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fujo_cat's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall, this was a nice read and felt satisfying enough, albeit cut short.
If you enjoy domestic mysteries and Hollywood settings, you’ll probably enjoy this. Expect a light mystery with heavy themes.
If you are looking for a non-white author or non-white cast/protagonist, this is also a very good choice!
If you enjoy domestic mysteries and Hollywood settings, you’ll probably enjoy this. Expect a light mystery with heavy themes.
If you are looking for a non-white author or non-white cast/protagonist, this is also a very good choice!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
samanthamoore's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Minor: Drug abuse and Pregnancy
viireads's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
first half was an absolute
D R A G ughhhhh
(I had to physically force myself to get to the part about the the will)
but as soon as the lore with Nova started being dug up it got fast paced and I was enjoying it
I guess I just kept on going to see how it ended (which ultimately i didn't end up liking much mainly because of one certain element the child )
⭐⭐⭐
3.0 stars for the following reasons:
• feeling represented and also seeing the diverse cast
• second half of the book was very gripping and definitely a page turner
• realistic portrayal of modern day friendships
• the ending gave me a lil hope for myself because other than the aforementioned element everything else in it was tied up nicely
D R A G ughhhhh
(I had to physically force myself to get to the part about the the will)
but as soon as the lore with Nova started being dug up it got fast paced and I was enjoying it
I guess I just kept on going to see how it ended (which ultimately i didn't end up liking much mainly because of one certain element
⭐⭐⭐
3.0 stars for the following reasons:
• feeling represented and also seeing the diverse cast
• second half of the book was very gripping and definitely a page turner
• realistic portrayal of modern day friendships
• the ending gave me a lil hope for myself because other than the aforementioned element everything else in it was tied up nicely
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Xenophobia, and Stalking
Minor: Emotional abuse
thebigq's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Incredible twists and turns. Characters felt real in their love for each other. Advika easy to cheer for the whole way through. Deft representation of love bombing and its toxicity. Truly a delight to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Racism and Pregnancy
mackenziem12's review against another edition
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Drug use
daffodilcherry's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was absolutely hooked by this book, and read it in two days! This tale is almost a modern Bluebeard retelling, where Advika falls for rich, charming, powerful Julian and is told not to look into his past wives. I liked the clever way the red flags about Julian were woven into the start of the story, and how Advika is presented as a flawed, but understandable protagonist. I loved Advika's friends and the supporting cast! I'd love to see this novel optioned for a movie or limited series!
Wheelhouses: Hollywood glamour, toxic relationship, Bluebeard retelling, woman uncovering the truth, friends caring for each other, people in their mid 20s still trying to find themselves.
Wheelhouses: Hollywood glamour, toxic relationship, Bluebeard retelling, woman uncovering the truth, friends caring for each other, people in their mid 20s still trying to find themselves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug abuse, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
christinesreads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Death
babayagaofficial's review against another edition
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
Killer premise, clunky prose. The narrative voice doesn't trust the reader's ability to make connections or inferences, which is one of my biggest pet peeves. This needed one or two more editorial passes to cut overly explanatory narration and raise the stakes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Stalking, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Spoilers:gretchenplz's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I'm not really sure what to say about this book because I'm not entirely sure what I just read. This book was 100% not what I expected, and I'm not sure if that disappoints me or not.
I think that this book covered a lot of topics, like sisterhood (both biological and chosen), power dynamics within relationships, and grief, and I'm just not sure how well it was all woven together. I expected drama, and emotional highs and lows, but this book just did not give me that at all.
I'm not sure if it was purposeful for the author to create a book that left the reader feeling very much like how Advika felt throughout her relationship with Julian — overwhelmed, confused, nervous — but I never knew what to expect from this book.
Julian never came across as charming to me (was he supposed to? or does this link with my above thought, that perhaps the reader was supposed to feel like Advika and not really be very attached, confused that this was all happening so fast, expectant that Julian had good intentions, etc.?) and it really just gave me pause the whole time I read the book.
I wish the author could have done more showing vs. telling, as I caught myself skimming the many pages of paragraphs of internal dialogue or pop culture detail for dialogue. There was just so much to digest and I am still not sure what exactly I was supposed to get from this book.
The power of grief? Following your dreams? Leaning on your friends? Chosen family? Sisterhood?
I don't know. I don't think it was a bad book. Just not a favorite of mine.
I think that this book covered a lot of topics, like sisterhood (both biological and chosen), power dynamics within relationships, and grief, and I'm just not sure how well it was all woven together. I expected drama, and emotional highs and lows, but this book just did not give me that at all.
I'm not sure if it was purposeful for the author to create a book that left the reader feeling very much like how Advika felt throughout her relationship with Julian — overwhelmed, confused, nervous — but I never knew what to expect from this book.
Julian never came across as charming to me (was he supposed to? or does this link with my above thought, that perhaps the reader was supposed to feel like Advika and not really be very attached, confused that this was all happening so fast, expectant that Julian had good intentions, etc.?) and it really just gave me pause the whole time I read the book.
I wish the author could have done more showing vs. telling, as I caught myself skimming the many pages of paragraphs of internal dialogue or pop culture detail for dialogue. There was just so much to digest and I am still not sure what exactly I was supposed to get from this book.
The power of grief? Following your dreams? Leaning on your friends? Chosen family? Sisterhood?
I don't know. I don't think it was a bad book. Just not a favorite of mine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Pregnancy
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use and Pregnancy