It slows the book down a lot. The start of the book is great, it's exciting and the end of the book has the thrills and twists also. Sadly the middle of the book was just very lukewarm with fairly forgettable moments. I wanted more depth, rawness and human grief from the characters. There has been so much damage done but at times it's like it's brushed over too lightly in my opinion.
I give Baby Doll 3 stars, great plot and if there was more pace, less wordiness and more shocks through the book this would have been facts drug! I still enjoyed reading it, I just won't be raving to anyone about it. Thanks so much to the publisher for an ARC of this book to read and review. View all 4 comments. Jun 17, Paromjit rated it liked it Shelves: Lily has been held captive for eight years. She has been raped, beaten and mentally abused.
She has a daughter, Sky, fathered by her abductor. Then one day to her astonishment, she finds the door unlocked. Still fearful, Lily and her daughter escape the ghastly basement in which they have been imprisoned. You might think that from this point that Lily's life would get so much better. Not so, there is further turmoil awaiting her. On returning to her family home, Lily finds things have changed qui Lily has been held captive for eight years. On returning to her family home, Lily finds things have changed quite dramatically.
Lily's disappearance tore the family apart. Her father's pain was too much for him, her twin sister, Abby, is struggling to combat her addiction and her mother is a mess. The focus on what happens when Lily returns home is interesting, underlining just how much Lily was not the only victim.
It is also fascinating to have a glimpse into the life of her abductor and how those in his family had no idea of what he was capable of. Whilst the premise of the book was compelling, the writing and plot felt uneven and the characterisation a little on the weak side. Nevertheless, overall I did enjoy aspects of the book.
View all 10 comments. I have desperately been wanting to read Baby Doll since it came out last year and was over the moon to win a copy on Twitter this week I was very disappointed to read that so many people didn't enjoy it. So the only way to find out for myself was to read it straight away. I know now where most people are coming from. I too would have liked to read more about Lily's time in captivity being the dark and twisted person I am especially when she refers to t I have desperately been wanting to read Baby Doll since it came out last year and was over the moon to win a copy on Twitter this week I too would have liked to read more about Lily's time in captivity being the dark and twisted person I am especially when she refers to the 'training' period Rick put her through at the beginning of the abduction.
Perhaps there could have been flashback chapters interweaved with the story? The book covers the immediate aftermath of Lily's escape and although the first couple of chapters were quite tense after that it just became a mundane book. Saying that, I did still enjoy it, I never wanted to put it down and although I cant ever personally understand the bond between twins or even just having a sibling the connection between Lily and Abby was ultimately what controlled the book and the finale to the story.
As long as you're not looking for a twisted deep psychological thriller and looking more for a safe read then you will still enjoy "Baby Doll" and I maybe would read her next book due out this year. I couldn't quite give this 4 stars more 3. Jun 07, abby rated it it was amazing Shelves: This is the thriller after the thriller. Most books end with the hostage escaping her torturer's clutches, but that's where this one starts. This is about what happens when a victim returns home to people who have changed in her absence and how they adjust to how she's changed.
This is what happens after the prayers are answered: Because it's never just as simple as coming home. Lily spent eight years trapped in a basement by a sadistic pedophile. The only th This is the thriller after the thriller. The only things that keep her going are her daughter and the knowledge that somewhere out in the world her twin sister, Abby, waits for her to return. Lily's disappearance has been hell on her family. Her father couldn't make it through the pain, her mother cycled into promiscuity, and her sister battles addiction. When Lily returns, it should fix everything.
How will this family go forward? And will Lily ever see true justice? This book pulled me in from the beginning and never let me go. Sometimes I just "click" with a certain book, and that was the case with this one. I did think there were too many narrators and sometimes I had a hard time swallowing unrealistic character behavior Lily being too calm in the beginning, Rick's "trade" with Lily given how he felt about his daughter. But, overall, I recommend it. View all 3 comments. My review of Baby Doll is now up on Fresh Fiction! To say that I was blown away by this book is an understatement!
I was hooked from the first page and I could hardly put down the book. You can read the whole review here! Jun 19, Malia rated it it was ok Shelves: In any case, I was expected, if nothing else, to be gripped by a creepily engaging story. Unfortunately, this feeling vacillated quite a bit. The book is told in various POVs and certain ones are definitely more interesting than others, leading me to lose interest in chunks of the book, while it picked up for others. Also, while obviously feeling for the victims of this story, I never connected to any of the characters, which tends to downgrade a book in my eyes.
I don't need lovely characters I want to be best friends with though it's always wonderful if that is the case , but I do need characters who can hold my attention. Overton does have a good way of writing, with flowing dialogue and the multiple POVs are done smoothly, which is certainly a skill! I also wanted to know the outcome of the story, even if the characters weren't quiet doing it for me, so I kept reading.
I was surprised by the ending, though I'm not sure I liked it. Overall, decent entertainment, but ultimately, I think it will blend into the hazy area of so-so mysteries in my mind. I received this book from Netgalley and have written what I think is a fair and fitting review, thanks!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http: May 12, sue rated it really liked it Shelves: Hollie Overton is a really natural author, her books seem to flow and grasp me in. This book Baby Doll was no exception.
