Sign in with Facebook
Karen Chong (recovering from surgery)'s Reviews > Death of a Bookseller
Death of a Bookseller
by
by
1 / 5
It was bad enough that it made me want to finish the book to see how much the ending added to it. This book is literal horse****. I’m just happy my local library paid for this book and not me because you could save abit just avoiding this read. I genuinely cannot see how you even give this book anymore than 1 star. You gotta give credit to who ever is running the marketing for this book, because they for sure know how to scam and sell literal bollocks.
AVOID. THIS. BOOK. AT. ALL. COST!!
This book was not it, it was repetitive, it was creepy to a stalker level giving me ‘You’ vibes (Netflix Joe Goldberg vibes, but it didn’t have the edge to it at all). Its not psychological, in my eyes it’s not really a thriller. It doesn’t give thriller vibes. I just felt like the purpose of the book is what it says on the tin. And it didn’t live up to it. I hated the premise of it, questionable characters that I could not connect with. Sorry but does anyone in the book shower? Personal hygiene is a must and it looks as though Roach (one of the main characters) doesn’t which is grim. The descriptions of the character and the environment makes me question if they’ve seen a washing machine?? The premise of the plot was pointless, no offence but what made you think to write a book about a booksellers and linking true crime/ serial killers in with it, but nothing of that kind ever happens to the main characters. It’s only linked because of a link to them through an event. I found the book fraudulent in what it was trying to sell. It was not it.
In all honesty, I can’t even explain the book because nothing major happens. It’s basically two booksellers of the complete opposite work in the same store. And they’re linked through true crime/ poetry and serial killers. That’s it. And the book goes about how one of them stalks the other. With descriptions about there environment that reminds me of being in uni where some people clearly haven’t been house trained. One doesn’t like the other whilst one can’t accept it. It’s cringey, it’s awful, the characters are not even likeable they’re both repugnant human beings. How is this getting 4 stars????
It’s almost as bad as making a cereal pouring the milk first then the cereal but instead of the milk it’s just water. I don’t think I’ve disliked a book more, and felt so passionately against it.
Go use your time and invest it reading something else. I don’t understand how it’s even sold in store as thrillers or psychological .
It was bad enough that it made me want to finish the book to see how much the ending added to it. This book is literal horse****. I’m just happy my local library paid for this book and not me because you could save abit just avoiding this read. I genuinely cannot see how you even give this book anymore than 1 star. You gotta give credit to who ever is running the marketing for this book, because they for sure know how to scam and sell literal bollocks.
AVOID. THIS. BOOK. AT. ALL. COST!!
This book was not it, it was repetitive, it was creepy to a stalker level giving me ‘You’ vibes (Netflix Joe Goldberg vibes, but it didn’t have the edge to it at all). Its not psychological, in my eyes it’s not really a thriller. It doesn’t give thriller vibes. I just felt like the purpose of the book is what it says on the tin. And it didn’t live up to it. I hated the premise of it, questionable characters that I could not connect with. Sorry but does anyone in the book shower? Personal hygiene is a must and it looks as though Roach (one of the main characters) doesn’t which is grim. The descriptions of the character and the environment makes me question if they’ve seen a washing machine?? The premise of the plot was pointless, no offence but what made you think to write a book about a booksellers and linking true crime/ serial killers in with it, but nothing of that kind ever happens to the main characters. It’s only linked because of a link to them through an event. I found the book fraudulent in what it was trying to sell. It was not it.
In all honesty, I can’t even explain the book because nothing major happens. It’s basically two booksellers of the complete opposite work in the same store. And they’re linked through true crime/ poetry and serial killers. That’s it. And the book goes about how one of them stalks the other. With descriptions about there environment that reminds me of being in uni where some people clearly haven’t been house trained. One doesn’t like the other whilst one can’t accept it. It’s cringey, it’s awful, the characters are not even likeable they’re both repugnant human beings. How is this getting 4 stars????
It’s almost as bad as making a cereal pouring the milk first then the cereal but instead of the milk it’s just water. I don’t think I’ve disliked a book more, and felt so passionately against it.
Go use your time and invest it reading something else. I don’t understand how it’s even sold in store as thrillers or psychological .
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
Death of a Bookseller.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
March 4, 2023
– Shelved
March 4, 2023
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 21, 2023
–
Started Reading
May 21, 2023
–
Started Reading
(ebook Edition)
May 21, 2023
– Shelved as:
2023
May 21, 2023
–
61.98%
"So far nothing is happening. It’s just following two characters working in a bookshop. This is literal dog garbage but it’s so bad that I want to read more"
page
238
May 21, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-22 of 22 (22 new)
date
newest »
newest »
Carolyn wrote: "I love your review I have just started & am looking at reviews
I can’t understand 5 star ratings for this book
Another reviewer suggested just read last few pages but reading your review I can’t ..."
Glad someone can relate! I was looking at reviews once I finished the book and could not understand how this is 5 stars. Its utter garbage! I think this book should be avoided at all cost! You have dodged a bullet Carolyn!
