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maiafeliu's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
gandygeorgia's review against another edition
1.0
This book could have been brilliant. But it was written terribly. The premise sounded so good but the execution was just not it. I don’t think I’ve read something as badly written as this was. The whole thing was so disjointed, some parts barely made sense. The POVs were all over the place, characters were unlikeable (not in a good way) there was no development at all. I thought maybe the ending would redeem the book with an unbelievable twist but there wasn’t one or anything remotely redeeming
annabellarina's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
stephanieg1992's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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
2.5
clacksee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Multiple uncritical Harry Potter references (at least three).
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
This felt reminiscent of the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, and how folks perpetuated the harmful conspiracy that it did not happen, and that the students were paid actors. This is very similar to that, except it is set in the UK and the timeline for the conspiracy is immediately afterward.
I felt the ending reveal was predictable, and there was not much depth to these characters at all. It really felt like taking the bones of what happened at Sandy Hook, and making a fictional story out of it? Idk, I don’t think this book really answered or asked any substantive question. It was just fine. I’ll try another book by the author (“Girl A” seems to have a lot of praise), but this one fell so flat.
This felt reminiscent of the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, and how folks perpetuated the harmful conspiracy that it did not happen, and that the students were paid actors. This is very similar to that, except it is set in the UK and the timeline for the conspiracy is immediately afterward.
I felt the ending reveal was predictable, and there was not much depth to these characters at all. It really felt like taking the bones of what happened at Sandy Hook, and making a fictional story out of it? Idk, I don’t think this book really answered or asked any substantive question. It was just fine. I’ll try another book by the author (“Girl A” seems to have a lot of praise), but this one fell so flat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
strawberrymivvy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Even having finished this book I'm not totally sure what I made of it - ultimately I thought I'd enjoy it more than I did, but the challenging subject matter likely affected "enjoyment".
I did prefer it to Girl A, mainly I think because this setting and these characters felt more real, more like the author actually knew what she was writing about.
At times, particularly the sections about the "Truth Seekers" this was a disturbing read, that people can actually accuse parents of faking their kids' deaths, or denying that the kids ever existed. I liked that the ending left things slightly up in the air, for the reader to make up their own mind
I did prefer it to Girl A, mainly I think because this setting and these characters felt more real, more like the author actually knew what she was writing about.
At times, particularly the sections about the "Truth Seekers" this was a disturbing read, that people can actually accuse parents of faking their kids' deaths, or denying that the kids ever existed. I liked that the ending left things slightly up in the air, for the reader to make up their own mind
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, and Mass/school shootings
jgrady93's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings
coldcoffeelibrary's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
claire_n's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5