Scan barcode
dblue236's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Trigger warnings: Medical trauma, gun violence, a few scenes of gore.
Without being too spoilery, I cannot stress enough that to focus on the reason why so many characters in this book are trying to chase down a particular item would be a mistake. When the "big reveal" regarding that is unveiled, it carries all the excitement of a wet fart. Fortunately, I wasn't particularly bothered by that because this was definitely more of an "it's about the journey, not the destination" story. I was roped in immediately and while the reason behind it all turned out to be kind of a flop, I was really invested in the characters and found the story as a whole very entertaining.
Without being too spoilery, I cannot stress enough that to focus on the reason why so many characters in this book are trying to chase down a particular item would be a mistake. When the "big reveal" regarding that is unveiled, it carries all the excitement of a wet fart. Fortunately, I wasn't particularly bothered by that because this was definitely more of an "it's about the journey, not the destination" story. I was roped in immediately and while the reason behind it all turned out to be kind of a flop, I was really invested in the characters and found the story as a whole very entertaining.
Graphic: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, Murder, Gun violence, Blood, Gore, and Medical trauma
Minor: Car accident
wombat_88's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.0
allyreids's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I read this for book club and honestly only finished it so I could fully explain all my complaints with the book during our group discussion.
I always find it fascinating when audiobooks are written from majority female characters POV but narrated by men. However, for this book it made sense as these female characters were so obviously written by a man. This read as a man writing women who had never actually had any interactions of any substance with women.
For instance our first introduction to the character Lisa Boone in the second chapter focuses on the man near her at a bar who is fat, how much she hates fat men and enjoys killing them. It was such a bizarre focus of the chapter that made no sense in the overall context of the rest of the story, other than to make it clear these female characters were written by a man.
The story as a whole was very long winded with a million side stories. The book could have used some serious editing.
I always find it fascinating when audiobooks are written from majority female characters POV but narrated by men. However, for this book it made sense as these female characters were so obviously written by a man. This read as a man writing women who had never actually had any interactions of any substance with women.
For instance our first introduction to the character Lisa Boone in the second chapter focuses on the man near her at a bar who is fat, how much she hates fat men and enjoys killing them. It was such a bizarre focus of the chapter that made no sense in the overall context of the rest of the story, other than to make it clear these female characters were written by a man.
The story as a whole was very long winded with a million side stories. The book could have used some serious editing.
joelette's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.25
This kind of book is right up my alley. I loved this thriller!
jadamichellemather's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mtnest's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
3.25
magyklyxdelish's review against another edition
2.0
1.5 rounded up
This one just dragged too much for me. I couldn’t connect to any of the characters and it just became long winded and repetitive. Extra half point for being interesting enough for me to finish. This one just wasn’t for me.
This one just dragged too much for me. I couldn’t connect to any of the characters and it just became long winded and repetitive. Extra half point for being interesting enough for me to finish. This one just wasn’t for me.
k_lenn's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointingly, especially because I did enjoy the writing, I just couldn't get into this story. At all. Too many side stories, and too many characters that I didn't care about. I'll have to look into other novels by Koryta because If She Wakes surely can't be his best work.
If She Wakes begins with Tara Beckley, a senior in college, driving an important man to an event. A horrific accident occurs, which leaves the man dead and Tara in a coma with locked-in syndrome, seemingly brain dead to onlookers. Abby, an insurance investigator, is hired by the college to see if they could be blamed for the accident. She discovers that the "accident" story doesn't quite line up and it must've been a deliberate attack. Next thing she knows, she's being chased by a teenage hitman named Dax.
The ending wasn't as satisfying as I'd hoped it'd be. The book really could've been shortened, too, since it dragged on at some places.
If She Wakes begins with Tara Beckley, a senior in college, driving an important man to an event. A horrific accident occurs, which leaves the man dead and Tara in a coma with locked-in syndrome, seemingly brain dead to onlookers. Abby, an insurance investigator, is hired by the college to see if they could be blamed for the accident. She discovers that the "accident" story doesn't quite line up and it must've been a deliberate attack. Next thing she knows, she's being chased by a teenage hitman named Dax.
The ending wasn't as satisfying as I'd hoped it'd be. The book really could've been shortened, too, since it dragged on at some places.
logicallivvy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5