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The novel is a fast paced story, divided between the past of Amelie being orphaned as a teen and making her way to London where she eventually marries Ned, and the present day where she and Ned have been kidnapped and are being held prisoner by unknown people. Frustrated? Uncomfortable? Claustrophobic? Confused as to WHY and HOW you ended up trapped in said box? The story ends exactly like I expected and I liked that. In spite of that, I have to say the ending felt a little rushed. Everything was somehow too neat IMO. I would have liked to know more about some aspects in these characters’ lives and also the story to be longer. Also, IMO would have been better with more psychological elements…I know, I know…I’m greedy, but it's what I would have preferred.
Amelie begins the novel as a naïve young woman, just looking for a way to escape her life, and when the oppourtunity presents itself, she can’t be blamed for jumping at the chance. Even when it appears too good to be true. Ned is quite obviously a despicable creature, right from the start, but it isn’t until the story begins to unfold that we see his true devious nature.Debut-novelist Paris adroitly toggles between the recent past and the present in building the suspense of Grace’s increasingly unbearable situation, as time becomes critical and her possible solutions narrow. This is one readers won’t be able to put down.”— Booklist (starred review) While I can’t say I loved this one, I liked it enough to consider reading another book from this author. The pace never lets up. Okay, actually it did get a tiny bit slow in the middle, but it could have just been my discomfort (super nail-biting unchiness) that made me want it to go faster so I could see what happened. I’ve never been so impatient. The beginning and ending were just scrumptious. i am absolutely fine with calling this a marriage thriller or a psychological thriller, but the word "suspense" and the wrong readalikes set up certain expectations that will be unmet by this book.
Whilst on a business trip to Vegas, Ned offers Amelie a deal. If she marries him, he'll give her something she really desires. Who would think that something could go wrong from this? All we know --- is Grace is later going to have to find a way to cancel. She just won't be 'allowed' it seems to enjoy a lunch date with a girlfriend. Why? We don't know yet. Point is ....WE ARE INTERESTED IN THE BEGINNING..... Characters flit from place to place to serve the plot. Conversational exchanges happen that would NEVER happen in real life. Though the chapters are short and I was still able to blow through this in a few days, it was somewhat of a torturous experience. I kept wanting there to be emotional depth, surprising reveals, ANYTHING to make it make sense and make it seem like the plot was truly going somewhere interesting... but that never happened.
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That's how Amelie's world changes. She now has friends she can count on, a safe and comfortable place to live, as well as a good salary. She begins to live the life that other, more privileged girls, her age are living.
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