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If you like unreliable narrators, surprise twists, and courtroom plots, When We Were Bright and Beautiful should be on your radar.
Please note: this book tackles dark topics and sex crimes. Please check the trigger warnings before diving in.
What’s it about?
A college student, Cassie, and her affluent family reel from the aftereffects of her brother’s rape charge. As the case unravels, Cassie must face the truth about the people she loves most.
The start was slow, but it was worth it in the end.
It took awhile for the story to build momentum, but once it got going, I was invested.
I will say it was the plot more than the writing that kept me hooked. My main barrier was the focus on backstory. It worked for this story because so much of what happened in the past is actually relevant to the present. So it took a while, but eventually I was able to find my groove with the narrator.
The main character was both unreliable and unlikeable, but she was compelling. It’s a fine balance to strike, and in my opinion the author succeeded. In fact, all the characters were distinctly unlikable, each one disturbing or disgusting or confusing in their own way. And yet, I couldn’t look away.
And the twist. It was well-executed – completely surprising and yet, once you know, you realize all the breadcrumbs were there.
Should you read it?
Yes, I recommend When We Were Bright and Beautiful to fans of twisty, dramatic crime novels with unlikeable characters all around.
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One response to “When We Were Bright and Beautiful: Twisty and engaging”
SOUNDS GOOD!!! Love “twisty” stories. Thanks for a great review, they are always just right.