4.5/5
This book was a classic who done it legal thriller that will keep you guessing the entire time. I was immediately sucked into the plot and instantly trying to guess the outcome. While I came up with a million different possible outcomes, I still didn't predict everything that happened. The book was told in three parts and it was 3 different characters POV. While I liked this style, I would have preferred there to have been another POV from outside the family. There is an epilogue, but I wanted to see an update after the court case. Now that I've discussed what kept it from being 5⭐ for me, let me tell you all the things I loved.
1. I loved the friendship between Amina and Stella even though there were questionable betrayals. These two girls grew up together and knew each other better than anyone else.
2. It brought the issue of "the perfect family" to light. To often we look at outward appearances (facebook contributes a lot) and become envious of the perfectness that's portrayed. I'm fully convinced that the more a person tries to portray a perfect life, the more they're trying to convince themselves. The grass isn't always greener on the other side.
3. It gave great insights to both the shortfalls of the justice system and how a bias on either side can have disastrous consequences. In the end we are only human and can only try our best.
4. As you listen to Stella's POV you understand just how much she was misunderstood by her parents and how their pressure negatively affected her. I think it's very important for parents to let their children be their own person and not a little replica of themselves.
Overall I found this an extremely enjoyable read and can't recommend it enough to anyone looking for a great mystery read this summer. You will not regret picking up your own copy!
This book was a classic who done it legal thriller that will keep you guessing the entire time. I was immediately sucked into the plot and instantly trying to guess the outcome. While I came up with a million different possible outcomes, I still didn't predict everything that happened. The book was told in three parts and it was 3 different characters POV. While I liked this style, I would have preferred there to have been another POV from outside the family. There is an epilogue, but I wanted to see an update after the court case. Now that I've discussed what kept it from being 5⭐ for me, let me tell you all the things I loved.
1. I loved the friendship between Amina and Stella even though there were questionable betrayals. These two girls grew up together and knew each other better than anyone else.
2. It brought the issue of "the perfect family" to light. To often we look at outward appearances (facebook contributes a lot) and become envious of the perfectness that's portrayed. I'm fully convinced that the more a person tries to portray a perfect life, the more they're trying to convince themselves. The grass isn't always greener on the other side.
3. It gave great insights to both the shortfalls of the justice system and how a bias on either side can have disastrous consequences. In the end we are only human and can only try our best.
4. As you listen to Stella's POV you understand just how much she was misunderstood by her parents and how their pressure negatively affected her. I think it's very important for parents to let their children be their own person and not a little replica of themselves.
Overall I found this an extremely enjoyable read and can't recommend it enough to anyone looking for a great mystery read this summer. You will not regret picking up your own copy!