Take a photo of a barcode or cover
bookishfoxes 's review for:
Seven Ways We Lie
by Riley Redgate
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hmm. I have complicated feelings.
This book had been on my TBR since I joined bookish online spaces. I saw it in a recommendation video once and added it to my wishlist. Then after a few years I finally bought it, only to keep it on my shelf for a while. All this time I had the expectation that I would love this book. I mean, queer rep + mystery + an autistic coded character? Sounds right up my alley.
I finally decided to read this book because I was in the mood for a mystery and this popped up. I felt like it was about time.
The beginning disappointed me a lot. I just... couldn't get into it? Like, it was fast to read, so it didn't partially feel slow, but it felt... I don't know. Bland? I didn't really care.
I almost DNFed it because I honestly didn't even really feel invested enough to find out the ending. But it was a fast read and because it has been on my TBR for ages, I also didn't want to quit. So I contacted.
It definitely got better, but it feels like the story only starts about halfway in the book. And then the mystery isn't a mystery at all. The secret relationship was so obvious from the start. I kept hoping for a plottwist, but it didn't come.
I did end up liking most of the characters. Everyone but Claire. While I didn't enjoy Juniper's POVs, I did like her as a character.
Matt stole the show for me, and I loved his and Olivia's scenes so much.
Also, yay for the pansexual rep!! It often feels ignored in society so I was very happy to read about a pan character!
The ending was ok. I still wasn't invested enough to want more, but it still felt a bit lacking.
Overall, I feel like not much happened in this book. Even though it has some heavy themes, it felt like light reading for when you're bored. Nothing really blinked out. It was... well, kind of bland, I guess.
I feel like 3 stars accurate describes my feelings. Mostly neutral. Didn't dislike it but also didn't really enjoy it that much.
I'm not sure how much of my high expectations influenced this. Maybe with no expectationd I would have loved it more. Who knows.
This book had been on my TBR since I joined bookish online spaces. I saw it in a recommendation video once and added it to my wishlist. Then after a few years I finally bought it, only to keep it on my shelf for a while. All this time I had the expectation that I would love this book. I mean, queer rep + mystery + an autistic coded character? Sounds right up my alley.
I finally decided to read this book because I was in the mood for a mystery and this popped up. I felt like it was about time.
The beginning disappointed me a lot. I just... couldn't get into it? Like, it was fast to read, so it didn't partially feel slow, but it felt... I don't know. Bland? I didn't really care.
I almost DNFed it because I honestly didn't even really feel invested enough to find out the ending. But it was a fast read and because it has been on my TBR for ages, I also didn't want to quit. So I contacted.
It definitely got better, but it feels like the story only starts about halfway in the book. And then the mystery isn't a mystery at all. The secret relationship was so obvious from the start. I kept hoping for a plottwist, but it didn't come.
I did end up liking most of the characters. Everyone but Claire. While I didn't enjoy Juniper's POVs, I did like her as a character.
Matt stole the show for me, and I loved his and Olivia's scenes so much.
Also, yay for the pansexual rep!! It often feels ignored in society so I was very happy to read about a pan character!
The ending was ok. I still wasn't invested enough to want more, but it still felt a bit lacking.
Overall, I feel like not much happened in this book. Even though it has some heavy themes, it felt like light reading for when you're bored. Nothing really blinked out. It was... well, kind of bland, I guess.
I feel like 3 stars accurate describes my feelings. Mostly neutral. Didn't dislike it but also didn't really enjoy it that much.
I'm not sure how much of my high expectations influenced this. Maybe with no expectationd I would have loved it more. Who knows.