Blagica Jankuloska
Glitz, Glamour, and Gripping Twists
I flew through this book in just two sittings! If you follow my reviews, you already know that dark psychological thrillers are my absolute happy place, and this one initially caught my eye with its stunning cover.
Admittedly, the beginning was a little tough to navigate because of the large cast of characters. Once I found my footing, though, I really enjoyed the dual focus on both the teen and adult perspectives. I also have to admit—I was never a pageant girl. In fact, I am so far from fitting into that box it’s not even funny! Yet, the pageant circuit served as the perfect, atmospheric backdrop for this small-town mystery.
Truthfully, because I went in expecting a breakneck thriller, the slow-burn pace threw me off at first and made it a bit harder to get into than expected. However, it wasn't a bad slow by any means. Once the momentum picked up, everything clicked beautifully, and the pacing felt entirely justified.
The twists and turns throughout were strong, but the final revelation near the end completely threw me for a loop. Right after an already fantastic climax, that last-minute spin turned the entire story on its head and totally gripped me. It was brilliantly executed.
If you love a slow-burn mystery set in a small town with a complex web of characters, this is a solid pick. My heart says this is a strong 3.5-star read, but that ending makes me want to round up to a 4. If this author's writing style stays this accessible—and the covers stay this gorgeous—I will happily recommend this to friends and eagerly add their next book to my TBR!
Glitz, Glamour, and Gripping Twists
I flew through this book in just two sittings! If you follow my reviews, you already know that dark psychological thrillers are my absolute happy place, and this one initially caught my eye with its stunning cover.
Admittedly, the beginning was a little tough to navigate because of the large cast of characters. Once I found my footing, though, I really enjoyed the dual focus on both the teen and adult perspectives. I also have to admit—I was never a pageant girl. In fact, I am so far from fitting into that box it’s not even funny! Yet, the pageant circuit served as the perfect, atmospheric backdrop for this small-town mystery.
Truthfully, because I went in expecting a breakneck thriller, the slow-burn pace threw me off at first and made it a bit harder to get into than expected. However, it wasn't a bad slow by any means. Once the momentum picked up, everything clicked beautifully, and the pacing felt entirely justified.
The twists and turns throughout were strong, but the final revelation near the end completely threw me for a loop. Right after an already fantastic climax, that last-minute spin turned the entire story on its head and totally gripped me. It was brilliantly executed.
If you love a slow-burn mystery set in a small town with a complex web of characters, this is a solid pick. My heart says this is a strong 3.5-star read, but that ending makes me want to round up to a 4. If this author's writing style stays this accessible—and the covers stay this gorgeous—I will happily recommend this to friends and eagerly add their next book to my TBR!