morganjanedavis's Reviews (396)

Hoover is SO GOOD at “the hook” and sucking you into stories so you don’t want to put the book down. I don’t do love books a lot of the time but I’m going to have to start making exceptions for her. It’s not even the plot or characters that made me love this book it’s the way Colleen presented them, unveiling layer after layer, letting everything slowly unfold and bringing emotions I’ve personally had trouble expressing to light in a beautiful way. Love her loved the book could not put it down.

This was a fun read! I loved trying to figure out the twists and turns throughout the book, and the writer makes you feel for the characters even if they choices they’ve made aren’t the best. A true mystery that kept me guessing up until the very end.

I loved the characters in the book and how fast-paced yet low-stakes and impactful the storyline was. The insights to privileges some don’t ever consider were eye opening and presented through the lenses of the characters entertaining and made me think about my life outside of the book. Would recommend.

3.5, I might have been more impressed with this if I read it when it came out in 1972 but, it was slightly boring? I loved Joanna but the other characters were not impressive. I also ~know~ how the book ends but I like when things are wrapped up super neatly and unfortunately, it was not.

3.5, I love all of Grady's works but this one wasn't scary enough for me. I read this because I was desperate for more of his books and while this was a lovely read I really love the dynamic female relationships/characters he has outlined in his other works, and I was expecting something deeper here as well. Overall I found it a lighthearted change of pace compared to his other stuff but it was still enjoyable.

3.5, Meh this story was truly just OK. It felt like a game of Clue on a ship. I did not really connect with any of the characters and while it was fun to try to piece together who the culprit was, I would have liked it more if I resonated with the characters. The ending was unexpected though!

This was the first book I read this Summer and while I enjoyed the format of back and forth emails, the story itself just didn't resonate with me on any level. It was slightly unsettling and it was clear that the characters had issues but, even with the odd ending the story just didn't stick with me. If this were longer I would have been more disappointed in it, as a novella I feel that it should have packed more of a punch.

One of my favorite books of the year, my favorite work of Hendrix's to date. I binged this book in a day and finished it through fits of crying. The female friendship in this book steals the show for me, right up until the very end. The thematic demonic elements only make the story better, and I love the darkness of this story intertwined with the heavy sappy theme of BFF's. I do not like to reread things and I seriously may have to reread this one.

I am a sucker for all things Grady Hendrix, this not being an exception. I LOVED this book. The final girls' stories all come together and nothing is as it seems as you continue to read through. Hendrix has become so great at writing complex females and their relationships, this book highlighting that heavily. I loved the elements of real life horror that spilled into the book as well as the campy over the top chapters as well. This is the perfect October read if you're looking for something spooky!

I did not like this book at all. The characters were subpar and the plot was SLOW, and in my opinion never picked up. The "big" ending was weird in a way that took away from the rest of the book. There was too much inner dialogue about the psyche of a serial killer who, in reality, only roamed around their own property and rarely their town. If you like psychological books with plot that leads nowhere, maybe this is for you LOL