There was only one line that came to my mind when I finished reading this book – Much Ado About Nothing!! This may not be entirely true, but the ending left me feeling bereft and stranded as if I was in a desert and the story was the mirage. Perhaps I hadn’t understood the story…. Let me try to recapture it…
A hit and run in the middle of the night and 2 witnesses, one is Isla a housewife and the other Beth, the woman across the street… Isla couldn’t sleep hence went for a stroll and Beth was getting back from work. A single incident draws them together, and soon Beth moves in to Isla’s home and sees the reality of her life with husband Jake..
Author Vikki Patis has written a tale which reads swiftly, which causes interest to touch sky high, there is an absolute adrenaline rush, and the pages get turned every few seconds. The writing is really that good, the secrets hidden are so intriguing. It is just fabulous.
And then it all unravels for me. The story seems illogical as the subplots are not tied. I am left with many questions.
SPOILER ALERT
- Isla strolls only on THAT particular night, in the rest of the book when insomnia hits her, to relax, she is found smoking on the patio or drinking
- Husband Jake’s job is never explained, nor his night habits hinted at, but that soon becomes a half boiled subplot, which feels rushed when it comes to light
- Why does Isla never leave her husband when she has money squirrelled away just for that reason? Also if a wife is stealing money from household expenses, it is generally cash, not in her bank account which husband can access.
- What makes Isla stay with a husband who beats her black and blue, yet finds the courage to go to the clinic to abort her child but not the courage to go to the cops?
- Beth too stays with an asshole of a boyfriend who rapes her every other night, doesn’t work, yet Beth can’t leave him when she hates him. Why not? What are the mitigating circumstances stopping her?
There are many such minor subplots which are not weaved well into the storyline, at least for me, to enjoy the book completely. Ah yes, the ending is thriller-y, but I didn’t like it.
So all my love is for Vikki’s writing and for keeping me hooked till the end.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!!
All my reviews can be found here
What do you do when you are the only who has not liked the book?
Her name is Beth. She came into my life when I needed her the most. We lead very different lives, but she’s the only person who understands me.
She was the only other witness to the terrible accident on the street between our homes. The only person who saw the cracks in my perfect life before I had the chance to cover them up.
It’s been so long since I’ve had a friend. Someone to talk to, to listen to, to laugh and dream with.
Beth would never do anything to hurt me.
She only wants what’s best for me, for my marriage.
Doesn’t she?
Publication Date: 8th March 2019
Publisher: Bookouture
54 Responses
Great writing and a not-so-great plot can mar a book’s appeal. Thanks for the honest review!
Thanks Debjani… But I am the only one who thought something was missing on this story… So I am kind of doubting myself now 😞😩🤔
You tackled this review so well. I like how well balanced it is. I haven’t read the book but based on what you said, I think I’d have similar issues especially with the plotlines that didn’t make much sense. Great review Shalini. Sorry this one didn’t work out for you.
I have no idea others have loved it… So maybe I am wrong 😩😩🤔🤔totally confused
Sorry this one didn’t work out for you…
Great writing though1!
I am also shocked… But I liked part of it ❤️
And it started so good! Those plotholes in a story is something I wouldn’t be able letting pass either.
Since only I saw the plot holes, I may be wrong… You would probably enjoy it. It is still a fun read
Don’t worry at all about finding parts which didn’t work for you. Your honest review may make other people be brave enough to say the same at another time. It is also good feedback for the author.
I hope so… But since it was only me who saw this… I don’t know if I had read the same book 😂
You make me want to read this book and see what I think of it!! I love your reviews! They always seem so honest
Awww thank you so much.. I was wondering what I read and what others read..
I hope you like it when you get to it
I hope so too!!
I have a weird request…
You should read The Memories of Ana Calderon by Graciela Limon. I have read It, reviewed it twice! And still I feel like am missing something. I need someone to tell me their opinion. Its really driving me crazy.
Ok let me see if I can get the book… Just checked on amazon, quite a heavy read…
How do you read such books… It has a lot of layers, if that is the correct word
Wait, am not quite sure what you mean by a lot of layers…
At least from the synopsis and the reviews seen, it meant that the main character had a lot of depths, layers to her characterization
Yeah she does. And that’s what I guess still drives me crazy about it. I usually love reading such books, but this one, idk. Maybe the author overdid the layers??
Such a shame about the ending…nice review, Shalini 🙂
Thank you.. Most have liked, I am alone in my review.. So don’t go by my review… 😂 😂
Yikes, this one would make me rant and foam at the mouth – I appreciate your honest reviews – well done!
