Review: The Ghostwriter

Author: Alessandra Torre

Started reading: May 12th 2022

Finished the book: May 14th 2022

Pages: 321

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Published: October 2nd 2017

Source: Digital copy from the author

Goodreads score: 4.24

My score:

Synopsis

I have three months to write the last book of my life. Three months to confess the details of that day, and how it changed everything for me.

My name is Helena Ross. I've written 15 romance novels, 10 of which have become international best sellers. But this one isn't a romance, no happily ever after in place. This novel holds only the truth, which I have run away from for four years. The truth, which I have hidden from the police, from my loved ones, from the world. Four years ago, I lied. I stood in front of the police, my friends and family, and made up a story, my best one yet. And all of them believed me. I wasn't surprised. Telling stories is what made me famous. Millions of fans. Fame and fortune. Now, I have one last story to write. It'll be my best one yet, with a jaw-dropping twist that will leave them stunned and gasping for breath. They say that sticks and stones will break your bones, but this story? It will be the one that kills me.

My thoughts

Holy COW! This book was so amazing and exactly what I needed to get me back into a reading sprint. I couldn't put it down and felt myself being pulled to this book all the time. This book is definitely going to end high on my top books-list this year and I'm following Alessandra Torre to see what she's going to write next.

Pros

• Variety: I've read several books with different POVS, but this book adds so much variety to writing in different POVS. Because the writing style is also different for the different POVS. The book is in third and first person. It was such a blast to read a book that's written like that and I haven't seen it that much. Add in some flashbacks and you have a huge pile of variety in this book!
• Mystery: Ooooh boy, this is one of those books that makes you believe you know. The book is like: "You think you know?! Ha! Take this!". It was such a rollercoaster ride of to doom and you can just feel that something horrible has happened/is going to happen and you can't do anything about it. Just buckle up tight and enjoy the ride.
• Helena: Helena is such a complex character. She isn't that likeable at all but she is very understandable in some of the choices she makes or has made. And you also have to feel a bit bad for her because she is dying; she only has 3 months left to live.
• Emotions: I was slipping in minutes of reading everywhere during my trip to Iceland. I had so many emotions while reading this book and it definitely was heartbreaking in the end. I had a small bookhangover after finishing this one!
• Writing process: What I found awesome about this book is that you get to see a bit of the writing process for Helena. I read so many books and sometimes wonder about the writing process for several authors. Now I feel like I got to peek into the kitchen of writing a book and it was so much fun!

Cons
Kidding me?

Overall

If you love a good suspense/thriller book, then I can't imagine you not liking this book. It had all the different layers, something horrible that happened and a character that's not that likeable at all (but you'll come to love her). This is one of those books that's definitely going on my wish-list; I would love to have it on my shelves. I'm also a bit sad that it isn't translated in Dutch! I think the Dutch readers would love it too. To all the Dutch Publishers: We need one in Dutch!

Other opinions on this book

"Breathtaking. The emotions are raw, real, explosive. An absolute must read."

- NYT Bestselling Author Kim Karr

"A gripping story so profound that I'll still be thinking about it months from now. Hands down one of the best books of 2017."

- NYT Bestselling Author Corinne Michaels.

Memorable quotes from this book

"That is how life is, it gives us burdens to carry and doesn't give a damn about the weight. We shoulder it or we break."

Thanks for reading!

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