This book is billed as a thrilling cat-and-mouse game. I found it mostly frustrating. You spend the majority of the book inside Charlie's head, with all her self-doubts, her fears, and her 'mind movies'. Not only is she an unreliable narrator, but she's an incredible indecisive one, too. And because you only see Josh through her eyes, it's hard to know what to believe about him, or what game he's playing, if any. Is he a killer? Or is she just crazy?
After awhile, I found it hard to care. Mostly because I couldn't find anything to like about Charlie. Or Josh. And the plot just kept getting more absurd and implausible. Then, Sager throws in one last twist at the end that I just couldn't buy into; it was one twist too many and felt like an unfair, last minute surprise.
Needless to say, Survive the Night ended up being a very disappointing read for me. Which is sad because I've enjoyed reading all of Riley Sager's other books. But I guess they can't all be 4-star reads. Still, I did get to read this one with Melody, which is always fun. Be sure to check out her rant, I mean her review, of this one for another opinion.
Happy Reading!
Other books by Riley Sager that I liked better than this one:
Despite a disappointing read, at least we got to discuss and rant together via our chats, lol. Hopefully the next book for our buddy read will be better. :D
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed! I sent you a list of titles to look over. Hopefully one of them will be better.
DeleteOh, that's terribly frustrating. I need to find something to like about a character!
ReplyDeleteI need to be able to like at least one of the characters! Otherwise, what's the point?
DeleteToo bad this one didn't work for you. From what you say, though, it would be frustrating to most readers. It does kind of remind me of an old black & white movie from the forties or fifties that I watched a few years ago. A story like this one works really well on film, I think, because it's all over in about 90 minutes.
ReplyDeleteAnd I never expect as much from a movie as I do from a book.
DeleteThink I'll give it a miss!
ReplyDeleteYeah...I think that's wise. You certainly won't be missing out on anything.
DeleteOkay, crossing this one off the list!
ReplyDeleteYeah...I can't recommend this one. Too disappointing all the way around.
DeleteOh no, that's disappointing. It's such a bummer when that happens. Hopefully the author's next book will be better.
ReplyDeleteI hope so, too. His other books were good.
DeleteOh no that's disappointing. I've been wondering about Sager so I won't start with this one. And yes sometimes that last twist that is just out there is just too much...
ReplyDeleteYeah, try one of Sager's other books first. I especially liked Home Before Dark and Lock Every Door. They're my two favorites.
DeleteYou mean you've reviewed a book that I 'don't' need to rush out and buy? Oh.
ReplyDeleteI did that just for you, Cath! Merry Christmas. ;D
DeleteThat does sound disappointing. I hope the next one is better!
ReplyDeleteIt can't really be worse. ;D
Deletei know this is awful to admit, but there are so many books like this, they just seem kind of boring the way they repeat the same plot elements over and over...
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. I'm getting a little tired of books like this, too.
DeleteYeah, I agree, although this one still kept me reading. It's definitely implausible and contrived in places. I've really enjoyed all the books I've read by Sager—this one is my least favorite.
ReplyDeleteIt's my least favorite Sager book, too.
DeleteI've enjoyed a few of Sager's stories in the past too, but I passed on this one because of the reactions I've seen. I'm not fan of an unreliable narrator either. I like to sort through reliable facts on my own.
ReplyDeletePassing on this one was a good move on your part!
DeleteOh no, I'm sorry this didn't work out for you -- it certainly had a great premise.
ReplyDeleteIt does have a great premise! That's what made it even more disappointing.
DeleteI really like books with an unreliable narrator, but it has to be done right. Sounds like this book missed the mark. Sorry it was disappointing and frustrating for you.
ReplyDeleteAs the book unfolded things got progressively more unbelievable and unrealistic. I just couldn't buy into it.
DeleteSorry to hear you didn't like this one more.
ReplyDeleteI was sorry, too.
DeleteHope the next one is better
ReplyDeleteThank you. Me, too! :)
DeleteI liked this one a bit more than you did, but Charlie did drive me nuts, and I found too many of the plot twists to be predictable.
ReplyDeleteWasn't Charlie a frustrating character? And some of those plot twists just felt too unbelievable for me. Especially the one at the end with her boyfriend.
DeleteThat was one of the most predictable plot twists, I thought.
DeleteThat was the one that felt the most unrealistic to me. Like the author did it for no good reason other than to add one more twist at the end.
DeleteSorry to hear this book didn't work out. It's an interesting premise but the author has to make us care about Charlie or Josh and it sounds like that didn't happen. Hopefully the next book will be better.
ReplyDeleteSager's other books have been so good it was surprising that this one ended up being so bad. But what can you do?
DeleteYeah living in the head of a character for too long can be tiresome! Sound like you were ready to chuck the book against the wall. Too bad. But was Josh the killer? Does he drive her off the road ...
ReplyDeleteJosh was not the killer, but shh...don't tell! ;D
DeleteOh no, I had high hopes for this one! Well, like you said I guess they all can't be 4 star reads. Hopefully his next book will be a better thriller.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I really didn't enjoy this one. If I were you, I'd wait for his next book for sure.
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