Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn *Stephanie’s Review*

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Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is one of those books that left me unsure of how I felt about it when all was said and done. It is also one of those books that I can’t really discuss without spoiling a) the plot line and b) the ending.

I can very easily see where this book got all of it’s hype. It is riveting, it is engrossing, it is a fantastic suspense novel. My rating is entirely for personal reasons. The ending turned my stomach and has stayed with me. Some people would measure this as success and that would be true if it were in a “Wow. I still can’t believe how that ended.” said in an awestruck whisper. For me it was more like “Wow. I still can’t believe how that ended.” said in a horror struck whisper with nervous darting eyes.

The alternating point of view every other chapter kept the suspense pumping. Flynn showed us what was going on in the present through Nick and glimpses into the past through Amy’s journal entries. I also loved the characters in Gone Girl; particularly Detective Rhonda Boney.

I will say this, if you want to read a thought provoking suspense novel that will leave your head spinning, do not miss Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

Audiobook Review:
After seeing April of Good Books and Good Wine suggest people listen to the audiobook version of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, I didn’t hesitate to plunk down one of my Audible credits. This girl knows her audiobooks. The performance of the audio book is quite possibly what saved this book from being a total wash for me. Nick and Amy were voiced by two different people; one man and one woman. I think hearing the story in their voices helped to bond me closer to the characters than I would have reading it on my own. I also plunked down the $12.99 for the Kindle version so I could continue the story when listening wasn’t appropriate. This was before Amazon’s amazing Whispersync between Audible and Kindle books.

In the end, if I had to make a recommendation, I would say do yourself a favor and listen to the audiobook if it’s available to you at a decent price. If all you can get is the written version, I don’t think it will affect how you feel about the story. The audio just embellishes it.

11 responses to “Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn *Stephanie’s Review*”

  1. I felt the same about the book and when I finished the book, I felt the same way

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    1. It’s one of those endings that will most definitely stick with me.

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  2. I totally agree! I loved the audiobook and I gave the book a 3.5 too. I thought the first part was ok, the 2nd part was brilliant, and the 3rd part was what made me almost mark the book a 2. I am such an ender, and I didn’t like the end.

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    1. I am with you. I am definitely an ender. If a book is lagging a bit but the ending rocks my world, I instantly like it more. At the same time, if I am enjoying the hell out of a book and the ending disappoints, it immediately leaves a bad taste.

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    2. Felicia you nailed it on the break up of the parts and their ratings! Had the book ended differently I probably would have given it a 5 stars; however, the pit in my stomach wouldn’t allow me too.

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  3. Ya, this book did get a lot of hype, and that generally leads to some level of disappointment when I finally crack it open. I have felt really bad about not making time for Gone Girl. I seriously felt like I was missing out. Thank you for your informative review. I feel less like I am missing something big, and more like I can wait this one out until I see a sale and have some extra time.

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    1. No problem! If you are a big ender, I wouldn’t clear my reading time for it right this second. It is one that you should probably pick up but I’d wait until it’s convenient for you.

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  4. I’m so glad you enjoyed this one!! I’ve had the book since it came out (LOVE Gillian Flynn) but I really need to find the time to squeeze it in. I love shocking stories! Awesome review.

    If you haven’t read Gillian Flynn’s first two books, I recommend it, but my favorite of the two is the second, Dark Places. SO good.

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    1. I’ll have to look into them. After I finished Gone Girl I was sick over it for awhile. With time I am now able to fully appreciate it for the awesomeness that it is. 🙂

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  5. […] was a little cautious when I picked up The Grownup by Gillian Flynn. After I finished Gone Girl, I was a bit of a wreck. I wouldn’t say emotionally wrecked but I definitely didn’t […]

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  6. […] up being completely wrong because I’m not a psychopath. The story left me feeling a lot like Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn did. If you liked Gone Girl, I’d recommend Last Summer by Kerry […]

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