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karlyo83's review
2.0
Little Rumours is the first novel I have read by Bryony Pearce and I thought the premise of the book was very interesting.
Three mothers each with their own story to tell or to hide, three children who are best friends by the end of the day one child won't make it home. Quite a chilling story of a missing child in a weird village that doesn't accept 'incomers'. The group of PTA mums that feel they own the community was kind of annoying and they got well in the way of the police, which I can actually see happening in real life.
The story is told from three perspectives Kelly (a woman with a dark secret), Naomi (a woman who has never left the village and holds a lot of sadness) and Aleena (a Muslim woman who married a local and just wants some friends). I find this style very appealing and enjoyed finding out more and more about each of the characters. Spun throughout is a host of other characters that make you wonder who took this child.
There were a number of red herrings along the way but ultimately I kind of guessed who did it but couldn't guess why which threw me off. For me there were some likeable characters (Aleena) and some very unlikable characters (Naomi and Fi)
When I read the twist of who and why this child was taken it just seemed very convoluted and not very believable. While I enjoyed the majority of the story I felt it dragged on a bit and I wasn't a fan of the ending.
I want to thank NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for an advanced copy for my honest review.
Three mothers each with their own story to tell or to hide, three children who are best friends by the end of the day one child won't make it home. Quite a chilling story of a missing child in a weird village that doesn't accept 'incomers'. The group of PTA mums that feel they own the community was kind of annoying and they got well in the way of the police, which I can actually see happening in real life.
The story is told from three perspectives Kelly (a woman with a dark secret), Naomi (a woman who has never left the village and holds a lot of sadness) and Aleena (a Muslim woman who married a local and just wants some friends). I find this style very appealing and enjoyed finding out more and more about each of the characters. Spun throughout is a host of other characters that make you wonder who took this child.
There were a number of red herrings along the way but ultimately I kind of guessed who did it but couldn't guess why which threw me off. For me there were some likeable characters (Aleena) and some very unlikable characters (Naomi and Fi)
When I read the twist of who and why this child was taken it just seemed very convoluted and not very believable. While I enjoyed the majority of the story I felt it dragged on a bit and I wasn't a fan of the ending.
I want to thank NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for an advanced copy for my honest review.
abookishpenguin's review
5.0
Kelly is an outcast. A secret prevents her from becoming close with those in the town she has moved to. Her son, Joe, has made friends easily.
Areema moved there recently to support her husband and look after her mother in law. Three years, and still no friends. Just whispers. Her daughter Mia has no such trouble.
Naoimi has lived in the town all her life. She believes in her picture-perfect life. Her son, Leon, is happy with his two best friends: Joe and Mia.
Until one of the children doesn't come home.
This was intense. This was the sort of book that needed to be read in one sitting. It was so so difficult to tear myself away from this to do boring things like work and eat. While I guessed the perpetrator fairly early on, I still as desperately invested in the characters as their worlds turned upside down. And there were still plenty of surprises left in store that created a really rich, thrilling story.
The three main characters all had their own demons to face, before the child went missing. I found Naomi grated a little at first, but as her personal circumstances were revealed I did start to feel sorry for her. Aleema and Kelly were both fantastically strong, deep characters. I really appreciate the diversity of the cast used. Placing Aleema in a predominantly white area allowed the author to explore wider themes including racism.
Similarly, a lot of the other themes explored in this story were heavy: child loss, S.A., emotional abuse. It's certainly not an easy book and I got quite emotional at points, but everything is handled with sensitivity. Nothing felt gratuitous about this story either - everything that happened did forward the story. It's a testament to the research that can go in to a book to creatvsuch a believable, relatable story and cast of characters.
I don't want to say too much more because I really think you should read this if you like thrillers, but I will say this had quite the satisfying ending. Often I find the ending can tip a 4 star book to a 5 star book if it's good enough and, had I not already loved this one, this ending would have done that.
Areema moved there recently to support her husband and look after her mother in law. Three years, and still no friends. Just whispers. Her daughter Mia has no such trouble.
Naoimi has lived in the town all her life. She believes in her picture-perfect life. Her son, Leon, is happy with his two best friends: Joe and Mia.
Until one of the children doesn't come home.