We have a young girl who was kidnapped by this man. We later get to know how this came about and who by. To imagine being kept in one room and being used for all purpose like a "baby Doll" by this man is unthinkable. But this is what she had to endure. Its an intense read at times, sometimes mellows out in its telling of it, but it allowed me to get more breath until it gathered Hollie Overton is a really natural author, her books seem to flow and grasp me in. Its an intense read at times, sometimes mellows out in its telling of it, but it allowed me to get more breath until it gathered momentum again.
Her sister [twin] has meanwhile got involved with her kidnapped sisters 'first love', so when her twin escapes from the mans clutches, there is more in the family that unfolds. I could see why her sister was a bit OTT at times and swore and cursed a lot, if you put yourself in her shoes.
I would like to thank Redhook Books via Net Galley for granting my wish to read this. View all 6 comments. Lily has been held captive for the past eight years but now her captor has made a mistake and Lily is able to get free. While she was in captivity she had a daughter who is now six and Lily wants nothing more than to keep her daughter safe and return home to her family.
Showing up after eight years of being missing it's not easy for Lily or her family to deal with the aftermath of the kidnapping. This is the story of what happens once Lily returns home to find her twin sister is now with Lily's Lily has been held captive for the past eight years but now her captor has made a mistake and Lily is able to get free.
This is the story of what happens once Lily returns home to find her twin sister is now with Lily's high school sweetheart and the man that had taken her hostage is a well known and respected man in society. Baby Doll changes the view point all throughout the story between Lily, her mother Eve, her sister Abby and her former captor Rick. Returning home after eight years when her family never expected to ever see her again brings a lot of issues into Lily's family. There was a lot of drama all throughout as the characters do their best to overcome a really horrific situation.
I found myself completely engaged in this story rather early on even though a part of me questioned the characterization in this read. Lily who had been held captive really seemed to be the strongest character in the book but I suppose there's no right way for anyone to react to something horrible. I gave up questioning the personalities fairly quickly though and just sat back and enjoyed the ride through the twists and turns and ended up really liking the story in the end.
Overall, this one is really more drama based than thriller which wasn't what I expected but still good writing and enjoyed the read.
Book Review – Baby Doll by Hollie Overton
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. For more reviews please visit https: Overall, I was disappointed. But the treatment the plot received was superficial. Not at any point did I feel connected Overall, I was disappointed. Not at any point did I feel connected to any of the characters; never did I feel emotionally invested in the outcome. Not once did I fell as though I was 'there'; there was no heart pounding, no breath holding, no 'OMG!
All in all, this was a very forgettable read. View all 9 comments. May 03, Zuky the BookBum rated it it was ok Shelves: The town seems raving mad, no wonder no one noticed a psychopath in their midst! They all seemed very wooden and lifeless. They also felt completely fake, like the things they did and said were not something you could imagine a real person doing or saying.
It was like I was reading the POV of a 6 year old. I wanted a fast paced thriller not some sappy, emotional love story. Deal with it Abby, you love him and he loves you, just fucking deal with it. Jun 05, Frank Phillips rated it really liked it. Going into this book I saw reviews stating anything from a 'disappointing read,' to this being 'just like gone girl,' so I did not know what to expect.
The synopsis on the back of the book was enough to peak my interest so I decided to go for it. And boy am I glad that I did! I have not read the book 'Room,' but I have seen the movie, and I can only imagine that this book is inspired by that story or vice versa because they were eerily similar. With that being said I loved both stories and reall Going into this book I saw reviews stating anything from a 'disappointing read,' to this being 'just like gone girl,' so I did not know what to expect.
With that being said I loved both stories and really enjoyed this read!
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I loved that it was told from several different peoples perspective's, going from the victim to the bad guy and then moving on to the relatives - I really think this enhanced the read, giving it depth and a really clear understanding of how this tragedy affected everyone in the community. I was raised in a small town and rural community and went to a small school and Can say that this was what I thought to be a very accurate and realistic portrayal of such a tragedy and how a community can respond to such horrific events There were just a couple things that I felt the author jammed in before finishing the story that could have ruined the read entirely but for me just kind of made me raise my eyebrows a bit and move on.
I'd have to say that these events came off as a bit unrealistic, but the writing was so good it did not completely ruin the story for me, I give this a solid four rating and will be keeping my eye out for other novels by Holly Overton Mar 08, ambsreads rated it it was ok Shelves: Baby Doll was a pretty fast read. However, it was also incredibly bland. The first few chapters instantly grabbed my attention. Then, the story fizzled out. It got predictable and, overall, not that enjoyable. I was rolling my eyes and cringing the characters dialogue. This book felt like it was trying too hard.
It could have been much better. I'm honestly not quite sure why I chose to read this as I didn't enjoy Gone Girl , a book it's compared to in the description. Jun 15, Gary rated it really liked it. This book gripped me from the start and kept me hooked all along. Although it wasn't a classic and there were a few holes in the plot, I still enjoyed it. Lily has been held captive for eight years and now she seizes an opportunity to escape with her daughter Sky.
