, Alex, a younger sister, Delphine, Jo, the mother, Neal, the father, Emma or Grace, friends, Kate, perhaps? “Lies are like dough, or malignant tumors. They get bigger.“ Kate becomes almost obsessive about finding the murderer and the Anderson family. While she desires to comfort her friend, Jo, her husband, Angus is not thrilled with her involvement.
My favorite parts were those from Rosie; her words are haunting, yet magical, leading to the explosive finale; the story behind the story. The part of the story no one knows. Hate, lies, toxic behavior, and the truth.
Written in an almost lyrical prose, clever and scary, in the theme of Lovely Bones and Reconstructing Amelia, a haunting debut for lovers of psycho-thrillers and Gone Girl. British author Howells is an author to follow!
JDCMustReadBooks
**Blog Tour Stop June 11.** Join Me Here!
THE BONES OF YOU, dark psychological suspense thriller debut by Debbie Howells, a haunting novel of deceit and lies. A young girl’s murder and one woman’s obsession with uncovering dark secrets in this idyllic English village, drawing you into this intriguing world of mystery. A taunt chilling novel which will keep you page-turning into the wee hours of the morning.
“Stars are the souls of dead poets, but to become a star, you have to die.” Vincent van Gogh
“It’s true, what they say about when you die. In the final, terrible seconds of my life, eighteen years flash before my eyes. It’s when I understand the difference between life and death.”
Rosie has gone missing. . as the book opens. Rosie is looking at the movie of her life. THE BONES OF YOU, is an intense character driven novel---readers get an inside glimpse into all the people surrounding the life of Rosie Anderson, an eighteen-year-old teen who has been murdered. Their dark secrets, lies, fears, and deceit (and there are many) are slowly unraveled piece by piece.
Rosie “There are always two camps. Good and evil. Beautiful and ugly. Winners and losers. Andersons are never losers, just as they’re never anything less than perfect."
Gripping and tragic, flashing back and forth from Rosie, narrator, as she plays back the events of her life, to Kate, narrator, and sister, Delphine--readers slowly learn of all the suspects which touched Rosie’s short life.
Living on opposite sides of a small village with daughters at the same school, Jo and Kate belong to a group of mothers who meet now and then. Jo is married to Neal, a renowned journalist, who reports from the middle of war zones. They have a nice house and nice cars; however, Kate is drawn to Rosie. She is the same age as her daughter Grace. Rosie is also deeply drawn to Kate and her horses.
Rosie is a shy girl, quieter than Grace and share a love of horses with Kate. A feeling of foreboding hits Kate, a fear, a raw panic engulfs her and she is terrified, and she senses Rosie’s voice screaming her name. Rosie was murdered. Her body was discovered in the woods. Evidence of struggle, suffering several blows to her head, before being stabbed viciously a number of times. She was found in the same clearing where Kate fell off horse Zappa and she did not see her.
Everyone begins to speculate the reasons behind her murder. An unnamed boyfriend, the mother, perhaps the father with many faces, the charming one, or friends? A stranger? Are they all suspects? Behind the façade of constrained smiles and familiar exchanges there is a shift in the village. They could have a murderer in their midst.
A secret boyfriend, Alex, a younger sister, Delphine, Jo, the mother, Neal, the father, Emma or Grace, friends, Kate, perhaps? “Lies are like dough, or malignant tumors. They get bigger.“ Kate becomes almost obsessive about finding the murderer and the Anderson family. While she desires to comfort her friend, Jo, her husband, Angus is not thrilled with her involvement.
My favorite parts were those from Rosie; her words are haunting, yet magical, leading to the explosive finale; the story behind the story. The part of the story no one knows. Hate, lies, toxic behavior, and the truth.
Written in an almost lyrical prose, clever and scary, in the theme of Lovely Bones and Reconstructing Amelia, a haunting debut for lovers of psycho-thrillers and Gone Girl. British author Howells is an author to follow!
JDCMustReadBooks
**Blog Tour Stop June 11.** Join Me Here!
sarmiller's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lucymt92's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Alcoholism, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse and Child death
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
emilycharlotte87's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn't put this book down, read it over 3 days. I found it interesting. Always wanted to know what was going to happen next, it's good as its in the future with bits in the past too, so you know what's made the characters act a certain way. I thought it was gripping!
jessi_lou95's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this. Great thriller. It does have some triggers though: child abuse, bulimia, alcohol misuse, rape, suicide attempt, pregnancy loss.
chloexojones's review against another edition
5.0
So on a scale on 1 to messed up, how messed up is this book? I'd say it ends up being fairly messed up.
“Everyone has a destiny. Rosie told me that. A future that already exists – hidden from us but still there, in the future – and each thing that happens to us, each choice we make, each person in our life takes us closer to it.”
Okay so by 3/4 of the way through I could guss the ending however it was still a very enjoyable read. This is one of those books that once you pick up you just want to manically read the whole thing and find out who did what and what happened where.
Fair warning, this book gets pretty deep and touches on some very series issues of domestic and sexual abuse.
“Death casts its shadow, leaving our hearts sad and tainting our world with fear.”
“Everyone has a destiny. Rosie told me that. A future that already exists – hidden from us but still there, in the future – and each thing that happens to us, each choice we make, each person in our life takes us closer to it.”
Okay so by 3/4 of the way through I could guss the ending however it was still a very enjoyable read. This is one of those books that once you pick up you just want to manically read the whole thing and find out who did what and what happened where.
Fair warning, this book gets pretty deep and touches on some very series issues of domestic and sexual abuse.
“Death casts its shadow, leaving our hearts sad and tainting our world with fear.”