Probably my favorite book from Lisa Jewell. I listened to the audiobook and it was a delight! I enjoyed how it really felt like a podcast. I loved howProbably my favorite book from Lisa Jewell. I listened to the audiobook and it was a delight! I enjoyed how it really felt like a podcast. I loved how gray most of the characters were. Good pacing, really kept me hooked. ...more
Listened to about 80% of the audiobook before giving up and reading the synopsis online. The story is slow and dull, and the mystery is not very interListened to about 80% of the audiobook before giving up and reading the synopsis online. The story is slow and dull, and the mystery is not very interesting or mysterious. The main character, Lo (I absolutely hate the nickname), was insufferable and all I really learned about her was that she has panic attacks and is really, REALLY, tired. Just EXHAUSTED. And she has a headache because she's so damn TIRED. I get it!
I was so bored and irritated, I just couldn't keep going, but suffered through enough of it that I felt I'd earned the right to give it this rating....more
4.5 stars. I'm a baby when it comes to ghost stories but was convinced by many of the comments on here that the ghost story was well told and didn't o4.5 stars. I'm a baby when it comes to ghost stories but was convinced by many of the comments on here that the ghost story was well told and didn't overpower the narrative so I took a chance. I'm glad I did because this was a great story and well worth facing my paranormal fears (although I made sure to listen to the audiobook only in the middle of the day with the sun out). I appreciated that the paranormal aspect isn't there so much to scare you but is part of the story and truly enriches it. ...more
2.5 stars. The story dragged, the ending was flat, and the characters were flat. Interesting concept but ultimately a disappointment. As others have s2.5 stars. The story dragged, the ending was flat, and the characters were flat. Interesting concept but ultimately a disappointment. As others have said, this book was written by a Black woman, but it's not for Black women. ...more
Overall a satisfying story, but I felt the author went overboard occasionally with character descriptions, especially those characters described as ovOverall a satisfying story, but I felt the author went overboard occasionally with character descriptions, especially those characters described as overweight. Along with beating the word "secrets" to death. By the end of the audiobook, I was tired of hearing that word. ...more
Overall enjoyed the book, but the "I'm a mother and I must protect my kids" schtick got pretty boring and isn't for me. Also didn't care for the kid'sOverall enjoyed the book, but the "I'm a mother and I must protect my kids" schtick got pretty boring and isn't for me. Also didn't care for the kid's POV chapters, especially Conner. ...more
I wish the author had spent less time describing the body of a 13-year-old girl and more time crafting a decent plot. There were too many instances thI wish the author had spent less time describing the body of a 13-year-old girl and more time crafting a decent plot. There were too many instances that just felt...lazy.(view spoiler)[ How convenient that Eric (Erik? I listened to the audiobook) was allergic to peanuts. It was sure easy of Lily to convince Brad to turn on Miranda, etc .I just felt everything went so easy for Lily. None of her plans were particularly clever and mostly happened because all the male characters were idiots who only seemed to care about beauty, breasts, and butts (hide spoiler)]. I rolled my eyes at the end and the "twists" were not incredibly surprising. Another problem I had was the pacing. The beginning was a struggle to get through and it wasn't until the last 90 minutes to 2 hours of the 10 hour audiobook that I actually got really interested. All the characters were horrible and boring except Roberta James. (view spoiler)[ And ending featuring James being the one discovering Lily's murders and tracking her down and them ultimately facing off would have been much more exciting. (hide spoiler)] I had hopes for Detective Kimble but he ended up being more boring than Ted......more
I wanted to love this book but instead, I finished it feeling mostly "meh". I enjoyed the fantasy and supernatural element but I felt that the author I wanted to love this book but instead, I finished it feeling mostly "meh". I enjoyed the fantasy and supernatural element but I felt that the author sort of forgot about it at the end and left a lot of questions unanswered: (view spoiler)["Was Dr. McFarlen really the tiger? What happened to Yi? What was the black shape under the water? etc etc..." (hide spoiler)]
Ren was my favorite character. His innocence and naivety just warmed my heart and made me want to protect him.
I was extremely uncomfortable with the romance. (view spoiler)[While romance between step-siblings in real life is not uncommon, there was so much emphasis on the fact that Shin and Ji Lin were "twins". And it wasn't as if they met as teenagers or young adults and fell in love -- that would have been slightly more forgivable -- but they met as children and grew up together as brother and sister. Not being blood siblings doesn't make being in a relationship with someone you have always viewed as a sibling less icky. Also, I liked Shin's character until he became super possessive and aggressive. The scene in the hotel read like an assault: a man trying to force himself on a woman despite her repeatedly saying "no". And I was rolling my eyes so hard at all the virginity bullshit (hide spoiler)] The romance did nothing for the plot and only made me rate this a 3 star rather than 4....more
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