Okay, I’m not going to lie, I went into this one with pretty low expectations. These days, whenever a book gets a lot of hype, I automatically become a little skeptical. But honestly? This one delivered.
One of my biggest fears was that it would be one of those books with an incredible premise that completely falls apart in the execution. You know the type: amazing concept, disappointing plot, and an ending that feels rushed or unsatisfying. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here. The story was well thought out, the mystery kept me guessing, and the last 100 pages were packed with twists that genuinely surprised me. Every reveal made me question everything I thought I knew, which is exactly what I want from a suspense novel. So yes, I absolutely recommend picking this one up.
Now you’re probably asking, “Fatma, if you liked it so much, why are you only giving it three stars?” Well, this is where my personal preferences come into play because otherwise this wouldn’t be a book review, would it? 😅
The beginning was incredibly strong. From the very first pages, I was hooked and desperate to know where the story was going. But somewhere in the middle, I found myself struggling, and the main reason was Natalie.
I know she’s intentionally written to be unlikeable, and trust me, the author succeeded. Natalie is a bitch. The problem is that, for me, unlikeable characters still need something that keeps me invested. Maybe it’s a glimpse of vulnerability, a redeeming quality, or simply a fascinating character arc. With Natalie, I rarely felt that connection. There were moments when I understood her motivations, but I never truly cared about her as a person.
Because so much of the novel relies on spending time in her head, the middle section started to drag for me. I wasn’t invested enough in Natalie herself, and while the mystery remained interesting, it wasn’t always enough to completely compensate for that disconnect. I also felt that some parts of the middle could have been a little tighter, as the pacing occasionally slowed before picking up again toward the end.