A book that delves deep into uncharted territories of relationship stereotypes, questionable human behavior, and the absolute marvel of discrete psychological manipulation. No trope keeps readers on edge and keeps turning pages, as the legendary trope of the ‘unreliable narrator’.

Largely because the only source of information that guides the reader through the plot of a book, is well, its narrator. And when the narrator leads you astray from the facts, you grip the rind of the book harder in need of adequate answers.

Of course for the effect of the “unreliable narrator” to be truly effective, you need to first establish the credibility of said narrator.

Caroline is introduced to us, rather she introduces herself to us, as a person on the brink of an ending marriage, where she is at the worse end of the stick. She was faithful and was humiliated in front of a large gathering because of her husband’s carefree unfaithfulness.

She only hooks up with a guy because she finally deserves an escape, right? And throughout the course of her and Aidan’s relationship, she continues to be the victim, for almost the entirety of that confusing time.

One point to be noted is that the description of how Caroline struggles with going to the police and her uncomfortable confusion about the severity of the situation is a very well and accurate depiction of abusive relationships. Heck the entire progression of Caroline and Aidan’s relationship, from her pov, outlines a masterclass in the theology of abusive relationships. Well now that I look at it, it is exactly the same the other way around as well.

… But one of them is telling the truth.

That’s how fun this book was. A bit disturbing? Sure. But super interesting and fun if you’re into psychological fiction…. stuff.

I mean in some obscure way, this (the book’s plot), was some next-level Gone Girl havoc. (a masterpiece-havoc). Don’t come at me if you don’t think so, because it doesn’t really line up…but, if you want to believe it is part of that sacred community of masterpieces then it’s rather a very cool thought.

Well… Amy Dunne won, and Caroline didn’t, well that’s because Nick Dunne was much more of an asshole than Caroline’s husband. Don’t ask me why. I’m not really sure why.

Also, it would be like Caroline would’ve had to kill Aidan like Amy killed Desi Collings. But it’s becoming too much of a stretch now. I should get out of this not-so-appropriate literary parallel.

I think the best part about the book is, well, the unreliable narrator, because it keeps you guessing, and that its fast paced, because it keeps you turning pages.

I’m personally not so well-versed in domestic thrillers like this, but what online reviews have offered is that, generally all domestic thrillers are fast paced, because of the family or triangular-love-drama. Though I stand relatively against such generalization of literature.

The climax was greatly rewarding, which is the final thing that pulls the book together and you proceed to remember it as a good and sweet memory.

An epic climax is that which flips your understanding of the characters and their world upside down, but when you look back, it all makes sense, so you don’t feel cheated.

Although it is said, that Campbell rushes her endings with an entourage of new characters, an onslaught of fresh plot points, and leaving breadcrumbs a bit too big (which makes the climax predictable), I think that the change in pace, the expansion of world-view and the tiny details one misses in the first-read, are brilliantly choreographed.

*Spoiler Alert*

I mean how fun is it when a crime gets involved in a psychological thriller? And then the climax offers a bigger crime that dilutes even the previous one. (Which by the way, and I could not resist adding this, made both Caroline and her husband considerable assholes as compared to Nick and Amy Dunne).

Finally, I think it’s comforting that at the end, we’re given a definitive good guy to side with and sympathize with and pity. Because his piteous back story is thrust upon us and he has been made to go through enough.

But what the totality of the book really leads up to is which narrator, and which pov, and which version of facts… can we really trust?

Unsettling? Sure.

Fun? Yeah. Super fun. It is a recommended read.

And thank you, for your precious and valued reading time. Happy reading! 🙂