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kaywhiteley's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.75
This was such a fun book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty and Homophobia
mikelogan's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was WILD in a great way. I kept thinking of the line from HBO's Chernobyl: "What is the cost of lies?" We love a good twist (or 2 or 3)!
Content Warnings
The only thing that was a little frustrating was the fact that you absolutely can call 911 from a phone that is not active/doesn't have service. It ended up being fine as Victor's call did get through, but any one of them would have been able to call regardless. Emergency services just wouldn't have been able to locate them via cell towers. (I worked at a wireless provider for almost 6 years.)
lizjo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kennedien's review
4.0
really good, the main character makes a lot of bad decisions but i cant hate him for them, flawed but still understandable which i think makes a for a really good character in a thriller
lena_bean's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
3.5
blschuldt's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
3.75
This was so entertaining and insane to read, I was so fuckin stressed
prettypious's review
5.0
I loved everything about this book! The character development and revealing, the plot, the scandal and lies, the writing and language and shout out to them audiobook performers cause they did the damn thing!!! Highly recommend this book to ANYONE that loves thrillers and scandalous domestic lit
luhos's review
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
i’m sorry but this was so cringe
justinkhchen's review
3.0
3.5 stars
Has an attention-grabbing set up and an explosive, extremely satisfying finale, but the humorless, oppressive middle dampens the overall enjoyment. Bath Haus is an exploration of power imbalance within a relationship, taken to a thriller level extreme. Even though objectively I 'get' the emotional motivation behind maintaining this loveless charade, I wasn't convinced, at any point, the extreme level of conceal and deceit the participants undertook (If my life was in danger, I would save that over my relationship!).
Ultimately I think I struggle with the tone of Bath Haus. Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney is another recent thriller I've read featuring two unlikable characters stuck in a rocky relationship, but that story maintains a theatrical 'glossiness' throughout signaling me to consume it as entertainment. Whereas P.J. Vernon is perhaps too good at depicting the raw helplessness experienced by victim of assault, addiction and gaslighting, my brain simply can't accept its biting realism alongside the over-the-top plot.
Bath Haus feels like literary fiction characters stuck in a thriller novel construct, being stupidly outrageous in order to raise narrative stake, at the same time overindulges in its suffocating emotional bleakness. Overall a commending effort that ultimately doesn't quite work out for this reader.
Has an attention-grabbing set up and an explosive, extremely satisfying finale, but the humorless, oppressive middle dampens the overall enjoyment. Bath Haus is an exploration of power imbalance within a relationship, taken to a thriller level extreme. Even though objectively I 'get' the emotional motivation behind maintaining this loveless charade, I wasn't convinced, at any point, the extreme level of conceal and deceit the participants undertook (If my life was in danger, I would save that over my relationship!).
Ultimately I think I struggle with the tone of Bath Haus. Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney is another recent thriller I've read featuring two unlikable characters stuck in a rocky relationship, but that story maintains a theatrical 'glossiness' throughout signaling me to consume it as entertainment. Whereas P.J. Vernon is perhaps too good at depicting the raw helplessness experienced by victim of assault, addiction and gaslighting, my brain simply can't accept its biting realism alongside the over-the-top plot.
Bath Haus feels like literary fiction characters stuck in a thriller novel construct, being stupidly outrageous in order to raise narrative stake, at the same time overindulges in its suffocating emotional bleakness. Overall a commending effort that ultimately doesn't quite work out for this reader.