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Friend Request
Friend Request
Laura Marshall | 2017 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
10
7.4 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
I got kind of sucked in from the first pages of this book. It started quite idyllic, a single mother with her little boy. The pressure slowly building up after Louise receives the friend request, and it continues throughout the whole book.

Our main character is, of course, Louise, even though she had a tough divorce which broke her, she got her life together and is a successful businesswoman. Throughout the book, we meet a lot of unique characters, not only from her present but from the past as well. I really liked Louise as a character, she proved to me, that people are able to change.

The narrative, that is the part of this book which I really loved. It is told from a single perspective, but the plot is very well crafted and filled with a lot of feelings, emotions and fantastic twists and turns. It is pretty hard to describe it without spoilers, but let’s try. I do have to mention, that this novel is about bullying, drugs and its consequences to peoples lives. Louise has done something really bad when she was at school, and that thing is haunting her 25 years later. The author does not leave it to this disappearance of Maria only, she spices it up with a ton of twists and illusions. I should say that Laura is a master for creating an illusion.

The plot was time travelling between the present and 1989, revealing the events that took place little by little, and creating even more suspense and wish to find out more. One thing that really annoyed me was that the author exaggerated the character’s secrets, and when you expect something grand and you receive a very uninteresting surprise, it kind of left me disappointed. :/ Another thing what really annoyed me, the way drug use was portrayed in this book. I think drug use is a serious issue, and shouldn’t be portrayed as “cool” or as a “not a big deal”, especially when it comes to school kids.

This was a very well thought through novel, with easy language and overall great writing style. I liked the not-too-long, not-too-short chapters, and I think that the ending of this book was incredibly unexpected, and rounded this story really nicely. So, to conclude, I do strongly recommend this compelling and chilling book, filled with incredible story, unexpected turns, and things which are not as they seem to be. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
  
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ClareR (6106 KP) rated The House of Fallen Sisters in Books

Feb 18, 2026 (Updated Feb 18, 2026)  
The House of Fallen Sisters
The House of Fallen Sisters
Louise Hare | 2026 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The House of Fallen Sisters is a fast paced historical mystery - and a firm 10/10 from me!
I’ve loved all of Louise Hare’s books, and she’s fast becoming an insta-read author for me. Every book has been distinctly different from her others. Books have been set in: 1950’s London, 1930’s London and Harlem, and now this book is set in the brothels of 1760’s London (London seems to be a key place in all of her books so far - and that’s OK with me!).

In trying to escape her inevitable life as a prostitute in a Covent Garden brothel, Sukey finds a young black man in a side street, almost beaten to death. Whilst trying to save him, she’s captured and returned to the brothel. There’s a lot going on in the underbelly (and brothels) of London: slavery, double dealing, and cheating those who think they’re a friend.

I really enjoyed this - I got a real sense of the hustle and bustle of London. The danger, the community, friendships, hardships and the rules of the game Sukey and her Fallen Sisters must adhere to. They’re all fabulous characters - even the more untrustworthy people!

I can’t wait to see where Louise Hare takes us next!
  
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Jewels (684 KP) rated Social Creature in Books

Jul 19, 2018  
Social Creature
Social Creature
Tara Isabella Burton | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
8
8.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Not my normal go to read, but it sucked me in and won't let go. This story has a good flow to it, making for an easy read that can be finished rather quickly if you have the time. It is a rather strange, yet intriguing story about Louise, who pretends to be a different type of person than she really is, until it all twists horribly out of control. Did not expect the ending, but it was a good fit. The end left some open lines to continue the story if the author sees fit at a later date.