This was intense. This was the sort of book that needed to be read in one sitting. It was so so difficult to tear myself away from this to do boring things like work and eat. While I guessed the perpetrator fairly early on, I still as desperately invested in the characters as their worlds turned upside down. And there were still plenty of surprises left in store that created a really rich, thrilling story.
The three main characters all had their own demons to face, before the child went missing. I found Naomi grated a little at first, but as her personal circumstances were revealed I did start to feel sorry for her. Aleema and Kelly were both fantastically strong, deep characters. I really appreciate the diversity of the cast used. Placing Aleema in a predominantly white area allowed the author to explore wider themes including racism.
Similarly, a lot of the other themes explored in this story were heavy: child loss, S.A., emotional abuse. It's certainly not an easy book and I got quite emotional at points, but everything is handled with sensitivity. Nothing felt gratuitous about this story either - everything that happened did forward the story. It's a testament to the research that can go in to a book to creatvsuch a believable, relatable story and cast of characters.
I don't want to say too much more because I really think you should read this if you like thrillers, but I will say this had quite the satisfying ending. Often I find the ending can tip a 4 star book to a 5 star book if it's good enough and, had I not already loved this one, this ending would have done that.
emily_loves_2_read's review
4.0
Little Rumours
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (Rounded Up to 4 Stars for Rating)
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 6/21/22
Author: Bryony Pearce
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 416
Goodreads Rating: 4.08
TW ⚠️: Child abduction, abuse, and bullying.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing a digital copy of the book for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.
Synopsis: In a small town, three mothers wave goodbye to their children at the school gates. Naomi has lived Exton Cross since she was born, and she knows everything there is to know about everyone. Aleema hates it here. It’s been three years and she’s yet to make a single friend. And she’s sure the other mums whisper about her behind her back. Kelly is an outsider. New to the town, she arrives with nothing but her son – and a dark secret. By the end of the school day, one of their children will be missing. And rumours will swirl that one of them knows why…
My Thoughts: The book is narrated by Naomi, Aleema, and Kelly, from their perspectives, which was nice to see the different views. The story starts slowly, as the facts and backstories are filled, and then heats up to a page turner. Bare in mind that the first few chapters are the backstories with a lot of family members being thrown at you, I wrote them down so I could remember who and what. The characters are developed really well with depth, intensity, and then you have likable characters and then characters that annoy you or you don’t like. The author’s writing was intense, twisty, and left you with a sense of despair and uneasiness, especially considering this is a missing child book. The plot was kind of complex and difficult to understand and I had to reread a few sections for it to click. Overall, I did enjoy this read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (Rounded Up to 4 Stars for Rating)
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 6/21/22
Author: Bryony Pearce
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 416
Goodreads Rating: 4.08
TW ⚠️: Child abduction, abuse, and bullying.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing a digital copy of the book for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.
Synopsis: In a small town, three mothers wave goodbye to their children at the school gates. Naomi has lived Exton Cross since she was born, and she knows everything there is to know about everyone. Aleema hates it here. It’s been three years and she’s yet to make a single friend. And she’s sure the other mums whisper about her behind her back. Kelly is an outsider. New to the town, she arrives with nothing but her son – and a dark secret. By the end of the school day, one of their children will be missing. And rumours will swirl that one of them knows why…
My Thoughts: The book is narrated by Naomi, Aleema, and Kelly, from their perspectives, which was nice to see the different views. The story starts slowly, as the facts and backstories are filled, and then heats up to a page turner. Bare in mind that the first few chapters are the backstories with a lot of family members being thrown at you, I wrote them down so I could remember who and what. The characters are developed really well with depth, intensity, and then you have likable characters and then characters that annoy you or you don’t like. The author’s writing was intense, twisty, and left you with a sense of despair and uneasiness, especially considering this is a missing child book. The plot was kind of complex and difficult to understand and I had to reread a few sections for it to click. Overall, I did enjoy this read.
markreadsbooks_sg's review
4.0
I got Little Rumours by Bryony Pearce, for free from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.
Little Rumours tells the story of how a small village reacts when a young child goes missing and people’s secrets and prejudices come out.
In simple terms Little Rumours tells the story of a missing child in a remote village, in England, however this to me is not the main part of the book.
