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A review by niamhreviews
How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie
4.0
3.75/5
I'm at least 90% sure that I enjoyed this book. I'm sure it'll take a few days to really solidify because WOAH a lot happened in, like, 400 pages. Also, it would not surprise if this book gets snapped almost instantly for television adaptation because people love crime. And rich people getting what's coming to them.
Jumping between multiple perspectives, 'How To Kill Your Family' follows a woman named Grace who recounts the methods through which she killed the family of her father who abandoned her and her mother. It's an extravagant, clever, complex series of revenge plots played out across multiple months and retold in excruciating detail. But it's also incredibly compelling to read. It dives into the glittering falsehood of high society and sinks into the dingy depths of the seedy underbelly too.
The things that stops me from giving this book a higher rating is largely down to its stream-of-consciousness writing style - particularly in sections where nothing is actually happening. I'm convinced, with some decent editing, this book could have had many pages taken out of it. Grace, who is obviously an anti-hero, unlikeable protagonist, whatever - is RIDICULOUSLY judgemental throughout this book, and after it while it stops adding to her character and starts just making her sound like a dick. There's a clear superiority complex in the character and I got really irritated by it as the book went by because it was done again and again and again. You can tell that this book is a fiction debut, where it's got great moments, but some leave things to be desired.
If you liked 'You', you'll probably like this. It has that same creepy, sociopathic theme running through it. I wouldn't say this is the most original book in the world, but props for the ending - that one really did come out of nowhere.
I'm at least 90% sure that I enjoyed this book. I'm sure it'll take a few days to really solidify because WOAH a lot happened in, like, 400 pages. Also, it would not surprise if this book gets snapped almost instantly for television adaptation because people love crime. And rich people getting what's coming to them.
Jumping between multiple perspectives, 'How To Kill Your Family' follows a woman named Grace who recounts the methods through which she killed the family of her father who abandoned her and her mother. It's an extravagant, clever, complex series of revenge plots played out across multiple months and retold in excruciating detail. But it's also incredibly compelling to read. It dives into the glittering falsehood of high society and sinks into the dingy depths of the seedy underbelly too.
The things that stops me from giving this book a higher rating is largely down to its stream-of-consciousness writing style - particularly in sections where nothing is actually happening. I'm convinced, with some decent editing, this book could have had many pages taken out of it. Grace, who is obviously an anti-hero, unlikeable protagonist, whatever - is RIDICULOUSLY judgemental throughout this book, and after it while it stops adding to her character and starts just making her sound like a dick. There's a clear superiority complex in the character and I got really irritated by it as the book went by because it was done again and again and again. You can tell that this book is a fiction debut, where it's got great moments, but some leave things to be desired.
If you liked 'You', you'll probably like this. It has that same creepy, sociopathic theme running through it. I wouldn't say this is the most original book in the world, but props for the ending - that one really did come out of nowhere.