I’m behind where I want to be on book reviews for the back half of the year and I want to be caught up for the new year. So we’re going to post some reviews speed-dating style. If I have lots to say, I’ll go into more detail, but for some of the middle of the road reads for the year, I’ll keep my thoughts brief.
What it’s about:
Daphne and her fiancé, Heath, seem to be the perfect couple. But as their pending nuptials get closer – and Heath’s worsening nightmares put a strain on things – Heath wants Daphne to go on a week long retreat with him where they can work on their relationship, he can get the help he needs, and they can get to know more about each other. Once they are settled at the retreat center – which is kind of a creepy, old house in the woods on the side of a mountain, where they have to relinquish their cell phones, keys to their vehicles, and are filmed pretty much 24/7 – Daphne begins to realize that things aren’t exactly what they seem.
Why I decided to read it:
I picked up this book, initially, because it sounded like it was in a similar vein as Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarity, which I had read back in early 2020. I had thought Moriarity’s book had an interesting premise, but didn’t love what it did with the ending, so when I read the description of this one and it sounded like it was along similar lines, I figured it was worth checking out.
The Pros:
- This book was a page turner and a quick read. Like other well-written thrillers, this one pulls you in and keeps you guessing right til the end.
- It was really well written. Characters felt multi-dimensional, the setting was eerie and intriguing, and the plot moved cinematically – with twist and turns that were surprising and didn’t feel forced.
- Because of the setting and plot, this feels like a really great winter read.
The Cons:
- I know it was foundational to the story (and I felt like it was better once the story got going and it fell by the wayside) but the beginning of the story is predicated on the idea that – aside from a few issues, like the nightmares – Daphne and Heath are perfectly suited for each other. Except that they have this deal that neither of them will discuss their past. This includes not talking about exes, as well as not discussing their childhood or families or anything like that – as though their lives started when they met each other, with nothing at all before that. And when Heath starts revealing bits of his past and wants to know more about Daphne’s it creates the first major point of tension in the story. This is all fine and good, but it feels SUPER unrealistic in a story that otherwise feels rooted in realism. They’re engaged to be married, but refuse to talk about their past? It was enough to take you out of the story, which I think makes it worth mentioning.
- Despite being hard to put down in the moment, this book ended up being largely forgettable. I read this book back in the spring and of all the books I read this year, it’s the one that I remember the least about. In fact – when sitting down to write this – I had to look back up the synopsis and after reading the first sentence, said “Oh yeah. The one with the couple that refuses to talk about their past.” Which I guess tells you all you need to know about what I remembered about the book. 😬
Final Thoughts:
I think that if you are a fan of mysteries or thrillers and are looking for a good, cold-weather read, this one is worth checking out. It’s really not a bad book. But for me, it’s was pretty middle of the road. I don’t think it’s anything particularly groundbreaking, but for a thriller fan, you might find a new author you love.
