My Review:In 2003, sixteen-year-old Rebecca Winter disappeared.
She'd been enjoying her teenage summer break: working at a fast-food restaurant, crushing on an older boy and shoplifting with her best friend. Mysteriously ominous things began to happen—blood in the bed, periods of blackouts, a feeling of being watched—though Bec remained oblivious of what was to come.
Eleven years later she is replaced.
A young woman, desperate after being arrested, claims to be the decade-missing Bec.
Soon the impostor is living Bec's life. Sleeping in her bed. Hugging her mother and father. Learning her best friends' names. Playing with her twin brothers.
But Bec's welcoming family and enthusiastic friends are not quite as they seem. As the impostor dodges the detective investigating her case, she begins to delve into the life of the real Bec Winter—and soon realizes that whoever took Bec is still at large, and that she is in imminent danger.
I'm sorry to say that I didn't really enjoy or get this book. It started off fine and the premise was certainly interesting but there were all these little things and threads of potential that were never carried out or explained. We don't under the impostor's motivation until the book is over, if even then. I also don't think the mystery was really thought out or explained. Yes, there are parts of this book that were gruesome and extremely troubling but there were so many dots not connected and details not explained with sufficiency or accuracy so as to actually help the story. There is such a glut of thrillers out there right now and so many good ones that I would skip this and move on to the next on your list.
Would it be better to feel afraid all the time or to feel nothing at all? She hadn't decided yet. The sun glared down at her through a milk skin of clouds. She would probably be burnt if she stayed out here much longer. But she liked this image of herself. Lying on her back in Lizzie's swimming pool. Green bikini, freckled arms outstretched, belly button filling up with water as she breathed. She wondered if she was being watched right now. The bedrooms of Lizzie's brother and father looked down onto the pool. She'd caught both of them staring at her a few times over the past year. It should gross her out, but it didn't.
My Review:Damaged. Deceptive. Dangerous. Darling. Are they labels or a warning? The answer could cost Sera everything.
Murder, justice, and revenge were so not a part of the plan when Sera set out on her senior camping trip. After all, hiking through the woods is supposed to be safe and uneventful.
Then one morning the group wakes up groggy, confused, and with words scrawled on their wrists: Damaged. Deceptive. Dangerous. Darling. Their supplies? Destroyed. Half their group? Gone. Their chaperone? Unconscious. Worst of all, they find four dolls acting out a murder—dolls dressed just like them.
Suddenly it's clear; they're being hunted. And with the only positive word on her wrist, Sera falls under suspicion…
This one was very much in the vein of I Know What You Did Last Summer and other, similar books by R.L. Stine or Christopher Pike, just not as good as I remember those YA horror/thriller books being. One, there was a serious focus on Sera's crush/former crush and why she thought she couldn't be with him; I found her reasoning to be quite lacking and also the fact that she would be focused on him and kissing him when someone was trying to kill her. I wish this sub-plot hadn't even existed; the thrill ride would have been more present and tangible had this "romance" not been a part of this book. That being said, there were some fun twists in this but something about the writing left me fumbling and wanting more depth to the plot, the story and the characters.
The trip was supposed to be great. Mr. Walker practically promised mythical nirvana out here. We'd see mountains and ancient trees and unicorns that come to drink at sunset or some crap. Extremely remote, he said. Personally enlightening, Ms. Brighton added.
They pegged the remote part. We're in Nowhere, West Virginia, where the only thing less common than people is cell phone reception. Of course, we're not remote enough to get me away from the one boy I'm trying desperately to avoid.Sadly, neither of these thrilled me much; hopefully you will have better luck with one or the both of them. One Was Lost comes out tomorrow October 4, 2016, while Only Daughter was released last month on September 20, 2016.
Sorry these didn't work for you, Only Daughter looked promising. I've had a few thrillers that didn't work lately.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry these both weren't your cup of tea. I hate it when that happens. Hopefully your next reads will be more to your liking.
ReplyDeleteBoo! Sorry neither of these impressed you, Eva. I was curious about the Natalie Richards book because I've liked some of her books, but it looks like I'll be skipping. The focusing on kissing when danger is looming part would annoy me and make me want to rage at the characters!
ReplyDeleteI always say.. life is too short to read a non-stellar book... especially when there's so many other amazing ones out there!
ReplyDeleteSorry these didn't work for you!! I hope your next ones are better. Lovely reviews!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry that these book didn't work out for you Eva, they sounded like they had so much potential too especially Only Daughter, I could definitely see myself gravitating towards that book too in the bookstore :( I hope your next read is a lot more enjoyable :)
ReplyDeleteI heard from Abbey from Crime by the Book that Only Daughter was just okay so I didn't bother in looking for it anymore. I'm sorry it didn't work for you :/ I was kind of creeped out on One Was Lost so I didn't want to read it just for that. I'm glad to know I didn't miss out on anything. Great reviews!
ReplyDeleteGenesis @ Latte Nights Reviews
The premise for both of these books sound really good. Sorry to hear the execution was sorely lacking. Hope you find a thriller out there to sink your teeth into! :)
ReplyDeleteYES, thank you, Only Daughter was frustrating to me too. I didn't even finish it. The other one doesn't look muhc better either :(
ReplyDeleteSorry neither of these really worked out for you. I really loved Only Daughter, but I can understand why you didn't care for it. I want to read One Was Lost, but yeah the "romance" does sound like something that would annoy me. Still I may check it out because the rest sounds great. Fantastic reviews Eva!
ReplyDeleteI read the synopsis of Only Daughter recently and was excited to start seeing some reviews for it. Unfortunately what I've seen have been pretty mixed. The fact that the motivation isn't until the very end (and even then it sounds like it might be a bit open-ended) would have me all kinds of ragey. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteAw, I am sorry that these were both misses for you! I had been kind of curious about One Was Lost but... not enough to read it, and now definitely not enough to read it hahhaha. Only Daughter... pass. It almost seems like it was going for shock value more than storyline and I don't need that, basically. Hope your next books are MUCH better, great reviews!!
ReplyDeleteGreat reviews! I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought the romance in One Was Lost was a bit off-putting. Thanks for visiting my review.
ReplyDeleteLauren @ My Expanding Bookshelf
There are so many mixed reviews of Only Daughter, but I think that makes it interesting. This was a 3.5 star read for me. I enjoyed it, but I struggled with certain material (you know what I'm referring to). I couldn't put it down until I knew my suspicions were confirmed. I enjoy unreliable characters so this worked for me. I'm sorry it fell so short for you :( I haven't heard of One Was Lost. I might give it a try, but I don't like the whole "let's try to have a romance while I'm trying not to die" lol. Hopefully your next reads will be a better fit. Thank you for the great reviews!
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