Warning: this book will make you suspicious of everyone in your life. I'm literally giving my dog the side eye as I write this review? Who is she really?
This book is marketed as a psychological thriller. I found this book to be mind-numbing for the first thirty percent. Nothing really happens. The reader is lulled into numbness as we follow along with Alice's mundane existence: work, marriage, kids, repeat. But that's the whole point isn't it? This setup highlights how easy it is, how necessary it is, to simply trust in the choices you're making, trust in the people you're choosing to share your world. Wake up, exist, sleep. Don't question anything. Answers can hurt. Ignore the red flags because red is for bullfights, and who wants to be in a bullfight when they can instead be blissfully sitting atop a float during a holiday parade? Why be a fighter when you can be the princess? Your happiness is your own doing, so why rock the boat when you've got the honeymoon suite?
Similar to Sandie Jones's "The Other Woman", this book is a nothing-is-what-it-seems book. Is Alice's second husband having an affair? Was her first husband the saint she remembers him as? Is her best friend really her most worthy foe? Are her kids real or aliens? When you reach the last 30-40 pages of this book, you won't know what's real anymore.
It's really hard to review a book like this without dropping spoilers all over the place. So, without pulling off Santa's beard, here's what worked in the book:
1) Alice's desperate need to maintain a normal existence was very accurately portrayed. After going through hell once already, it made complete sense that she clung to whatever she could to make her feel whole again;
2) Alice's blissful ignorance - there were times when I personally understood her actions. Maybe others won't, but I completely got it. It's easier to trust someone. it's a lot harder to be suspicious.
3) Alice's kids provided the perfect motivation for Alice's storyline.
4) The multiple big reveals. As I read the book, I kept thinking "well, how the hell is this gonna be explained away?" But it all worked.
5) This book is definitely timely. We're bombarded with "Dirty John" stories and psychological terms like "gaslighting" and "narcissism" are the new normal in everyday vernacular, so this book fits right into today's culture.
6) The author's cute use of the film "The Other Woman", a favorite of mine. Oh, Sandie Jones, I see what you did there
What didn't work:
1) Alice not asking ANY questions whatsoever. Sure, I agree with a lot of her actions, reactions, and inaction, but there were certain things she did that drove me insane;
2) Alice not telling ANYBODY the big discovery she's made. Doubtful;
3) The pace was a little too slow.
As I read this book, I planned to give it a solid 3 stars. I liked it, and I wanted to know what happened, but it wasn't hitting me as hard as other psychological thrillers. But, after all the reveals, I gave it 4 stars, especially after I sat back and reflected on all the characters' motivations. This story is whacked, but... it actually is pretty realistic.
This book is marketed as a psychological thriller. I found this book to be mind-numbing for the first thirty percent. Nothing really happens. The reader is lulled into numbness as we follow along with Alice's mundane existence: work, marriage, kids, repeat. But that's the whole point isn't it? This setup highlights how easy it is, how necessary it is, to simply trust in the choices you're making, trust in the people you're choosing to share your world. Wake up, exist, sleep. Don't question anything. Answers can hurt. Ignore the red flags because red is for bullfights, and who wants to be in a bullfight when they can instead be blissfully sitting atop a float during a holiday parade? Why be a fighter when you can be the princess? Your happiness is your own doing, so why rock the boat when you've got the honeymoon suite?
Similar to Sandie Jones's "The Other Woman", this book is a nothing-is-what-it-seems book. Is Alice's second husband having an affair? Was her first husband the saint she remembers him as? Is her best friend really her most worthy foe? Are her kids real or aliens? When you reach the last 30-40 pages of this book, you won't know what's real anymore.
It's really hard to review a book like this without dropping spoilers all over the place. So, without pulling off Santa's beard, here's what worked in the book:
1) Alice's desperate need to maintain a normal existence was very accurately portrayed. After going through hell once already, it made complete sense that she clung to whatever she could to make her feel whole again;
2) Alice's blissful ignorance - there were times when I personally understood her actions. Maybe others won't, but I completely got it. It's easier to trust someone. it's a lot harder to be suspicious.
3) Alice's kids provided the perfect motivation for Alice's storyline.
4) The multiple big reveals. As I read the book, I kept thinking "well, how the hell is this gonna be explained away?" But it all worked.
5) This book is definitely timely. We're bombarded with "Dirty John" stories and psychological terms like "gaslighting" and "narcissism" are the new normal in everyday vernacular, so this book fits right into today's culture.
6) The author's cute use of the film "The Other Woman", a favorite of mine. Oh, Sandie Jones, I see what you did there
What didn't work:
1) Alice not asking ANY questions whatsoever. Sure, I agree with a lot of her actions, reactions, and inaction, but there were certain things she did that drove me insane;
2) Alice not telling ANYBODY the big discovery she's made. Doubtful;
3) The pace was a little too slow.
As I read this book, I planned to give it a solid 3 stars. I liked it, and I wanted to know what happened, but it wasn't hitting me as hard as other psychological thrillers. But, after all the reveals, I gave it 4 stars, especially after I sat back and reflected on all the characters' motivations. This story is whacked, but... it actually is pretty realistic.