Hahaha now I am getting the brickbats because I had questions at the end of the book and I was not diplomatic about it.. 😂 😂
Oh sorry you didn’t like this! I think abuse is a very complex subjects and why women stay or don’t stay is multi layered and complex and really delves into each individual’s psychology. In the US you can have a bank account that your husband has no access to, I’m not sure about the UK?
Hope your next book is a better one!
Agreed..
I understand abuse very well, I have undergone it. Second, since this is a fiction, subplots have to be tied to show why women stay to show their complexity and characterization and their mental build-up. thirdly, in every country everyone can have a separate bank account, including mine. But in this, I didn’t understand why she was not careful, I wanted to be shown more mitigating circumstances…
I am from Mumbai India. And we Indians have seen all kinds of abuse. Here I was not shown a backstory so I had many questions at the end of the book.
I can only write what I felt at the end of the book, since I was told to give a honest review, I have to be honest, don’t I?
I wrote both the good points and the bad in this review telling what I enjoyed and what questions I had at the end.
I can’t like everything what others like. I hope my next book is good…
Oh absolutely I completely respect the fact that you didn’t like the book and had questions! I was just thinking out loud!
I was also trying to think why I went with this review. I couldn’t change it after the first draft… I have had many others message asking me why I have written this review…
Don’t question it it is how you feel! Not every book is for everybody that is for sure!
True that darling ❤️😍
Honest reviews are important. So many of the big media reviews of books give them glowing reviews – you’d think every book should be fantastic. But that’s not true and I feel a little duped when I read a so-so book that got great reviews. That just happened to me too. I think book bloggers should say what they think about the books they read and let the readers decide. End of rant 🙂
I agree.. I liked the book but I had so many questions… I kept turning till the end hoping something more would be shown.. 😂 😂
When I like a book I gush over it, when I don’t, I say it clearly..
I had high expectations looking at everyone’s reviews… But alas… I was left with questions.
Thank you for your kind words and your support… ❤️
I was messaged by many asking about this review… 🤷🏻♀️
Haha Shalini!!! I liked this one a lot more than you!!! Great review 💕💕 Your points were valid but weren’t things that bothered me!!!
Thank you Mackie 💖 💖 I understand, usually I can let go, in this I had high expectations.. Maybe I should have gone with no expectations
I think the author had a good plot idea, but then it fell apart in execution. 😳
I think so too… But all 62 reviewers have loved it.. So I am just a standalone 😂😂😂😂
Well, it’s still your opinion, so stand proudly! 🧐 (Good reviewer-play-on-words😉)
😘❤️😂😂 Thank you ❤️
An effective assessment on pros and cons in the making of the book, the subplots making it a balanced review. As always, enjoyed reading the review. Btw which is your favorite genre?
I go in for thrillers when real life gets to me, I read women’s fiction or family saga when I want a warm read, I read fantasy when I want magic in my life, I read cozy mystery when I am in a lazy mood, I read romance rarely in between. So I am a mood reader… 🤷🏻♀️
How interesting! Mine is rom com and love experimenting with various genres as well such as legal thrillers, or biography at times. I love a good book. Right now, I am reading Shantaram for the third time and also a huge fan of HP!
Wow lovely eclectic tastes😍
Thank you ❤️
It nice that you at least enjoyed the author’s writing style. But there are a lot of plot holes you stumbled upon…
Well in all 60 odd reviews, I am the only one who thought so… I don’t know but I felt just adding a line in the earlier parts would have made the book well weaved. Me thinks… But others messaged me regarding this low rating… 60% is more than average.. It is passing marks right? At your end of globe?
60% is the pass mark at my college. Lol.
But more importantly, no one should be messaging you about your rating. It’s your own honest opinion. It’s not like you said, ‘this book is crap’ and nothing else. You explained your rating.
Gawd cozy babe, I want to sag this book is crap for some of my reads and not give an explanation 🙈🙈 Jay would kill me and say – tut tut, I don’t expect this from you… 😂😂
Hahahaha. But I know what you mean.
I loved this book but when you put it like you did…lol I took it all at face value and got lost in the story didn’t think about the plot holes lol
Can’t blame you. Vikki’s writing is that good. I too got so immersed in it, but the ending kept irking me. I felt something was missing
Yeah that is what I loved her writing. The ending was so open!
I find that if I go into a book with high expectations, it seldom measures up. You were very honest in your review and explained why you rated it the way you did. I always appreciate your honesty when you write a review. You loved the writing, and that is huge. Better luck with this author’s next book.
She writes well. She just had to connect all the subplots with 2 or 3 lines, then it would have been complete. I am the only one who had these doubts, so maybe I am wrong 🤷🏻♀️
Someone’s opinion can’t be wrong. It is your opinion. 😁
I agree ❤️