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gkdarkwater's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
miri_reads_books's review
4.0
I was fortunate enough to be giving this arc from netgalley and it did not disappoint. What a ride it was diving through this thriller. It involves 3 generations of a Vietnamese family but largely focuses on Annie. Annie who deals with. Mental health struggles trauma and grief among other things. This was a beautifully written book that I really enjoyed.
suzks26's review
3.0
3.5 stars - This was a good debut from K.T. Nguyen. I liked the mystery and wanted to know what was happening with Annie. But her OCD and her relationship with her mother made me so uncomfortable - she was such an unreliable narrator. It was a little slow at times and wrapped up a little too neatly. But overall it was well written and I look forward to reading more from the author. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.
meghan_readsbooks's review
4.0
Thank you Dutton for inviting me to review this novel! I appreciate the depth given to the main character (annie) in terms of themes on immigration, intergenerational trauma, mental health, and grief; a deft writing style allows these features to be a part of character in ways that help develop and enhance a twisty plot. This is a read worth sticking with if you find the start slow, the story does move faster later in the book and the exploration of suspense, mystery, and character details come together for a fast paced conclusion!
gabros12's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
_christymaguire's review
5.0
I'm grateful to have gotten an early copy to review, especially since I've been dying to read this one due to its absolutely chilling title. Yes, it's an engaging thriller, but there's so much more here: OCD and its challenges, the complexity of mother/daughter relationships, the Vietnam war and refugee experience, and how much we still don't know about intergenerational trauma. Reading it you see how much Annie, the main character, doesn't trust herself, which is also all-too-true for women, at least at some point in their lives and therefore relatable. Nguyen nailed the ending, and I appreciated the epilogue. I can't wait to read Nguyen's sophomore novel!