Disturbing and hard to put down.
588621
I've read better books but if you don't know the story about Gary Heidnik and are interested in books like this then you won't be disappointed. It was a very disturbing story and had it read pretty quick because it was hard to put down.
1647526
I FOUND THE BOOK EXTREMELY INTERESTING. Of course parts of it made me uncomfortable. It is very hard to believe that people can be so cruel to children. I actually could not put the book down.
710051
Couldn't put this book down! Although some parts were disturbing it was a good read
474211
I am completely fascinated with the "They Walk Among Us" genre. Probably because of an unhealthy obsession with Animorphs at a young age. Regardless, I was really excited when I found out what this book was about, and almost immediately went out to the bookstore and bought it. I knew it was a Young Adult novel, but I guess I didn't really know what to expect. Certainly not what I got.

The 5th Wave is quite disturbing for a YA book. It's very gory, probably to goriest YA book I've ever read. Not all people shooting each other, mind. It's more that the sickness that spreads through the land is described pretty graphically. But it's not really the blood and guts that makes it disturbing. It's the very difficult themes. Cassie doesn't know who to trust, and it turns her into a killer. Watching her trust and belief in humanity degenerate is hard. And the brainwashing of children to become killers was really disturbing to me too.

That aside, The 5th Wavewas certainly the most fascinating YA action/adventure novel I've read in a long time. While I don't know whether I would say I enjoyedit, it is brilliantly written. It was like watching a train-wreck, disturbing or not I just couldn't look away. The end of the world was so realisticallywritten, I couldn't put it down.

The characters are flawlessly executed, both believable and dynamic. The plot unfolds at just the right pace, revealing bits of the secret at a time, never quite slow enough for you to see them coming, but not fast enough to feel like you're racing either. The romance is a little hokey, but at least reflects the truth that you don't always fall for the people you might expect. There is no doubt that I'm going to have to go readThe Endless Sea.
118574
This was a VERY disturbing story of violence against women in America, Africa and elsewhere, with a focus on some of the real horrors perpetrated against women and especially girls. The book moves between the (really creepy) childhood of the main character and her life in the present (which is even more creepy). It's a very different take on horror. Some of it is hard to read, it's so intense, with some graphic, realistic violence. And I wanted to read more about the main character--I'd like to read another book with/about her. Ordinary Mayhem really stayed with me. It's definitely a book I would recommend.
4396340
A disturbing look into a world much unlike the norm. The writer brought you into there world and even though I finished it a while ago it has stayed with me
4219707
Danger is everywhere, especially in the suburbs.

This dark, disturbing novel is fascinating as well as psychologically complex.  Some of the characters are certifiably crazy, and perhaps the ones who have been certified as crazy are not.  We know from the beginning that this story is going to be a huge train wreck, but we just don't know how it will all play out.

At one point, it takes a Big Brother/1984 turn, especially regarding incarceration of criminals.  And those who would be criminals.  But that is only a small part of the story.  The people who buy into society's foibles and those who fight them are the bigger part.

We want so much for people to believe the young protagonist, Copley, and his outrageous tales.  We wonder why two other main characters, not friends, are meeting in a prison visitors' room at the beginning of the book, and  we don't really know until the end.  The book explores individuals' rights versus public rights, crumbling society exemplified by shoddy McMansions and  rotten land, historical evil hidden, modern evil justified.  Lives of quiet desperation.

I am the last tree standing on a clear-cut slope, the saws all pointed at my feet.

There is much to be taken from this book.  In itself, it is a complex, layered story, not in the sense of a complex plot but in the workings of human minds.  It's beautifully written.  Dark.  Yes, very.  And worth reading every word.

I was given an advance readers copy of this novel, and the quotes may have changed in the published edition.
3203090
Fascinating story. Gripping and disturbing but very well written.
4301905
This book is well written and hard to put down.  It is a look into the evil that some people can do and the twisted mind of a very mentally ill woman and the man.
641206
While I don't think I fit the target market for this story, I could not put the book down.  The disturbing subject matter was overshadowed by my sincere interest in each of the characters.  I cannot believe that this is the author's first novel.  His concise style of writing with focus and detailed specificity usually takes years of honing to develop.  Before you know it you are emotionally invested.
3102633
Extremely disturbing but in a good way. I was grabbed from the very first line, wondering what had Alice done that was so bad that her friend refused to go to her funeral and hated her for destroying her life. As the story unfolds, in drips of horror and terror, I started looking around every corner, suspecting bad things to come for Katherine, the survivor, and wondering what other tragedies would happen to her.

Rebecca James weaves a hypnotizing tale, one that has you almost believing in a happy ending, tempted to ignore the warning signs, yet knowing all along that whatever happiness that can be retrieved blossomed out of depth-less grief.

Well done and masterful. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and often peeked ahead, unable to sustain the tension.
3865717
In spite of being SERIOUSLY disturbed for the past two weeks, this book is one of those that will stick with me for a while. YOU is definitely a different kind of read and at times I found myself sympathizing with all the wrong characters for all the wrong reasons.

Well done, Caroline Kepnes! You succeeded to make me horrifically uncomfortable (which is really difficult to do).
2958977
This is an intense, graphic and disturbing story.  I had to put it down for several weeks because I wasn't sure I had the stomach to finish reading it. Roxane Gay has an amazing gift.  She manages to capture the complexity of human emotions and behavior, the messiness, the pain, the imperfections, and the resiliency underneath it all. Each of us is damaged in some way and each of us has an inner strength to call upon to keep us going and to keep us connected to those whom we love.
933916
some stories were hard to put down, some were disturbing, worth the time.
1942324
I read this book in two sittings within 12 hours and could not put it down.  The harrowing story of Sophie Hayes is both disturbing and informative at the same time.  While I know that sex trafficking occurs, I was not quite as knowledgeable about how it could happen in the way that it did to Sophie.  The idea that her captor spent four years grooming her and was considered by her to be her best friend is so disturbing, because really, it could happen to any vulnerable young woman.  The notion that there are so many young women in similar circumstances is quite unsettling and upsetting.  The realization that Sophie has taken such a horrific experience and turned it into something positive by creating the Sophie Hayes foundation is both admirable and amazing.  I hope that Sophie can continue to grow stronger and more confidant as she climbs the ladder toward those top rungs of self-acceptance and happiness.  I am so glad that she was brave enough to tell her story.
3910614
I found this book disturbing and very interesting at the same time.  Some of it was tough to read.  I love the two Coreys, so reading about the abuse was a little tough.  He is very courageous for coming forward to tell his story.
4043533
The story is intriging and riveting. But story line is demented and disturbing. Could not stop reading it to figure out how it ends.