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cthompson00297's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
joyfleming's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? No
3.75
trin's review against another edition
1.0
Everyone seems to love this book, and I really don't get it.
Well, that's not precisely true: I do see the appeal -- this is a domestic thriller that is well-crafted in its way. It's topical. It's slick.
But it didn't work for me. I found the writing very flat and cold -- there's almost no emotion between these pages. That may have been a stylistic choice on Abbott's part, to show how broken and empty her characters are, but it was also very boring. Obvious/annoying comparison: [a:Gillian Flynn|2383|Gillian Flynn|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1232123231p2/2383.jpg]'s books, at their best, have a heat and a rage to them that's fascinating to me -- and, at least before she kicked off the current thriller trend, that felt so fresh. Emotionally dead people being emotionally dead, though -- that's been done and done and done.
Nothing about this book was surprising. You know going in exactly who the culprit is, and the why is about as expected as it can be. I also could have really done without various characters being used as mouthpieces for Profound Truths about Parenting and Being a Teenage Girl Today. See, this is another place where feelings might have been more effective than essentially capslocked MESSAGES.
Abbott is clearly skillful but judging on this book, hers are not skills in which I am particularly interested. I probably still ought to give this two stars rather than one, but I am feeling cranky and contrary.
Well, that's not precisely true: I do see the appeal -- this is a domestic thriller that is well-crafted in its way. It's topical. It's slick.
But it didn't work for me. I found the writing very flat and cold -- there's almost no emotion between these pages. That may have been a stylistic choice on Abbott's part, to show how broken and empty her characters are, but it was also very boring. Obvious/annoying comparison: [a:Gillian Flynn|2383|Gillian Flynn|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1232123231p2/2383.jpg]'s books, at their best, have a heat and a rage to them that's fascinating to me -- and, at least before she kicked off the current thriller trend, that felt so fresh. Emotionally dead people being emotionally dead, though -- that's been done and done and done.
Nothing about this book was surprising. You know going in exactly who the culprit is, and the why is about as expected as it can be. I also could have really done without various characters being used as mouthpieces for Profound Truths about Parenting and Being a Teenage Girl Today. See, this is another place where feelings might have been more effective than essentially capslocked MESSAGES.
Abbott is clearly skillful but judging on this book, hers are not skills in which I am particularly interested. I probably still ought to give this two stars rather than one, but I am feeling cranky and contrary.
jdpham's review against another edition
2.0
Meandering in a fairy tale of leotards and Frankenfoots, Katie is a drunk Disney Princess solving a hit-and-run alongside Drew, her son and sometime talking animal sidekick.
angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
4.0
I’d put this novel just behind Dare Me in Abbott’s best books list. Sort of in the same vein. Ties sports, achievement, and childhood with the viewpoint of both parents and teenagers included. Surprise twists although in comparison to her other books these surprises seemed a little more predictable. Still highly entertaining and a damn good read.
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
This book was pretty darn messed up, but in a well-done way. It's an engrossing depiction of the sometimes all-consuming parent/child relationship, especially when it comes to parents who devote all their time and resources to a gifted child. There is a lot of meat on its bones, and lots and lots of chilling passages.
maxtish's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
radair's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
lurker_stalker's review against another edition
2.0
It wasn't awful or anything but I just couldn't care about the characters or solving the crime. There wasn't a single character I could say I liked or related to and kind of wished they could all either die or be thrown in prison. Overall, one big meh.
sasha_is_reading's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0