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ara_beg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I feel like the writing was very good and I couldn’t put it down, was really intrigued. But it wasn’t a psychological thriller to me, more just like a devastating story about
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Eating disorder, and Miscarriage
kcohrs19's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
tetrootz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
siinoa1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
gabyscozylibrary's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
While I was reading this book, I kept waiting for a revelation that Ellie was still alive. I figured out by page 80 that she was Poppy’s mother but I had no idea how twisted everything was. Learning what led to it was terrible and heartbreaking. I felt like I was reading a true crime story because of how upsetting everything was. Since there are different pov’s, I kept saying “please notice” or “please mention this because it could change everything”. One part that hurt me was when Ellie kept pounding on the window and the walls but nobody heard her. It was so frustrating. I hated Donnelly so much for what she did to Ellie. She was mentally ill.
Yes, there was some predictability to this book but the plot was so well executed that it didn’t make reading it feel like a boring task. I enjoyed unveiling all the parts of this mystery.
I thought that Floyd would be much worse. I was expecting for an ultimate twist in his reveal, but it felt like I already knew what he did. I don’t think he should have died. What he did was terrible but Donnelly deserved that and more.
I was so sad to learn Ellie’s actually dead. I know early on we find out that her remains were found, but deep down I still had hope for her. :(
It was heartbreaking that Poppy lost her mom and Laurel lost her daughter. But I did like how Poppy is giving Laurel a second chance at being a mom after she lost Ellie. The ending is so bittersweet.
Overall, I give this a 3.5/5 rating.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, and Sexual harassment
sharlapeggy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Car accident
pippamillerxoxo_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
sharanyaaguha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is all I am going to say about this book. Honestly go as blind as you can into this one and let the story unfold. With every new character being introduced I thought of a possibility but there was always a twist. The end was not what I expected at all, and it kept me guessing all the time. The plot get darks at a time, but it's truly worth it. The story is told in multiple POV so you get to learn about everyone's motive too. The ending is dramatic and emotional.
Extremely Detailed Plot : One fine Wednesday morning Ellie heads out to the library but she never comes back. 10 years of exhausting search bear no result for Laurel. 10 years later, they find the last of Ellie's in a forest along with human remains of Ellie. Ellie is dead. Laurel moves on with her life, still having no answer to who killed Ellie and why. He meets Floyd in a cafe and soon meets her daughter Poppy who looks exactly like Ellie.
When she gets a rough idea that Floyd is somehow involved in Ellie's disappearance, Floyd dissapears(and later kills himself) leaving her a note which says -
Noelle Donnelly was Ellie's maths teacher. She was in love with Floyd. Floyd had a compilcated relationship with his daughter(with previous wife) and Noelle wanted to give Floyd a baby and in return she wanted his love. However she suffered a miscarriage. She was madly in love with Floyd and hence she kidnaped Ellie, locked her up in her basement for months. One night when Floyd was drunk enough, she switched herself with unconcious Ellie and Ellie soon gets pregnant with his baby and Noelle fakes her own pregnancy. 9 months later, Noelle can't take Elle to the hospital for obvious reasons so she delivers her baby(Poppy) in the basement. But still, Floyd would not love her. Even when she gave him a beautiful daughter Floyd wouldnt. All her hardwork bear no result and irritated by Ellie's cries (she got a terrible infection from giving birth in the dirty basement) she shuts the door and for months doesnt go there. Ellie dies just like that, in pain, in hunger, and in grief of not being able to see her family again. Months later Noelle dumps Ellie's remains in a forest and plans on returning to her home with Poppy(without telling Flyod). Floyd comes to know about this and just as she was about to leave he confronts her. Noelle tells Floyd the whole truth and in the process Floyd accidentally kills Noelle and buries her in his garden. It is then he decides he will meet Laurel and tell her the truth but all his life he was yearning for a family and with Laurel he found one. This delays the process and leads to Laurel's individual investigation and before she starts formulating reasons and situations about Ellie's death, he goes away forever, leaving behind a note, Poppy and closure.
"May was like the Friday night of summer: all the good times lying ahead of you, bright and shiny and waiting to be lived."
"A man who can’t love but desperately needs to be loved is a dangerous thing indeed."
"Stories,” she says, “are the only thing in this world that are real. Everything else is just a dream."
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child death and Miscarriage
nazmeekamal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment
klubbgodis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Rape and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Suicide