3.5-3.75

So if I were basing this off just Emily’s parts of the book this would be so much higher. I was so engaged with those chapters and I loved Emily so dearly - it almost sucks how we see what happens in the beginning of this book, because I was heartbroken wanting the absolute best for her and knowing that just wasn’t going to happen was rough. I thought the views around her pregnancy and the stigma she faced felt a little 50s than 80s to me? But this is also a small town in the 80s and it’s not like I have experience in either decade to really discern that - but things like the doctor scene, or how they kept talking about her, felt very dated to me while I read. 

For me where this book lagged was with Andrea. This is a sequel - something I wish was mentioned in the book description because as I read this I kept thinking I had to have been missing information about Andrea. Where other times I have picked up a later book in the series and become interested, however, I just didn’t really care about Andrea or the current cast of characters all that much. I was incredibly impatient because every time I wanted to get back to the Emily scenes. I did appreciate them trying to stress proper police procedures though - it’s like a bare minimum but unfortunately a pleasant surprise with main characters in law enforcement, so I really appreciate that in this book.