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shah33na's review against another edition
3.0
This is a bit like The Secret History meets Bunny. It is very well written and kept me hooked - wanting to know the underlying secret Clare is hiding - which is cleverly revealed bit by bit. It flowed in a way that left me gripped from start to finish - even though I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable! A good read about toxic university friendships taken to the extreme.
findingtimeforreading's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
lizdarkhorse's review against another edition
1.0
Short Review
I feel like dark academic thrillers really aren't done that well mainly because they forget what makes them interesting is interesting characters. The characters in this book just weren't interesting and lackluster and didn't ever really seem to grow, except possibly Clare. Tons of infodumping towards the end for explanations. Also,. I do think the writing is pretty good, that's not my beef but really the lack of tension for a thriller. It was pretty anti-climatic for back half of the book. Maybe the author will write something better than this, since it's a debut. I'd be interested, but I hope she doesn't continue writing these kinds of stories because it's a filled field of bland stories and characters. Not every dark academic book is Donna Tart's "The Secret History."
I feel like dark academic thrillers really aren't done that well mainly because they forget what makes them interesting is interesting characters. The characters in this book just weren't interesting and lackluster and didn't ever really seem to grow, except possibly Clare. Tons of infodumping towards the end for explanations. Also,
Spoiler
really don't like female characters getting attacked, by men, for character growth.emilyelizabethw's review against another edition
3.0
While this book was well written it was very hard for me to get into. I felt like I was forcing myself to finish it for most of my time reading it until maybe the last quarter when I was finally invested. There are a ton of great reviews so maybe it is just not the book for me! 2.5 but rounding up to three as it did finally drag me in.
* I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
* I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
gwenaa's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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
3.0
readinkedfairy's review against another edition
so the main character did something stupid when she was a kid but she goes and does it again as a young adult because apparently being an idiot is part of the human experience?? this feels like two separate stories being made into one for no good reason it keeps dragging on and on and tbh it doesn’t have the depth required to keep doing it and still be entertaining
bamandia's review against another edition
4.0
I dont really want to call this twisted read “fun” — but it kind of is. It’s full of morally grey characters with motives you don’t quite understand that float through life mostly getting what they want. Then you dig deeper into their stories and realize there may be more behind the facade. And understand the ‘why’ they do what they do.
The group of friends are not friends. They cling together in this sick circle of support that really upset the norm when it comes to behavior.
The last 1/4 of the book got a bit sloggy. There were some parts throughout I could have done with some editing.
Overall a decent psychological read
The group of friends are not friends. They cling together in this sick circle of support that really upset the norm when it comes to behavior.
The last 1/4 of the book got a bit sloggy. There were some parts throughout I could have done with some editing.
Overall a decent psychological read
novellabella's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
whimsofmin's review against another edition
4.0
A millennial take on a man trapping trope, with added levels of complex friendships and layers of past mystery. I am not a thriller reader in general and didn't know this was a thriller, well until I saw the genre on GR, maybe because disturbing books are my everyday by this point.
For me this is a brilliant contemporary literary exploration of many layered friendships between already dark and disturbed characters, and the plot allows for those relationships to really be explored.
If you want a fast paced thriller, I'm not convinced this is 100% that, but I also don't think its trying to be. If you want something a bit deeper and more thought through, but not necessarily with shocking twists, this is the perfect book.
For me this is a brilliant contemporary literary exploration of many layered friendships between already dark and disturbed characters, and the plot allows for those relationships to really be explored.
If you want a fast paced thriller, I'm not convinced this is 100% that, but I also don't think its trying to be. If you want something a bit deeper and more thought through, but not necessarily with shocking twists, this is the perfect book.