This is because as a novel Little Rumours concentrates on how a close village can be very close, making it difficult for a stranger to break into friendships and how that prejudice can lead to people making the wrong choices.
While the story is the story of a missing child. The main characters are the parents of her missing child and their two friends. All of whom have their own secrets, that they hide or ignore to make the world think that they are OK in their lives.
While I Did Think that Little Rumours was a cut above the average missing persons novel, its ending was little bit abrupt for me. I do not mean that the ending was completely ruined, or the solution was unsatisfactory.
I just felt that it was a bit messy and rushed, that when Little Rumours was taken to the editor that they loved the book, but it was to long, so the decided to do the cuts at the end but keep the same solution.
Having said that Little Rumours by Bryony Pearce is still a novel that I will still recommend for some one who enjoys this type of novel.
Little Rumours tells the story of how a small village reacts when a young child goes missing and people’s secrets and prejudices come out.
In simple terms Little Rumours tells the story of a missing child in a remote village, in England, however this to me is not the main part of the book.
This is because as a novel Little Rumours concentrates on how a close village can be very close, making it difficult for a stranger to break into friendships and how that prejudice can lead to people making the wrong choices.
While the story is the story of a missing child. The main characters are the parents of her missing child and their two friends. All of whom have their own secrets, that they hide or ignore to make the world think that they are OK in their lives.
While I Did Think that Little Rumours was a cut above the average missing persons novel, its ending was little bit abrupt for me. I do not mean that the ending was completely ruined, or the solution was unsatisfactory.
I just felt that it was a bit messy and rushed, that when Little Rumours was taken to the editor that they loved the book, but it was to long, so the decided to do the cuts at the end but keep the same solution.
Having said that Little Rumours by Bryony Pearce is still a novel that I will still recommend for some one who enjoys this type of novel.
jesseknx's review
4.0
Firstly, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced reader copy of this book.
Three mothers, each with their own struggles and secrets. One of their children go missing and the whole town bands together to find the missing child. Can these ladies be friends and get to the bottom of where this child is?
A great storyline, with plenty of depth for each character. With trusts and turns there are mostly unexpected, the ending wasn’t overly surprising. A good end to the book still.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
Three mothers, each with their own struggles and secrets. One of their children go missing and the whole town bands together to find the missing child. Can these ladies be friends and get to the bottom of where this child is?
A great storyline, with plenty of depth for each character. With trusts and turns there are mostly unexpected, the ending wasn’t overly surprising. A good end to the book still.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
ladyophelia's review
4.0
Honestly, I liked this book. It was difficult to get through at points, but it was a good read overall. Honestly, I hated the villagers and was glad when all of the POV characters moved out. I didn't really feel bad for Naomi though, as she kept causing problems.
corinnab's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
3.5
mystikai's review
5.0
Wow, this book really grabbed me.
Little Rumours is told from three mums’ points of view, Naomi has lived in Exton Cross all of her life and knows everything and everyone. Aleema has lived there for three years and has not a single friend and Kelly is the outsider and has a past that she doesn’t want anyone else to know.
One of the children goes missing and the police are trying to find where she is and why she has been taken we get to delve into the three women’s lives more and learn that not all is as it seems and they all have secrets.
The book flowed at an even pace and we got to know each of the characters well, there were times when I liked them all, times when I didn’t quite get what they were about, and times when I didn’t like them at all.
The finale was very good and unexpected. What a brilliant book, I will definitely be looking out for more from this author!
Little Rumours is told from three mums’ points of view, Naomi has lived in Exton Cross all of her life and knows everything and everyone. Aleema has lived there for three years and has not a single friend and Kelly is the outsider and has a past that she doesn’t want anyone else to know.
One of the children goes missing and the police are trying to find where she is and why she has been taken we get to delve into the three women’s lives more and learn that not all is as it seems and they all have secrets.
The book flowed at an even pace and we got to know each of the characters well, there were times when I liked them all, times when I didn’t quite get what they were about, and times when I didn’t like them at all.
The finale was very good and unexpected. What a brilliant book, I will definitely be looking out for more from this author!
katiewhocanread's review
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Kidnapping, and Confinement
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Islamophobia, Rape, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, Vomit, Animal death, Violence, Mental illness, and Racism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, and Homophobia