Community Reviews
Caleb Crowe’s The Girl in the Painting is a new psychological thriller that grabs on and doesn’t let go! The main character is Seline who is newly graduated and is about to begin her first job as an art teacher thanks to a favor from a childhood friend of her father’s. She meets a charismatic man named Robbie and begins a rather rushed relationship with him. He becomes secretive and controlling with Seline. Meanwhile, her father’s childhood friend becomes more and more involved in her life and she is left wondering why and what his intentions are. Many secrets are revealed throughout the book and Seline is left fearing for her life after a series of devastating events.
I absolutely loved this book! To begin with, the cover art was so beautiful and intriguing I wanted to know more. The relationship between Seline and Robbie accurately depicts an unhealthy abusive relationship. There are tiny details in the beginning that clue you in to his behavior and intentions. Seline is young and naive. Perhaps she missed some of the signs, but I think this is why it’s such a relatable story. There are scary, violent things happening all around us and sometimes they are lurking behind beautiful people that you wouldn’t usually suspect.
There were many things about the book I liked and it’s obvious the author is a very good writer. The prose is beautiful and I like the way he is so descriptive in some passages such as, “The walls are a yellowy cream that falls halfway between a paint shade and the nicotine staining from when smoking inside was allowed. The patterned carpet somehow manages to be gaudy and depressing at the same time, with a threadbare track worn from the door they’ve just entered to the bar.” The settings were very visual and the story was intense. I liked the fast pace of the book, the suspenseful turns and twists, and the realistic flawed characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I absolutely loved this book! To begin with, the cover art was so beautiful and intriguing I wanted to know more. The relationship between Seline and Robbie accurately depicts an unhealthy abusive relationship. There are tiny details in the beginning that clue you in to his behavior and intentions. Seline is young and naive. Perhaps she missed some of the signs, but I think this is why it’s such a relatable story. There are scary, violent things happening all around us and sometimes they are lurking behind beautiful people that you wouldn’t usually suspect.
There were many things about the book I liked and it’s obvious the author is a very good writer. The prose is beautiful and I like the way he is so descriptive in some passages such as, “The walls are a yellowy cream that falls halfway between a paint shade and the nicotine staining from when smoking inside was allowed. The patterned carpet somehow manages to be gaudy and depressing at the same time, with a threadbare track worn from the door they’ve just entered to the bar.” The settings were very visual and the story was intense. I liked the fast pace of the book, the suspenseful turns and twists, and the realistic flawed characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story follows Seline, who gets her first adult job and leaves her parents’ house. Not being able to adapt to her new life, she finds comfort in Robbie; he is not what she thought he was. Although feeling trapped, Seline wanders through the meanders of the psychological thriller. Seline’s character is not likable; however, observing her transformation during the book was intriguing. Not for certain moments when I wished to shake her and make her understand everything, but the intricate plot and fast pace hooked me until the end.
This would’ve been a five-star read for me had I liked Seline more, but I still recommend it to anyone looking for an intense psychological thriller.
Thank you to Inkubator Books, Zoé from ZooLoo’s Book Tours, and the author for allowing me to read and review this book.
This would’ve been a five-star read for me had I liked Seline more, but I still recommend it to anyone looking for an intense psychological thriller.
Thank you to Inkubator Books, Zoé from ZooLoo’s Book Tours, and the author for allowing me to read and review this book.