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sleepandread's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
vanessaedwards1882's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
4.5
jess7789's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
melissathereadingnerd's review
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.0
This book started off at a quick pace, and then got real slow. The multiple characters, a lot women but the chapters started out with "her", you don't know which 'her' it's referring to. I did not care for the ending, it just felt meh to me.
guypaul's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the pace of the writing, but the actions of the characters seemed improbable. The author loves to have her characters "liaise", also. They liaise on about a dozen different occasions. To an American reader, that is simply odd. If the word is popular in the UK, I've not heard it used in other books.
Speaking of American readers, just about any of them will be surprised that a university is contemplating shutting down other graduation ceremonies just because one person got shot. Sadly, guns are so common in the U.S., and shootings such a part of daily life, that this "shock" over someone bringing a gun to graduation (our Governor in Texas specifically demands students be allowed to openly carry guns and without a permit, to boot) is also hard to imagine. If only we really did live that way. Similarly, a character being "on drugs" seems dated. Being a drug addict doesn't manifest itself the way it is presented in this book.
As I said, I like the pace of the writing, but I don't believe the writer has an understanding of addiction, drug use, or crime. She is in her most honest voice when she is speaking through the character of the mother. Her other characters do not have the same ring of sincerity.
Speaking of American readers, just about any of them will be surprised that a university is contemplating shutting down other graduation ceremonies just because one person got shot. Sadly, guns are so common in the U.S., and shootings such a part of daily life, that this "shock" over someone bringing a gun to graduation (our Governor in Texas specifically demands students be allowed to openly carry guns and without a permit, to boot) is also hard to imagine. If only we really did live that way. Similarly, a character being "on drugs" seems dated. Being a drug addict doesn't manifest itself the way it is presented in this book.
As I said, I like the pace of the writing, but I don't believe the writer has an understanding of addiction, drug use, or crime. She is in her most honest voice when she is speaking through the character of the mother. Her other characters do not have the same ring of sincerity.
hannahgerlach's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Teresa Driscoll you GENIUS. So great, so many unexpected twists and turns, so many elements. It is so emotional and intimate and also so thrilling and nerve wracking. Loved it.