I feel like I'm getting worse at reviewing thrillers because I'm so tired of saying the same things. This was an okay thriller. Not great, but passable enough that I didn't dislike the reading process. Yet another book I won't remember in a couple of days. Most of my specific thoughts are negative, though.

Not a fan of this author's style. To me it felt overwritten, too many unnecessarily pretty metaphors or weird similes to say simple things. "The water gleaming like Saran Wrap in the sun." Characters were constantly saying things like "grief is a tarnish that only gets darker." And she had odd phrasing that felt almost backward sometimes, so I'd have to reread sentences to realize what they were saying. "Hannah seemed to not even glimpse her own beauty, so accustomed was she to the sight." Like sure it makes sense once you realize how it's meant to be read, but it doesn't feel natural.

I also struggled with the point of views. The story alternates between "Then" (1948) and "Now" (present day). Within each time period there are a few different POV characters. By the end of the book I had figured out all the characters and relationships, but it took me a good bit to get there and I almost DNFed this right at the beginning because I couldn't follow along. It does get better, but waiting for a book to get better sucks.

The whole focus on cheating was weird to me, especially since it took such a positive view on cheating. How can you blame them if they're now with the one they love??? It was meant to be and all that. I don't mind cheating in books, but it's irritating when the book tries to justify it and keep you from thinking too poorly of the main character. It usually doesn't bother me that much, but it was such a major focus of both timelines that it really just made me hate all the characters more.

Also didn't like the supernatural elements. I went in thinking it was a straight thriller, but there were constant odd premonitions, or characters having memories from generations before. Almost like they were kind of meant to be reincarnations or something. I dunno if it was metaphorical or literal or just supposed to suggest the idea, but it was weird.

The ending felt anticlimactic. Not unresolved or open ended because you, the reader, know what happened to everyone in the story. But the whole book is Abby trying to figure out what happened. And then it just kind of ends with a shrug. I wanted something a little more. Like it wasn't a terrible ending. It didn't make me angry like some thriller endings do, but I expected something more.

I dunno, I found this irritating but also it was fine. Just okay. Another passable thriller where I could sit here and nitpick every tiny thing I disliked for hours, but does it really matter? If it sounds good to you and you don't mind alternating timelines or hella cheating, go ahead and pick it up. But it wasn't for me and I'm mostly just glad that I finished it quickly.