Layemi
Unfortunately this book is so boring. I really wanted to like it, but all three characters are some of the most unlikable characters I’ve ever read about in a book. Temi is a mean, selfish friend, the main character seems to have no direction in her life except marrying a man who will make money so she can stay home and do nothing, whom she doesn’t even seem to love. I’d even go as far as to say she doesn’t even like him. The whole book seems to be about three rich people frolicking about pointing fingers at each other. I couldn’t care less about any of them. DNF so maybe it gets better, but from other reviews I don’t think so.
Also, there’s absolutely no speech/quotation marks? This makes it SO hard to read and realize who’s talking. What the point of this could be I have do idea, it adds nothing to the story. I’ve read a lot of the books by the same publisher, Masobe, and I’ve never seen any errors in their books, so I assume this was an inexplicable choice by the author.
Unfortunately this book is so boring. I really wanted to like it, but all three characters are some of the most unlikable characters I’ve ever read about in a book. Temi is a mean, selfish friend, the main character seems to have no direction in her life except marrying a man who will make money so she can stay home and do nothing, whom she doesn’t even seem to love. I’d even go as far as to say she doesn’t even like him. The whole book seems to be about three rich people frolicking about pointing fingers at each other. I couldn’t care less about any of them. DNF so maybe it gets better, but from other reviews I don’t think so.
Also, there’s absolutely no speech/quotation marks? This makes it SO hard to read and realize who’s talking. What the point of this could be I have do idea, it adds nothing to the story. I’ve read a lot of the books by the same publisher, Masobe, and I’ve never seen any errors in their books, so I assume this was an inexplicable choice by the author.
I read this book in a 4.5 hour stretch, plus 20 minutes the next day. I wasn’t quite sure at the end what I thought of it, and had to think through if I think it’s a 4 or 5 star book.
I liked most of the things about the book, the stories of the characters are realistic and seem to reflect well the situation in Nigeria at the time, some of the factors of which still last till today. Tolani’s relationships with Rose and her neighbours are relatable. I don’t want to give to much away, but though the ending of the first part was foreseeable, it still had the intended effect on the reader, and you keep reading to see how things go.
The part that I am conflicted on the most is the sections on Tolani’s mother’s life. The first time, I thought we were just going to hear her story once, but as we kept going back more and more times I realized it was part of the novel (and re read the back which confirmed it). To be honest, at first I was not interested in her mother’s story and considered glazing over it whenever it came up, but I am glad I read it as well because it was interesting, and her defiance and confidence was a welcome feature in a story about the times she lived in.
By the end though, I was still not quite sure on the connection between Tolani’s story and her mother’s. The two are related and reflect two women living through different times, but something in the connection of the two stories was just missing for me.
However, I’m still giving the novel 4.5 stars rounded up to five because I think not seeing the connection is my fault, not the author’s. It’s almost like I know something is there but I’m not thinking of the story in the right way to understand it. It still deserves five stars because it’s beautifully written, engaging, and as I mentioned an accurate reflection of a period in time.
I read this book in a 4.5 hour stretch, plus 20 minutes the next day. I wasn’t quite sure at the end what I thought of it, and had to think through if I think it’s a 4 or 5 star book.
I liked most of the things about the book, the stories of the characters are realistic and seem to reflect well the situation in Nigeria at the time, some of the factors of which still last till today. Tolani’s relationships with Rose and her neighbours are relatable. I don’t want to give to much away, but though the ending of the first part was foreseeable, it still had the intended effect on the reader, and you keep reading to see how things go.
The part that I am conflicted on the most is the sections on Tolani’s mother’s life. The first time, I thought we were just going to hear her story once, but as we kept going back more and more times I realized it was part of the novel (and re read the back which confirmed it). To be honest, at first I was not interested in her mother’s story and considered glazing over it whenever it came up, but I am glad I read it as well because it was interesting, and her defiance and confidence was a welcome feature in a story about the times she lived in.
By the end though, I was still not quite sure on the connection between Tolani’s story and her mother’s. The two are related and reflect two women living through different times, but something in the connection of the two stories was just missing for me.
However, I’m still giving the novel 4.5 stars rounded up to five because I think not seeing the connection is my fault, not the author’s. It’s almost like I know something is there but I’m not thinking of the story in the right way to understand it. It still deserves five stars because it’s beautifully written, engaging, and as I mentioned an accurate reflection of a period in time.
Added to listFavourite Thrillerswith 8 books.
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This novel had me completely engrossed from the start and on the edge of my seat, to the point where I couldn't read it at night for fear of having dreams about it (you definitely wouldn't want to be a character in this book). I'd have to take breaks to catch my breath and do something else for a bit, it is that tense. Alice Feeney does a fantastic job of creating an atmosphere that feels so real.
Similar concept to And Then There Were None, but a very original and surprising ending that makes you want to reread the whole thing.
This novel had me completely engrossed from the start and on the edge of my seat, to the point where I couldn't read it at night for fear of having dreams about it (you definitely wouldn't want to be a character in this book). I'd have to take breaks to catch my breath and do something else for a bit, it is that tense. Alice Feeney does a fantastic job of creating an atmosphere that feels so real.
Similar concept to And Then There Were None, but a very original and surprising ending that makes you want to reread the whole thing.
