whitneydaniell

by: Mary Kubica
published: April 2, 2024
genre: Thriller, Mystery
336 Pages, E-Book ARC Courtesy of NetGalley
GoodReads Link

Synopsis

Meghan Michaels is trying to balance being a single mom to a teenage daughter and working as a full-time nurse. While on duty at the hospital one day, a patient named Caitlin arrives in a coma with a traumatic brain injury, having jumped from a bridge and plunged over twenty feet to the train tracks below. 

Meghan has always tried to stay emotionally detached from her patients. Still, this time, she mistakenly lets herself get too close until she’s deeply entangled in Caitlin’s and her family’s lives. Only when it’s too late, does she realize that she and her daughter could be the next victims.

I. Characters

Gotta be honest, Meghan had this whole ‘white savior complex’ thing going on, and reading her story, I just couldn’t vibe with it. She was doing things and reacting in ways that totally didn’t click with how I see a woman, mom, coworker, nurse, friend—you name it—behaving. No connection with her character made it pretty tough to feel for her story.

But wait, there’s more! Meghan’s teenager, Sienna, was like the poster child for entitlement. Total disregard for the people around her, acting like the world’s just a stage for her and her drama. Straight-up couldn’t get on board with that. And by the end, I’m left wondering about this weird tension triangle between Sienna, Meghan, and Ben (Meghan’s ex-hubby). By the way, Ben gave off some seriously creepy vibes; no wonder Meghan hit the eject button on that marriage.

Now, let’s talk side characters. Luke, a nurse at Meghan’s hospital, seemed like a solid friend to her. Then there’s Mr. and Mrs. Beckett, parents of the girl Meghan’s looking after at the hospital. They’re a bit odd, and their son Jackson? Well, he’s another odd fruit from the same weird tree.

II. The Story / Plot

Caitlin Beckett rolls into the hospital, and the gossip spreads like wildfire—apparently, she took a leap off a pedestrian bridge, aiming for the suicide route. But wait, once her folks show up, they start sketching a completely different portrait of Caitlin. The plot thickens, my friend. Turns out, Caitlin might not be the daughter her parents thought she was—or maybe she’s exactly who they thought she was.

Now, the cops dive into the whole attempted suicide thing. Lo and behold, a witness steps up, claiming they saw someone else on the bridge. Plot twist: Caitlin might not have taken the plunge; she might’ve been pushed. The Becketts, Caitlin’s folks, take a shining to Meghan and start spilling their guts, hoping Meghan can alter the grim destiny looming over their daughter. But, hold up, some bizarre encounters with Caitlin’s brother and father make you realize there’s some funky business afoot.

Somewhere in the mix of pages, this story had potential. Yet, as it dragged on, I lost interest. Honestly, it felt like there was just too much happening. Why’s Caitlin tangled up in Meghan’s life? What’s with the focus on some guy assaulting women in the hood? And why are we so invested in the Becketts? In the end, the story fell flat, just like it did at the close of Part One.

Crossing my fingers this is just the kickoff to a series, and another book will spill the tea on what the heck just went down. If this is the whole enchilada, count me disappointed.

III. The Writing

Too many words sprawled across too many pages, and guess what? They did zilch for the story. Nada. Zippo. Mary Kubica usually spins words like magic, but in this book, her word wizardry fell flat for me. Sure, there’s a big shout-out to the overworked nurses in hospitals nationwide, which I dig. You can tell Kubica put in the time chatting up nurses, really soaking in their vibes. But beyond that nugget, there’s a surplus of words that could’ve taken a hike, making room for more character depth or story oomph. You feel me?

IV. My Final Thoughts

Man, this thriller was a tough one to power through, and I’m usually all about that suspense life! Meghan, bless her heart, seemed a tad too old to be as naive as she played. I mean, really? You bump into a woman from high school at your divorce support group, and suddenly, you’re Captain Save-a-Stranger, risking your safety and your daughter’s too? Where’s the logic in that? A women’s shelter, a local church, resources galore—nah, none of those crossed Meghan’s mind. Instead, she throws this stranger into her cozy living room and spills her darkest secrets. Unbelievable.

Now, let’s talk about Luke. From the get-go, something about him just felt off, you know? Like, he rubbed me the wrong way when he waltzed onto the scene.

As a child, he told me, he drank, did drugs and some petty theft. When I asked why, he said he loved the rush of it, the trill of taking something that wasn’t his, and because no one could stop him, no one could tell him no.

Meghan’s explanation of Luke’s younger years

This story threw so many curveballs my way, all seemingly meant to divert my attention from the real deal. Instead, it just ticked me off because it felt like a total waste. The new neighbor downstairs, Caitlin’s brother Jackson making a surprise appearance in Chicago instead of London, hanging out at the pedestrian bridge with Meghan. Caitlin’s dad strolling home with Meghan, Sienna’s new buddy Nico, that mysterious voicemail, and don’t even get me started on Milo Finch—every single one of these distractions ended up being dead ends.

If you’re into reading a bunch of words that lead to more words, leaving you feeling hollow by the end, go ahead and grab this one. But for me, it’s a hard pass. Save yourself the frustration.