Lily was kidnapped by Rick, a local teacher who for the last eight years has abused Lily both sexually and mentally while keeping her locked up. On escaping she manages to get back home where she finds her family has carried on without This book gripped me from the start and kept me hooked all along. On escaping she manages to get back home where she finds her family has carried on without her, her father is now dead and her first love is about to become the father of her twin sister Abby's baby. This all happens in the opening few pages and the rest of the book deals with the aftermath of these events.
The alternates between the main characters as they give their accounts giving an insight into their part in the story. Yes the novel could have been better written and yes like I said the plot could have been more water tight but it is still a good read and every book doesn't have to be an absolute classic to be entertaining. I would like to thank Net Galley and Random House for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review.
Riveting from the first line. The story goes with a breakneck speed, making you read it in one breath. I loved the different personalities of people and how the story was put together in the chapters. May 01, Kath Middleton rated it it was amazing. This book begins when a young woman, held captive for eight years, and her daughter, fathered by her captor and abuser, manage to escape. It is bound to invite comparison with Room. I much preferred this. Lily and her daughter, Sky, escape when their captor makes a mistake and doesn't bolt the door.
Lily's twin, Abby and her mother, Eve, have been so deeply affected by her disappearance that their own lives have been changed almost as much as hers. I enjoyed the f This book begins when a young woman, held captive for eight years, and her daughter, fathered by her captor and abuser, manage to escape. I enjoyed the fact that this story began where others leave off. We gain some insight from Lily about what happened to her in her captivity but that's not what this story is about. It's about all the other lives touched and tainted by the crime.
His wife who apparently didn't suspect his perverse behaviour. His mother, Lily's grandparents, her boyfriend at the time she was taken. We watch the subsequent struggle for a normal future by people who have had a big chunk of their past stolen. I found it totally gripping.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy of this book. Oct 13, Sarah rated it liked it Shelves: This book could have been been a lot better in my opinion. It wasn't bad and I didn't throw it across the room, it was just ok. I know it's received different kinds of reviews, so don't be discouraged about reading it if it sounds like you would enjoy it.
The story line is good, just not realistic in places. I don't believe someone could go through what the main character did, and then take up life like she did. It just didn't work for me. View all 8 comments. Jun 22, Liz Barnsley added it Shelves: I liked the original premise but for ME it was heavy on melodrama. I think this will be a stand out read for a lot of lovers of pyschological thrillers who like something a bit different.
Sadly for whatever odd reason did not resonate with my reading head. But the changing of perspectives in the novel and suspense sucked me in. The novel rotates between the perspective of Lily the protagonist, her twin sister Abby, Eve her mom and Rick her captor. The multiple perspectives worked well because they were mostly between the two sisters. The author did a great job of making me care and root for Lily and Find this and other Reviews at In Tori Lex I was concerned when I started this book because there was ALOT of exposition within the first few chapters.
The author did a great job of making me care and root for Lily and Abby, who are very different but completely devoted to each other. The bond that exists between the twins was one of the best I've seen described, probably because the author is a twin herself. And now, everything she'd learned from him would be his undoing. Lily makes mistakes along the way and has to let go of the years she lost while being helped captive. The people around her also have understandably moved on with life, and have to readjust to having her back.
Lily's captor Rick is clearly a psychopath but I liked getting a glimpse into his thoughts and experiences. The other characters are also fleshed out well, so no part of this book felt like filler. I felt a full range of emotions while reading, which is what good books do. Is it a must read? Jun 30, Elaine rated it really liked it.
I was a bit wary about this book when I started to read it.
Baby Doll by Hollie Overton
I have to say though that, with some reservations, I did enjoy this fast paced story about Lily and her six year old daughter Sky. Whilst her family have alway I was a bit wary about this book when I started to read it. Whilst her family have always loved her, missed her and are overjoyed at her return, we soon discover that their lives are very different now and Lily is in for some surprises as she gets accustomed to life on the outside.
There are an awful lot of stories around with this premise. What we do hear about that time, tends to give mixed messages about her life. As I would expect from an author who is used to writing for TV, it is a fast moving, pacy read and in all fairness, I have to say that overall I did really enjoy reading it.
I received a review copy from the publisher via Netgalley. It was extremely interesting, and also frustrating, to read about how Lily becomes less of a victim and more of a problem in the eyes of the media, and she is subject to very harsh judgements by those around her.
People find it hard to believe that a seemingly-innocent character such as Rick Hanson would be capable of such sickening acts, and that really got me thinking about the state of the media in our current society. I really felt so much sympathy and had genuine affection for Lily — almost as if she was a real person! Overall, I highly recommend this novel to all of you out there!
It will break your heart and make you rage, whilst promoting feelings of love, kindness and affection too. This book brings about so many conflicting reviews.
Like Liked by 1 person. I hope you enjoy The Walls more! You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email. Then, one night, you realise your captor has left the door to your cell unlocked. This is what happens next. The A-Z Tag — thebookwormsfantasy. Top 5 Books Of — thebookwormsfantasy. Hollie Overton — thebookwormsfantasy.