ESHA BHANDARY

The writing was good, although the story and the characters were not for me. It's a "teenage" storyline involving adult characters who behave immaturely for the most part of it except when they're f**king. The concept goes like two people who are physically attracted to eachother, just want meaningless s*x, make a pact to keep it a casual entanglement because they don't have time/want to be in a relationship and then end up falling in love and finally getting together after lots of crying and psychologically plus emotionally overwhelming eachother. I may have over simplified it but at the end of the day, it's just another novel with a good plot (almost) getting ruined by unlikable characters who ruin everything with their cringe personality. Ps: I read this one years back and still remember the plot, including the timeline. May be it wasn't that bad and I'm just hungry right now, who knows. :)

It's a well written novel. Explanation of events is done smoothly, it is something that makes it captivating. Although, personally I found it very slow and the ending was predictable. It was as if I knew what was going to happen to the bad guy and all I had to do was keep on reading upto that moment. Spolier: it's not really believable that Paul didn't have a gun of his own and didn't think he'd need to defend himself. His intelligence is applauded so many times throughout the book that I started to find it annoying and this guy comes out without a plan. I know there was a moment of surprise because of what Claire did, but really? If not a gun, atleast a butter knife or a pen. Like he thought he'd just get what he wanted after all the things he's done, aftter all the things she knows. It's stupid. Not even a little fight. What was his escape plan??? I wish it had Julia's Pov at the end. I think it'd have added more intensity. We got everyone's Pov but never of the people actually involved in the play. I wanted the last chapter to be Julia's or Anna's or Paul's. To truly be able to read their last moments' fear, pain, faith, yearning, thoughts, hope etc.

I have no freaking idea why this novel has such a great overall rating. The novel is mediocre at best. I couldn't finish it. The cliches are so cringe. The characters are petty and childish. It's a Wattpad story, infact not a good one.

Just read it already. I won't do justice to it by explaining how good it is. It is beyond good and an experience that is chilling yet worth it.