This book was very engaging from beginning to end, with lots of twists and turns that kept the story fresh and exciting, I spent a lot of my time not reading it trying to figure out what the heck was going on.
However the ending just didn't do it for me. Some aspects of it were incredible and there was an Agatha Christie level plot twist, but the whole time travel thing just because a bit much and too sci-fi. Took off one star because of that, but it really was overall a fantastic book, and I'll be looking out for more books the author writes.
This book was very engaging from beginning to end, with lots of twists and turns that kept the story fresh and exciting, I spent a lot of my time not reading it trying to figure out what the heck was going on.
However the ending just didn't do it for me. Some aspects of it were incredible and there was an Agatha Christie level plot twist, but the whole time travel thing just because a bit much and too sci-fi. Took off one star because of that, but it really was overall a fantastic book, and I'll be looking out for more books the author writes.
A very good book that was very tough to read, it should almost come with a trigger warning for abuse. The summary hints at it, but what is happening to the girls and how it affects them is described so well and explicitly, it is heartbreaking. Read it in a couple sittings and could be an even quicker read, but I needed to take breaks. Definitely one of the most heartbreaking and gut-wrenching books I've ever read, second only to perhaps Beartown.
A very good book that was very tough to read, it should almost come with a trigger warning for abuse. The summary hints at it, but what is happening to the girls and how it affects them is described so well and explicitly, it is heartbreaking. Read it in a couple sittings and could be an even quicker read, but I needed to take breaks. Definitely one of the most heartbreaking and gut-wrenching books I've ever read, second only to perhaps Beartown.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5. A beautiful touching novel. The ending threw me off in a way I didn't expect, and I wish it had gone a slightly different way. Other than that a great worthwhile read.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5. A beautiful touching novel. The ending threw me off in a way I didn't expect, and I wish it had gone a slightly different way. Other than that a great worthwhile read.
This book was extremely engaging, I was hooked from the start and finished it in less than 24 hours. I would've given it five stars, but I guessed the ending within something like 5 chapters. I think anyone who has read a couple thriller books and watched some TV shows would. I kept going because I almost thought it wouldn't be the answer because it was too obvious, but lo and behold it was. However I still enjoyed the book, there were some surprising twists along the way, and despite knowing what was going to happen I still thoroughly enjoyed the final scenes. Would totally recommend.
This book was extremely engaging, I was hooked from the start and finished it in less than 24 hours. I would've given it five stars, but I guessed the ending within something like 5 chapters. I think anyone who has read a couple thriller books and watched some TV shows would. I kept going because I almost thought it wouldn't be the answer because it was too obvious, but lo and behold it was. However I still enjoyed the book, there were some surprising twists along the way, and despite knowing what was going to happen I still thoroughly enjoyed the final scenes. Would totally recommend.
Another great book from Shari Lapena, with a good surprising enough ending. 4.5 stars rounded down to 4 just because this was a bit too scary for me, almost leaning a tiny bit towards horror and not just the thriller genre. But overall a really good book and would recommend.
Another great book from Shari Lapena, with a good surprising enough ending. 4.5 stars rounded down to 4 just because this was a bit too scary for me, almost leaning a tiny bit towards horror and not just the thriller genre. But overall a really good book and would recommend.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I was concerned before I read it that it would be just story after story of men cheating. While about half of them were that, there were other types of stories too that were a nice break. For one of the stories, to be honest I don’t see what the guy did wrong, the woman didn’t do anything wrong either so I wondered a bit what what the point of the story was.
The stories were interesting and engaging, not as funny as Only Big Bum Bum Matters Tomorrow, but still a good read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4, 3.5 because I think some of the stories could have been funnier instead of just about the guy cheating on his parter, at a point listening to his thoughts on why he’s deceiving his partner or being asshole being funny got old fast. But 4 stars for the pacing and how entertaining the stories are.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I was concerned before I read it that it would be just story after story of men cheating. While about half of them were that, there were other types of stories too that were a nice break. For one of the stories, to be honest I don’t see what the guy did wrong, the woman didn’t do anything wrong either so I wondered a bit what what the point of the story was.
The stories were interesting and engaging, not as funny as Only Big Bum Bum Matters Tomorrow, but still a good read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4, 3.5 because I think some of the stories could have been funnier instead of just about the guy cheating on his parter, at a point listening to his thoughts on why he’s deceiving his partner or being asshole being funny got old fast. But 4 stars for the pacing and how entertaining the stories are.
I couldn’t finish this book, it was so boring. I loved Daisy Darker so I’ve been trying other books by Alice Feeny, but unfortunately none of them hooked me. The main detective has been through some things for sure, but the whole knowing the victim (this isn’t a spoiler, it’s revealed early) and not saying anything was annoying, I couldn’t care less what happens to this guy. It was just slow and sad, and I don’t care what happened to the victim either. None of the characters are particularly interesting. Really wanted to like this one but I didn’t.
I couldn’t finish this book, it was so boring. I loved Daisy Darker so I’ve been trying other books by Alice Feeny, but unfortunately none of them hooked me. The main detective has been through some things for sure, but the whole knowing the victim (this isn’t a spoiler, it’s revealed early) and not saying anything was annoying, I couldn’t care less what happens to this guy. It was just slow and sad, and I don’t care what happened to the victim either. None of the characters are particularly interesting. Really wanted to like this one but I didn’t.
