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juanat77's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking, Animal death, Cursing, Vomit, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Murder, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Violence, Bullying, Car accident, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Child death, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Grief
liblibby's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
Loved this book. Sucked me right in from the very beginning. I regret that I put this book off for so long.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Grief
Minor: Sexual assault
sjexley's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
Our girl Margot has gone through some shit. Her best friend dies 3 weeks after HS graduation and she spends her frosh year at college in a depression. So when popular Lucy randomly invites her to live with her next to a frat house for soph year, Margot jumps at the chance. Things are amazing until their friend is murdered and Lucy goes missing. To me, this was a great combo of nostalgia and the yearning to belong, all while I was trying to solve the murder of the frat boy next door. Great beach read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Mental illness
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Sexual assault
enichols08's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
bckteague's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
My favorite by this author so far. I overall found the protagonist more likable, interesting and nuanced than her other female leads. Due to the college setting it could lead a bit more YA.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
abbeyroad1410's review
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.25
I have qualms with this book, but they are highly specific personal qualms and not at all related to the plot nor the writing style which were both excellent.
I will start with my issue first just to get it out of the way. As someone who has lived in South Carolina their whole life and attended a small, private liberal arts college in South Carolina, I can attest to the fact that no private college in South Carolina is set up in this way. Typically, the students are kept on campus and Greek Life is heavily monitored (trust me I fielded the calls from angry alumni regarding this). The school in this book more closely mirrored a large southern school like a College of Charleston. It makes sense when you read the acknowledgements and realize it was based on UGA. It simply took me a second to get over this.
On the other hand, this book has some of the most compelling main characters I have ever read. The women are morally complex, and they only get more so as their backstory is revealed. Margot, the narrator, seems like she is going to be fairly bland and have the story happen around her at the beginning of the novel. She even portrays herself this way, using terms such a malleable. However, by the end, reader learn she is more involved in her own story than you would think.
Additionally, Stacy Willingham does a good job of dealing with themes such as moral greyness, the fear of being left out or not fitting in, and jealousy. It also tackles the pressure of taking on responsibility of those around you without being asked. Her emphasis on these common fears and complexities of every day life makes the novel that much more compelling and frightening. It allows readers to see how anyone (including themselves) could easily take on the villain role.
Overall, this novel is thrilling and is worth the read just for the last few chapters alone. It is brilliantly written. However, if you went to a small, liberal arts school, you may need to work a bit harder to suspend your disbelief.
I will start with my issue first just to get it out of the way. As someone who has lived in South Carolina their whole life and attended a small, private liberal arts college in South Carolina, I can attest to the fact that no private college in South Carolina is set up in this way. Typically, the students are kept on campus and Greek Life is heavily monitored (trust me I fielded the calls from angry alumni regarding this). The school in this book more closely mirrored a large southern school like a College of Charleston. It makes sense when you read the acknowledgements and realize it was based on UGA. It simply took me a second to get over this.
On the other hand, this book has some of the most compelling main characters I have ever read. The women are morally complex, and they only get more so as their backstory is revealed. Margot, the narrator, seems like she is going to be fairly bland and have the story happen around her at the beginning of the novel. She even portrays herself this way, using terms such a malleable. However, by the end, reader learn she is more involved in her own story than you would think.
Additionally, Stacy Willingham does a good job of dealing with themes such as moral greyness, the fear of being left out or not fitting in, and jealousy. It also tackles the pressure of taking on responsibility of those around you without being asked. Her emphasis on these common fears and complexities of every day life makes the novel that much more compelling and frightening. It allows readers to see how anyone (including themselves) could easily take on the villain role.
Overall, this novel is thrilling and is worth the read just for the last few chapters alone. It is brilliantly written. However, if you went to a small, liberal arts school, you may need to work a bit harder to suspend your disbelief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Eating disorder and Sexual assault
ashleycote's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Alcohol
Moderate: Murder, Abandonment, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual assault and Car accident
srullo's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-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? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
harleyglynn's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
dblue236's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Trigger warning: Brief discussion of sexual assault and stalking.
A Flicker in the Dark set the bar really high for this author, and I can honestly say this book still didn't quite get there. Having said that, it was a really solid read and I was really intrigued by the characters and didn't see several of the twists coming. Sometimes I felt like the plot beat around the bush a little more than it needed to, but overall this was a solid mystery/thriller and I'm glad I had the chance to pick it up.
A Flicker in the Dark set the bar really high for this author, and I can honestly say this book still didn't quite get there. Having said that, it was a really solid read and I was really intrigued by the characters and didn't see several of the twists coming. Sometimes I felt like the plot beat around the bush a little more than it needed to, but overall this was a solid mystery/thriller and I'm glad I had the chance to pick it up.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault