Reviews and Comments

I wouldn't have read this book if it wasn't our book club pick, because I'm not into romance, so I did go into this book with prejudice, knowing I probably wouldn't like it.

With that being said, I didn't expect that the prose would be that bad. I read "A lot of people really hated her," among many others, and couldn't believe how popular this book was supposed to be. If the writing was at least better, I wouldn't have minded the mundane love story as much.

This is the first book by Ocean Vuong that I've read, and he's left a positive impression on me. The theme is quite dark and I'm not a fan of flowery writing, but the author writes beautiful, honest, and cutting prose. Most of the comical elements felt forced, and it's not his strong suit. But overall, this book has made me want to check out his first novel.

I picked up this book because it's been recommended by several well-known authors of locked-room murders. It was promising when I started reading because the language was easy to follow (perhaps credits to the translator) and the plot was interesting, straight-to-the point, and fast-paced. In the end, though, I found the solution to the mystery itself unbelievable, and the characters flat. I have a hard time following stories when I can't care less about the characters, and this story barely gave me anything about the bride and groom, who were, after all, the main characters in the mystery (aside from the detective). Maybe this book was groundbreaking in its time, but it's not for me.