There’s a lot to unpack here - and there are a lot of difficult trigger warnings.
the non spoiler ones is - child abuse & animal abuse
Spoiler ones -

Spoiler

Rape, incest and possibly transphobia (not in-text so much as how situations are handled may be insensitive to the trans community)

So while I do think this book is a fast paced compelling thriller - the ending definitely makes this deserving of the low ratings. It's not an ending that will please most people. I dont feel all the loose ends were tied up and it definitely is an ending that people will just not like.

That being said it did work for me. It was alarming and off-putting but it worked. I was deeply invested in what was going on, i read the book largely in two sittings because i was so engrossed and found the pay off believable enough in-universe to be mostly satisfied. I still have lingering questions, and definitely won't recommend this book to most people due to the controversial ending.

After disliking His & Hers (and loving Sometimes I Lie) I did begin to wonder if Alice was a 1-hit wonder for me but I think she is still someone I will continue to check out. She definitely aims to surprise you but for the most part those surprises work (even if you hate them)