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lyrasbookshelf
This is one of the most heartbreaking books I've ever read. I didn't know it was possible to both love and hate a book so much.
As for the writing, there are definitely some holes and things that aren't that believable. Such as how all of them became so popular. JB's first show was a hit. Malcolm was supposed to have lost his ability to be original and then, all of a sudden, he founded Bellcast and was a success. I would have loved to have a character who's a total fuck-up. To some extent, that was JB, but he got back on track. I can believe Willem's and Jude's success. Willem worked hard and got lucky, too. Jude was really intelligent and a hard worker as well. However, Willem was supposed to have made millions and been really famous. Yet he didn't even have a publicist or bodyguards. He never had to worry about paparazzi or crazed fans or his safety. Not sure you can make millions and still have such an uninterrupted life where people don't bother you.
That being said, I still love the concept of the story. I knew beforehand that it was a sad story, but I still kept waiting for something good to happen. For Jude to be truly happy, but of course that's not realistic when you've experienced so much abuse.
I do not agree with people calling this book misery porn. It's not. What happened to Jude is realistic, as are the consequences. Not every book can or should have a happy ending.
Spoiler
I hate that Jude had to suffer so much. I hate that he hated himself and didn't see him as the amazing person he was. I hate that Willem died, I hate that Jude died. I hate how much Harold and Julia hurt. I hate how much pain abuse causes and how it reverberates throughout one's life and the life of those deares to them. I hate that so many people died at the end. I hate how Andy died, I would have been happier not knowing. I hate that JB, of all people, was what was left of them at the end. And yet, I love this book.As for the writing, there are definitely some holes and things that aren't that believable. Such as how all of them became so popular. JB's first show was a hit. Malcolm was supposed to have lost his ability to be original and then, all of a sudden, he founded Bellcast and was a success. I would have loved to have a character who's a total fuck-up. To some extent, that was JB, but he got back on track. I can believe Willem's and Jude's success. Willem worked hard and got lucky, too. Jude was really intelligent and a hard worker as well. However, Willem was supposed to have made millions and been really famous. Yet he didn't even have a publicist or bodyguards. He never had to worry about paparazzi or crazed fans or his safety. Not sure you can make millions and still have such an uninterrupted life where people don't bother you.
That being said, I still love the concept of the story. I knew beforehand that it was a sad story, but I still kept waiting for something good to happen. For Jude to be truly happy, but of course that's not realistic when you've experienced so much abuse.
I do not agree with people calling this book misery porn. It's not. What happened to Jude is realistic, as are the consequences. Not every book can or should have a happy ending.
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Ääretult raske lugemine. Mitte stiili ega keele poolest, vaid tõsise ja sünge teema tõttu. Ja kuigi lugeda oli rusuv, ei suutnud käest ka panna. Rakke on suurepäraselt edasi andnud selle, kuidas häbi ja häbitunde lapsesse sisendamine psüühikat lõhub ja inimese kogu ülejäänud elu mõjutab. Vajalik lugemine kõigile.
One of the most gripping books I've read this year. I love the premise and it took me by surprise that the author wrote it before the Covid pandemic because it's hard not to draw parallels between this fictional pandemic and the one we're now currently living in.
I especially love how we see so many perspectives and strong women in this story.
I especially love how we see so many perspectives and strong women in this story.
Absolutely breathtaking. This story will rip out your heart, crush your soul and make you think about it for days afterwards.
It is a total page-turner!
I know that the gist of the story is not unique. There are lots of books like this one, but this is so gripping you just cannot put it down.
Would have been five glowing stars, but I feel like there's a significant chunk missing from the story. The premise describes Lee as too perfect to be true, charming, mysterious and gorgeous. Well, the latter might be true, but as a reader, I never saw his charming side. He also wasn't mysterious, he was secretive and creepy from the start. So much so that I had a hard time seeing why Catherine or her friends liked him. Their relationship moved WAY too fast to be believable. He showed his true colours around 1.5 months into their relationship, at which point I think no sane woman is so invested as to stay with a violent man. Catherine was a young woman who loved to go out partying, not a woman in her thirties desperate to get married and settle down, so her putting up with his shit just made no sense. The guy also didn't meet her friends so much to warrant their reactions to Catherine wanting to end it. If a friend you have known for years tells you she's scared, will you convince her to stay because a guy is gorgeous or will you help her escape? Why would they take the side of a random guy she's been with for a few months? Who ACTUALLY does that? Had there been more interactions between the guy and her friends, it would have made more sense.
However, I loved that it was a mix of a psychological thriller and romance and like I said, it's really gripping, so I can forgive the fact that a big part of the plot seems implausible to me.
I know that the gist of the story is not unique. There are lots of books like this one, but this is so gripping you just cannot put it down.
Would have been five glowing stars, but I feel like there's a significant chunk missing from the story. The premise describes Lee as too perfect to be true, charming, mysterious and gorgeous. Well, the latter might be true, but as a reader, I never saw his charming side. He also wasn't mysterious, he was secretive and creepy from the start. So much so that I had a hard time seeing why Catherine or her friends liked him. Their relationship moved WAY too fast to be believable. He showed his true colours around 1.5 months into their relationship, at which point I think no sane woman is so invested as to stay with a violent man. Catherine was a young woman who loved to go out partying, not a woman in her thirties desperate to get married and settle down, so her putting up with his shit just made no sense. The guy also didn't meet her friends so much to warrant their reactions to Catherine wanting to end it. If a friend you have known for years tells you she's scared, will you convince her to stay because a guy is gorgeous or will you help her escape? Why would they take the side of a random guy she's been with for a few months? Who ACTUALLY does that? Had there been more interactions between the guy and her friends, it would have made more sense.
However, I loved that it was a mix of a psychological thriller and romance and like I said, it's really gripping, so I can forgive the fact that a big part of the plot seems implausible to me.
