heamarhar's reviews
102 reviews

I found myself considering a 3 star review, and then I realized that nothing actually happens throughout this book. The same two insufferable characters have the same interactions every single day and then a tiny amount of action happens and then it's back to the same old routine. I wanted to like this so badly, but both main characters are horrible people with no redeeming qualities, and the plot was entirely missing from the story. It had so much potential to add powerful commentary on true crime fanatics and their misplaced reverence of serial killers, but it strayed so far off the path it's laughable.

Also: If you take a shot every time Roach calls people "normies," you would be 30 shots deep by the end. I counted.

It's not 4 stars because I'm afraid of the author's response if I give it any less... It's not.

Seriously, this was GRIPPING. I had to put it down last night before bed because it was spooking me. I told Ben very seriously, "My heebies are jeebied." Home invasion type reads are always the most creepy to me. This offered nonstop surprises. I picked it back up this morning and didn't stop until it was over. Ironically, for a novel whose action begins with a scathing book review over the storyline being unrealistic, it's not very realistic — but it is a great thrill from start to finish! I can't say I was always shocked at the twists (some are very predictable, but I think that was on purpose), but the ones that got me really got me!

3.5 rounded up. Maybe. I loved it but the ending was too short. So I'm bitter.

This gave me the same feelings as when I read The First Day of Spring. I felt so helpless and sad seeing these children make such irresponsible decisions progressing to a horrific yet completely avoidable outcome. I loved the past vs. present POVs and the merging storylines.

My only complaint about this novel is that it ended so abruptly after SO MUCH backstory. I wanted everyone's perspectives, but I was given crumbs instead. I demand a better resolution! They could have made room for a better ending if there were significantly fewer instances of Charlie/Sarah being a super unreliable narrator.

This was an incredibly suspenseful read and I loved every second of it. Taylor Adams is an expert at giving us all the information we need and then waiting until we're lulled into a false sense of security to pull the rug out from under us and remind everyone that actually, no, it's not all fine, and we knew that from the start but got too caught up in the action to realize what was really going on. Ahhhh!!!!! If you want an edge-of-your-seat nail-biter of a book, please look no further.

I was so confused by the pacing of this novel. It went from 0 to 60 so quickly I had to double check that I didn't accidentally skip 10 chapters... It felt very rushed which meant the drama of it all did not pack the punch the author had intended. Not to mention all of the Broadway plot was mostly skipped over and recapped secondhand by the main character in very brief, short blurbs (in one chapter they're prepping for their first show in Rhode Island and the next they've secured a Broadway production????).

Speaking of the main character, Kathleen is insufferable and selfish and I couldn't wait to be finished with her "I'll whine about it but not do anything to fix it or be a more considerate person" attitude. Cal and Harriet deserved so much better from her.

Finally, I must admit, I had no clue this book was about musical theater until I started reading it, and that's... Not my thing. I understood exactly zero references.

Redeeming qualities: realistic dialogue, witty characters, mostly cute banter between love interests, glimpses into the past every few chapters, and a cat named Fish.

Brilliant, funny, dark, insightful, tricky, emotional... I only have good things to write! Don't go into this with any prior knowledge. It will be so much better that way!

I am finally out of a reading slump that was caused by getting too many Libby holds at once, forgetting / being too overwhelmed to read them all in time, and having them auto-return before I finished any (see the wreckage that is my Currently Reading section — THREE books!! THREE!).

This is Riley Sager's newest and possibly most disappointing book to date. It's interesting and not a tough read, but I guessed all the big plot reveals and was bummed there was no real suspense. I thought to myself "this is very reminiscent of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" so often that I wouldn't be shocked if he had Taylor Jenkins Reid on speed dial.

I waited so long for this just to feel blah about it. I wish I enjoyed it more, but it was sadly too predictable and trope-y for me. Maybe next time, Sager.

This was hard for me to get into because of all the characters, the renovator jargon, and the jumping perspectives. I would have enjoyed it more if the suspense wasn't delayed until the very end. It was difficult to stay with it and slog through all the buildup for the last 5 chapters of action.

This is perhaps 50x better than The Push (and I liked The Push!). I am only exaggerating a little bit.

I thought I would struggle with the characters a lot more than I actually did. There are 4 couples and a few children central to this novel, so it feels like a lot to keep up with. Once you figure out who is married, it all flows easily. My only complaint is I thought I had a lot more reading to go and turned the page and saw the word "Epilogue" staring at me... Apparently I got lost in the suspense. The ending was satisfying despite its sudden appearance.

This is an INCREDIBLY gripping domestic drama that makes you feel horrible for some people and hatred for others. Parents and partners beware... You will feel a lingering anxiety at some point while reading this. I'm really looking forward to whatever Ashley Audrain decides to put out next.

It wasn't bad but it was so all over the place I couldn't keep track. At one point the main character is sitting in a basement with someone and then she wakes up in bed the next morning having a foggy memory of being at the hospital the night before... But all she did was hit her shoulder in a fall?? And there's no explanation to be found. There's no context for some time jumps and gets very confusing. I found myself getting bored with all of the mean girl antics. It was just okay. Credit for bisexual and lesbian characters though.