Guys, I’m here with an #unpopularopinion: I didn’t like The Silent Patient. Sure, I wanted to know what happened and why Alicia Berenson was silent and that twist at the end was a bit unexpected. But my goodness…I’m still not sure what I just read and I’m annoyed that I spent time I this book.

From the beginning, I did not like Theo. He was kind of a douche and really macho and full of himself. Maybe this was the point, but it honestly made the twist a lot less of a shock. Second, how does the new doctor at a mental institution just waltz in there and DRASTICALLY change a patient’s care plan, against the wishes of people who have been treating her for longer than he has? Third, why are almost all the women in this book crazy or accused of being crazy? Ruth is the only one that Theo has mostly positive remarks about. Why did we have to go on all those subplots to visit Alicia’s gallery dealer, her brother-in-law, her cousin? And why are all these sub characters so underdeveloped? I kept waiting for the connection between Diomedes, the Greek character, and the Greek play they kept referencing to become more of a plot point (a la a Deus ex machina) but that never happened, which frustrated.

Honestly, I almost gave up on this book halfway through and the only reason I stuck with it was so that I could know why she was silent, and even that was a bit of a let down.

2.5 stars rounded up.