Good Intentions: A Novel

I cannot even begin to explain how suffocating this book feels in the absolute best way. It builds this heavy, claustrophobic sense of dread that just keeps tightening around you until you’re fully inside Cady’s unraveling mind, feeling just as trapped in her grief and obsession as she is. The pacing is a slow burn in the most addictive way and I loved the confessional-like chapters which made it way too easy to binge. Cady was absolutely unlikable, yet impossible to fully detach from. You understand her grief so sharply, even when you’re sitting there absolutely repelled by her choices. While not a thriller, the psychological suspense is intense, raw, and so intimate, and the ending was shocking. It felt so obvious once revealed, yet unpredictable the entire time. It was an amazing reading experience and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to talk to Marisa Walz directly about her book. Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Favorite Quote: "People always look for the answer they can stomach, not necessarily the one that makes the most sense." Trigger Warnings: Grief, sudden death, death of a sibling (twin), death of a child, obsession, unhealthy attachment, mental health struggles, emotional manipulation, trauma, morally gray behavior Follow me on Instagram for more book reviews: https://instagram.com/plottwistsandpurpose?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Join my thriller based bookclub on Fable! https://fable.co/valerie-845011235983

Good Intentions is a psychological thriller with some solid twists and an intriguing premise. The story is told entirely from the perspective of Cady, who’s speaking to her twin sister recently killed in a car accident. We’re inside Cady’s head the whole time, which you’d think would mean we have all the facts—but that’s far from true. As a narrator, Cady is unreliable, and her selective storytelling keeps readers questioning. Some of her omissions are noticeable, which leads to questions that make you suspect the coming twists. The writing style is clean and easy to follow, with short, digestible chapters. However, the story runs several chapters too long. Much of the middle drags as Cady spirals deeper into guilt and justification for her so-called “good intentions.” Unless the author plans a sequel, the book leaves several loose ends and offers little closure. The ending feels abrupt and somewhat unsatisfying, with the characters showing minimal growth from start to finish. Overall, it’s an interesting psychological dive with strong potential, but it falls short of delivering a truly impactful conclusion.

The second time was the charm. I dnf’d this book earlier this month. I was in the midst of a slump and nothing was really happening, it was like I was stuck in this character’s head and couldn’t get out. Something told me to give it another try, and I literally finished it with my dropped mouth wide open in shock. I know I should’ve seen this boulder sized twist coming, but I didn’t. Whew! This was good! It’s about how death can bring upon grief, guilt, fear, and sometimes… obsession. Cady’s twin, Dana, dies in a car accident and her life sort of implodes. Completely compulsive! That’s all I’ll say about the plot. I will say that Cady was absolutely unhinged and danced on my very last nerves the entire book. She will leave you drained from trying to save her from herself, before you ultimately throw caution to the wind and let the chips fall where they may 😂 (🗣️She don’t want to be saved) The narration was panicky, anxiety inducing! Brittany Pressley embodies this disillusioned character expertly! 🙏🏾

This one left a lot to be desired both in the writing and the actual story. I disliked the main character more with each chapter. By the last chapter, I was DONE.