Arella Warren

I saw so many recommendations for “Behind Her Eyes” while searching up psychological thrillers with crazy plot twists, so naturally, I had to know what it was all about. I borrowed it from the library and finished it in four days. Here are my highs and lows. • Major page-turner with a compelling mystery. Once I was a quarter way through, the suspense kept building & I didn’t want to put it down. The book pulls a 180, but plants enough seeds that I was able to start working some of the twists out ahead of time. • Interesting dual perspective narration. I like how the book bounces between characters, complementing the mystery by revealing insight through bits and pieces. • The writing can be repetitive & somewhat slow on the pacing. This isn’t a huge issue since the chapters are short, but the dialogue is very same-y and often ends on the same cliché (i.e., “but she’ll never guess what’s coming next.”) • Problematic / controversial themes are treated as plot devices and aren’t properly examined. There are quite a few, which is the book’s weakest point IMO. All the leading characters — except the one obvious victim in the end — make terrible, selfish decisions. I like having moral ambiguity, especially in a thriller, but I feel like we’re meant to be sympathetic toward the characters despite the very problematic set-ups (i.e., cheating, betrayal, alcoholism, grooming that’s never called out as grooming….. etc.). **SEMI-SPOILER** The biggest subversion is that the plot is not grounded in reality. I think it would’ve been better if I knew this going in; the book is advertised as a drama but relies on paranormal elements and magical thinking. The end is also so farfetched that it left me with a lot of questions, especially regarding the development / motivations of the “villain.” **END** All that said, I’m teetering around 3.9 stars. The plot has some very obvious issues, but it maintained my attention, and I could see myself wanting to reread it someday knowing how it ends.

(No spoilers) “Yellowface” examines the intersection several of big-picture issues within the publishing industry, including cultural appropriation, social media abuse, echo chambers, and lack of diversity. Conceptually, this should make for an interesting story, but the narrator is so dull and unsympathetic. While it’s meant to be satirical — a white author who steals her dead Asian friend’s manuscript and endures the consequences of ‘yellowface’ — June’s self-righteousness combined with a very slow-moving plot made this book tough to get through for me personally. By the end, I didn’t walk away feeling entertained or educated. I do appreciate the author’s attempt to highlight racial issues, and some of the scenes that go into the publishing process are pretty interesting. It just wasn’t as insightful as I hoped. 3/5 stars.

(No spoilers) “First Lie Wins” is the biggest page-turner I’ve read in a while. The author builds suspense in the first few pages by introducing us to Evie Porter, the shifty protagonist. This suspense consistently builds up as Evie interweaves narration between her present and her past, carefully laying out the pieces to a big mystery that all comes together in the end. While it was a good read, the writing is fairly simplistic and I felt like I knew where the story was going — I predicted the main plot twist early-on. Still, it felt satisfying due to the non-linear way in which it unraveled. I also enjoyed the positive note it ended on yet the story’s predictability decreases its reread value for me. Overall I’m leaning toward 4.3/5 stars.

(No spoilers) The most prevalent complaint I see about “Lessons in Chemistry” is that it feels one-dimensional — those who didn’t like it say the characters are flat and unrelatable, while the feminist and ‘anti-religious’ commentary is too brash and overplayed. I’d strongly disagree with this take, arguing that the book provides an engaging narrative for those who enjoy the unconventional. Yes, the protagonists are all highly intellectual, causing many to say they feel one-note and emotionless; however, as someone who has trouble relating to the “average Jane,” I find it refreshing and believable. It is the characters’ quirkiness and lack of social awareness that propels the story along. This quirkiness is reinforced by the self-aware dog — which I personally thought fit right in to this story! As for the criticism that it’s overly “woke”… I don’t see it. While the main character is atheistic and openly speaks out against blindly following religious dogma, it fits her non-conformist personality and she never bashes anyone for their beliefs. In fact, the main character’s closest friend is openly religious and portrayed as a strong woman. I understand that some of the commentary feels unrealistic for the time period. Though overall, I think the author does a good job painting an alternative picture of the 1950s-60s, with elements of mystery, tragedy, and family dynamics woven together to support a heartwarming ending. A solid 4.5/5 for me.