Ali Land | GOOD ME BAD ME
I want to preface this review with the fact that I LOVE Flatiron Books. I believe they have great taste in books as I am often reaching out to them for review copies and I enjoy every thriller they have put out. That being said, I was more than happy to accept a final copy of GOOD ME BAD ME by Ali Land as I have heard so many wonderful things about this one and was eager to find out what all of the hype was about. Well, let's just say I am glad I read this one on a weekend. See my review below!
Plot:
NEW FAMILY.
SHINY.
NEW.
ME.'
Review:
Okay so Annie...I'm sorry, Milly's mother is a serial killer. This one does not hold back on the suspense as it begins with Annie...I'm sorry, Milly going into the police station to turn her mother in. What. An. Opener. At this point, I had about 280 pages left and couldn't wrap my head around where this one would go. Pretty soon Milly begins a new direction in her life with a new family and a bright new start. Or, so it seems. Nothing is perfect, especially Milly's life.
What I really enjoyed about this one was how it gave us a look into Milly's life after dealing with what her mother had done and provided the reader with breadcrumbs of information sporadically through the novel as Milly dealt with events and people in her present life. Without saying too much, I was really happy with how Land provided enough detail to make the reader aware of the atrocities this girl had suffered, but also not too much detail to make you cringe or skip pages. Getting to know Milly was a dark and delicious trek that will stay with me for years to come.
The characterization in this one is spot on. There are so many uniquely written and phenomenal characters (aside from Milly) that I kind of wish this could be a series so I could get back in touch with him again in a year or two. Even the evil characters are delicious and appetizing. The sheer brilliance in the character of Milly is spot on as we do get to see this delicate girl who deep down is good, but has these "bad" moments and thoughts as a result of living a life with her mother.
And then, 200 pages hit. We are heading into the trial and Milly is ready to take the stand. This has to be one of the most exciting and interesting psychological thrillers I have ever read, let alone this year. I mean, it's realistic and chilling and complicated and confusing and brilliant. This novel is brilliant. I have never felt chills go up my spine and gasps come out of my lungs so much as one terribly frightening line takes place in court. The courtroom scenes were perfection and the tension, violence, and events that really mess with your psyche skyrocket thereafter.
As the book progresses after the penultimate courtroom drama, I couldn't imagine it getting any better. Well, Ali Land, you got me there. An explosive turn occurs towards the end of this book that I honestly never saw coming and I am usually pretty good at guessing. The book ends with a final chapter that I had to read three times in a row. Not because I didn't get it, but because the brilliance in this one was shinier than the cover (and boy, what a beautiful cover it is.) Ali Land, wherever you go, I will follow. Flatiron Books, whatever you publish I will read. To anyone to reads this novel, I will converse with you. Just please, readers; make Milly happen. Easily one of the best psychological thrillers I have ever read, I highly suggest pre-ordering this one now as September 5, 2017 is right around the corner and you don't want to be the one to miss out.
Special thanks to Flatiron Books for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Plot:
'NEW NAME .
NEW FAMILY.
SHINY.
NEW.
ME.'
Annie's mother is a serial killer.
The only way she can make it stop is to hand her in to the police.
But out of sight is not out of mind.
As her mother's trial looms, the secrets of her past won't let Annie sleep, even with a new foster family and name - Milly.
A fresh start. Now, surely, she can be whoever she wants to be.
But Milly's mother is a serial killer. And blood is thicker than water.
Good me, bad me.
She is, after all, her mother's daughter...
Review:
Okay so Annie...I'm sorry, Milly's mother is a serial killer. This one does not hold back on the suspense as it begins with Annie...I'm sorry, Milly going into the police station to turn her mother in. What. An. Opener. At this point, I had about 280 pages left and couldn't wrap my head around where this one would go. Pretty soon Milly begins a new direction in her life with a new family and a bright new start. Or, so it seems. Nothing is perfect, especially Milly's life.
What I really enjoyed about this one was how it gave us a look into Milly's life after dealing with what her mother had done and provided the reader with breadcrumbs of information sporadically through the novel as Milly dealt with events and people in her present life. Without saying too much, I was really happy with how Land provided enough detail to make the reader aware of the atrocities this girl had suffered, but also not too much detail to make you cringe or skip pages. Getting to know Milly was a dark and delicious trek that will stay with me for years to come.
The characterization in this one is spot on. There are so many uniquely written and phenomenal characters (aside from Milly) that I kind of wish this could be a series so I could get back in touch with him again in a year or two. Even the evil characters are delicious and appetizing. The sheer brilliance in the character of Milly is spot on as we do get to see this delicate girl who deep down is good, but has these "bad" moments and thoughts as a result of living a life with her mother.
And then, 200 pages hit. We are heading into the trial and Milly is ready to take the stand. This has to be one of the most exciting and interesting psychological thrillers I have ever read, let alone this year. I mean, it's realistic and chilling and complicated and confusing and brilliant. This novel is brilliant. I have never felt chills go up my spine and gasps come out of my lungs so much as one terribly frightening line takes place in court. The courtroom scenes were perfection and the tension, violence, and events that really mess with your psyche skyrocket thereafter.
As the book progresses after the penultimate courtroom drama, I couldn't imagine it getting any better. Well, Ali Land, you got me there. An explosive turn occurs towards the end of this book that I honestly never saw coming and I am usually pretty good at guessing. The book ends with a final chapter that I had to read three times in a row. Not because I didn't get it, but because the brilliance in this one was shinier than the cover (and boy, what a beautiful cover it is.) Ali Land, wherever you go, I will follow. Flatiron Books, whatever you publish I will read. To anyone to reads this novel, I will converse with you. Just please, readers; make Milly happen. Easily one of the best psychological thrillers I have ever read, I highly suggest pre-ordering this one now as September 5, 2017 is right around the corner and you don't want to be the one to miss out.
Special thanks to Flatiron Books for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: 5/5
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