I totally agree, I wish I'd never read it, waste of time.
Wendy wrote: "I totally agree, I wish I'd never read it, waste of time."Honestly I don’t know how this book has so many good reviews. Almost all the ones I looked at were giving 4 stars!
Good honest review Karen. Thanks for the warning. I've removed it from my list. Yours isn't the only 1-star review I read.
Carol wrote: "Good honest review Karen. Thanks for the warning. I've removed it from my list. Yours isn't the only 1-star review I read."Thank you Carol! It’s best advised to avoid this book at all cost! It’s crazy when I look at the reviews there’s only a handful of 1 star reviews! Spend that time reading something else!!
Great honest review Karen think I will delete from my lists sounds awful. 💕
Lisa wrote: "Great honest review Karen think I will delete from my lists sounds awful. 💕"Thank you Lisa! I've not felt so strongly against a book, save that time and invest it in another book!
I’ve just finished and I’m “angry” with how much time I’ve wasted reading it because nothing happened and the title is a big lie and just so awful. Really did not enjoy this
Shane’s Library wrote: "I’ve just finished and I’m “angry” with how much time I’ve wasted reading it because nothing happened and the title is a big lie and just so awful. Really did not enjoy this"I feel the exact same as you Shane. But its all part of the learning process! Got to give credit to their marketing team for selling this book out there
I didn’t like this either so your not on your own.
Lisa wrote: "I didn’t like this either so your not on your own."Likewise, still cant understand how people are giving this a 3 star rating nevermind the 5 star rating lol
Thanks for your review. I completely agree! I couldn’t finish it…. I do NOT understand the reviews on this book being as high as they are…
Joanna wrote: "Thanks for your review. I completely agree! I couldn’t finish it…. I do NOT understand the reviews on this book being as high as they are…"Exactly, I don't understand how people see the book so positively - its a complete waste of time!
I disagree with everything in this review . This dirty unhygienic creepy grubby book replicates perfectly the damaged character of the two girls , neither of which are likeable in any way. It’s sad but addictive in a voyeuristic way that makes you feel you reading something forbidden and private . Two diaries for example , clever replicating the books’ protagonists. The unwashed nature of the girls hints at their decaying , rotten mental health . This is a highly accomplished debut.
Mark wrote: "I disagree with everything in this review . This dirty unhygienic creepy grubby book replicates perfectly the damaged character of the two girls , neither of which are likeable in any way. It’s sad..."I respect that people have their own opinions on the book, but nothing happened in this book quite literally. I’m not the only one saying this, a few people have agreed on this. It was the same dialogue over and over again, repeats, nothing new brought to the plot . It lacks substance, the plot would peak interest and catastrophically fail. I’ve just gone and searched online what genre this falls under and it does NOT fall under suspense or thriller one bit. That’s what the issue is with the book and how it’s been promoted. It’s a bland book, similar to an overdone, unseasoned steak. There is not one ounce, molecule anything that hints to the book being a thriller or suspense. It’s straight up plain fiction.
Someone should pay me for having finished this trash .
Laura wrote: "Someone should pay me for having finished this trash ."Same I am glad I read this book through the library instead of actually paying for the book
Did you miss the part about how Laura's mother was murdered by a serial killer & Roach becomes obsessed with learning all the dirty details, going so far as to become pen pals with the murderer? Ie, the actual plot of the book? They don't just go to a poetry reading & get off on the wrong foot. Laura's world was shattered by murder & she is repulsed by Roach's prurient interest in it.Not to say this is great literature or anything, but it kinda seems like you didn't read it.
I'm all for different opinions on books but I think it's a bit comical to trash a book cos its characters are messy and don't shower :D I disliked both Roach and Laura as well but I still think the characters were marvellously written and the book was excellent. What I mean is, a dislikable character does not equal bad writing.
Ciara wrote: "Did you miss the part about how Laura's mother was murdered by a serial killer & Roach becomes obsessed with learning all the dirty details, going so far as to become pen pals with the murderer? Ie..."If you read the book you’ll recognise that it was a continuous repetitive pattern of dialogue that went no where. The characters were unlikeable, the plot was boring, even worse than watching paint dry. Honestly the best part was returning the book to my library.
Kerttu wrote: "I'm all for different opinions on books but I think it's a bit comical to trash a book cos its characters are messy and don't shower :D I disliked both Roach and Laura as well but I still think the..."I disagree, what you put in your plot and what you choose to display your character reflects on the plot, reflects on the character development and reflects on the book as a whole. What you write feeds into the story development. I found that the displays of personal hygiene was very subpar and worst of all did not contribute to anything other than mere pointless details. Did knowing details of their habits make “this book thrilling and full of suspense”… I don’t think I’ve read a book displayed so much detail on personal hygiene. And frankly, due to how repetitive and dead this plot… I’m trying to find all the reasons to give any good things about this book
I have just started & am looking at reviews
I can’t understand 5 star ratings for this book
Another reviewer suggested just read last few pages but reading your review I can’t be bothered even doing that
You have summed it all up perfectly