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arireadsitall's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Murder, and Infidelity
henrygravesprince's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
In the interest of full disclosure, this review is specifically regarding a DRC copy of the book from Net Galley, so while I imagine this eBook was pretty close to finalized, some details may have been changed between my copy and the official release.
If you like fast-paced suspense thrillers with themes of revenge, this book could be up your alley. The strongest aspect of this book is the writing style, which is raw, vivid, and clear. The weakest element at play is the romantic subplot. I think adding a bit more to the book to spend time developing character dynamics between the twists would make it that much stronger. I’m interested in seeing what the author writes next; the writing style here was incredibly potent, so I definitely intend to keep an eye out for her next release.
The plot overall is cohesive and put together well. Conflict was interesting and compelling, with a lot of underlying tension between the lines. The secondary narrative, which was a romance subplot, felt kind of random and underdeveloped. I really enjoyed the structure and flow of the text: the use of perspective modes shifting between Elizabeth (first person) and Brianna (third person), the incorporation of texts and group chat transcripts, and the dual timeline aspect earlier in the book, all enhance the narrative. These structural elements don’t come across as gimmicky, instead feeling very natural and intentional.
The author’s stylistic voice is incredibly well-developed and remains consistent throughout the text. It’s very clear without being plain and has an almost cinematic feel. Exposition was trickled throughout the narrative at first, which didn’t slow the pace, which is appropriately fast and twisty, down much at all. Word choice felt overall very deliberate, employing a strong sense of character, verve, and style. Descriptive language isn’t absent, but it’s very casual and natural in its incorporation, never running the risk of becoming over- or under-written. Grammar, spelling, and syntax were all consistent and clear.
Thematically, this book centers around the concepts of revenge and codependency, as well as how they affect people’s relationships. I would have liked to see a little more exploration the complicated way the endeavor for vengeance irrevocably ties people together—not just Elizabeth’s dependence on Brianna, but more insight on their dynamic from Brianna’s point of view, too, would have enhanced the book for me. The dynamic between Elizabeth and Brianna is potent and fascinating, and I wish there was more time spent exploring that on page. The most interesting and memorable character here is Brianna; she’s incredibly compelling and has a fascinating interiority. Elizabeth is interesting, but less well-rounded. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to feel about David; I wasn’t really invested in him or his relationships.
There was one scene that gave me pause towards the beginning, where Elizabeth is interviewing someone to be her assistant and there’s a very sudden aside about ableism; the inclusion of it seemed out of place and the portrayal of disability in that moment felt satirical. It didn’t feel realistic to me that the woman would disclose that way in an interview, knowing how often employers discriminate against disabled applicants. The following scene has Elizabeth conceding that she was wrong in the situation, and then it’s never really touched on again, so I’m not sure what the author actually intended to convey with it, but I was glad it wasn’t a reoccuring element and I was able to enjoy the book regardless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Minor: Fatphobia, Medical content, and Ableism
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