Member Reviews
Two Wrongs follows the lives of two young women, Chloe and Zadie who form an intense friendship whilst at university. A law unto herself, Zadie prefers and has chosen to live off campus with long term boyfriend Max, yet when these two finally meet Chloe quickly becomes obsessed by this mysterious creature. This case of idolisation steadily takes her down a path that bears no resemblance to the vision of university life she innocently first held, threatening to corrupt her impressionable young nature. It’s a whirlwind of a friendship that sadly ends as abruptly as it began when Zadie disappears after a party, never to be seen or heard of again. It is Chloe’s involvement in this night in question that preoccupies her thoughts in the immediate aftermath of Zadie’s disappearance and for many years to come, even though she is settled down and happily married to Rav. Haunted by guilt and regret, she cannot escape the feeling she let her friend down in her hour of need. In the present day, Chloe wastes no time in seeking retribution when an unexpected opportunity arises and Max breezes back into her life. For Chloe has always believed that the blame for Zadie’s disappearance lies squarely upon the shoulders of one person in particular and she is determined to finally bring this person to account.
Going back in time, Chloe is immediately entranced by the glamorous and sophisticated Zadie when she finally makes an appearance in their shared room at university. Worlds apart in terms of background there is an element to this storyline that made me think of Zadie as a rather tragic princess with the naive and impressionable Chloe playing her lady in waiting. It takes no real effort on Zadie’s part, assisted in part by rugby obsessed boyfriend Max to seduce Chloe into a world of wild parties, heavy drinking, both of them welcoming her into their hedonistic lifestyle. Chloe willingly moulds herself into Zadie’s plaything, a puppet on a string who will dance to her friend’s tune. I’m not sure I fully understood Zadie’s allure and Chloe’s desperation to be a part of life in Archer Crescent, or why as an ordinary hard working student she is willing to put her university place in jeopardy for the sake of this friendship. And it’s a friendship in which the power is balanced all in Zadie’s favour so it’s difficult not to dislike Zadie and wish that Chloe would wake up and smell the roses. Attempts by others to befriend Chloe are eschewed in favour of her fascinating new friend only prompted me to feel like a worried parent. In my opinion, Zadie is spoilt, selfish, privileged, needy and narcissistic, all negative traits that don’t conjure up visions of an ideal friend! Yet underneath lies a young woman clearly troubled, fragile and vulnerable who doesn’t seem able to conduct normal meaningful,friendships and relationships. Behind all the drinking and partying and thrill seeking is a woman who just wants to be loved. Sadly she is a car crash waiting to happen and friends like Chloe and Max and Rav are just collateral damage. Although I couldn’t see myself in either Zadie or Chloe, thank goodness, and my university days were certainly nothing like theirs, I found their brief history together and the repercussions from it made for a compelling read.
This is quite a dark and disturbing storyline involving only a small cast of characters, with the author favouring the use of a dual timeline to reveal details both past and present.
Similar to the way in which Chloe is mesmerised by Zadie, the author lured me into this dark and dangerous period in Chloe’s life with writing that induces a constant sense of unease and dread and even sadness. She prefers a more subtle approach when attempting to engage the reader’s attention, which makes a refreshing change from the more hard hitting methods usually employed by authors writing in this genre. However the impact of this storyline isn’t comprised as a result. I really had no idea where this storyline was heading, enjoying the gradual build up of tension until all is revealed. My immediate assumptions surrounding Zadie’s disappearance from Chloe’s life forever were as misguided as those of her best friend so I found the turn of events surprising and shocking and satisfying in equal measure. Everyone has things in their past they’re not proud of, that they’re ashamed of but most things can be explained away by immaturity, naivety or bad choices. However some acts, even if they do occur in our more formative years are simply unforgivable. The author leaves it to you as the reader to decide where actions prior to Zadie’s disappearance lie on the spectrum of forgiveness, if at all. The decision is in your hands! Having previously read and enjoyed Truth Hurts by the same author I’d stick my neck out and say I like this one even better! My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
This was a brilliant book, full of twists and thrills, I really loved it. I found I just wanted to forget what chores I needed to do and keep on reading it was that good. I love a well written thriller and this was just right full of all the things that I enjoy. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
A truly brilliant and chilling read, another one I just couldn’t put down. I found the characters to be very relatable and also likeable, would highly recommend
I was in two minds re this book - I didn't really get along with the characters especially Chloe who I wanted to shake as her decisions weren't great.
But the plot was very good and I was able just to sink in and read it and wanted to know what happened. I had guessed about what happened 3/4 in just didnt know why.
The plot intertwined now and university life which made it interesting.
All in all a good read and would be interested in reading more of this author.
I was given an advance copy of this book by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review which I have done so.
Two Wrongs was a good book. It was about the beginning of adulthood and the forging of friendships. Two young women meeting at university, we learn their story through flashbacks from the present to the past. We follow them through boyfriends, drugs, lies, and regrets. What happened to Zadie? Can you ever really know anyone?
This was a great read, I struggled a little in believing in the choices which were made at the end of the book, but I wanted to follow the characters right to the end.
This book took me back to my youth. I had forgotten how people and situations influenced me - good and bad - and how choices made then took me to where I am now. Not that I'm in a bad place...just how life has it's twists and turns, what molds our personality and friends; the friends we trusted.
Although I enjoyed reading Two Wrongs, I wondered whether it could have involved the extended families more; they sounded interesting. Maybe there could be more to follow...I hope so!
Engaging Suspense....
Friendships, betrayals, guilt and regret explored in this engaging suspense, told across a dual time zone with just enough mystery to keep the reader guessing and a satisfying level of tension.. Escapist reading.
Five stars for keeping me hooked to the very last page. Every page has something to say. Chloe meets Zadie at university and that is where a strange friendship starts and ends in death. Zadie is a complex character but Chloe is something else...Rebecca Reid is a mastermind in storytelling.
It took me forever to get in to this book. I’m not actually sure I was fully on board at all.
For me, some of the characters seemed off. Not believable or likeable.
It was a slow burn and I sussed the twist out far too early in the story for it to have been anything other than disappointing
I absolutely loved Truth Hurts and was thrilled when Transworld got in touch to offer me a review copy of Rebecca Reid’s latest book ‘Two Wrongs’.
The book is an enjoyable, easy read with a believable plot. Whilst it was a much gentler ‘thriller’ than Truth Hurts it had enough mystery to keep you guessing to the end.
Rebecca Reid has a fresh and modern style that I enjoy and even though I didn’t connect with the characters myself, I found them incredibly realistic.
Two wrongs is a good read but I do feel out still had a lot of unfulfilled potential. I had guessed far too early *******spoiler alert************
Rav was the cause of Zadie’s disappearance but I do feel there was a lot not told, scenes missing to make this a great book. Chloe was likeable but still felt shallow in her character and maybe it all “just” missed what could be a great story.
Chloe and Zadie meet at the start of uni; Zadie is a rich confident privately educated girl who takes it all in her stride. Chloe is more down to earth and practical ,first of her family to reach uni. They share a room in halls, but Zadie is mainly at her glamourous boyfriend Max's house instead. Chloe gets drawn into their drinking and partying ways, but one day Zadie goes missing, and this is the story of what happened.
Well written, quick read- maybe some characters were a bit unrealistic for me but maybe thats the circles I move in! I 3.5 stars rounded up to 4/ 5
Having read Rebecca's two previous books and thoroughly enjoyed them I was excited to read this one too.
Rebecca has a writing style that I enjoy and find super easy to read. I whizzed through this book in just a few days, staying up rather late one night to finish it because I needed to know.
It is a story told over dual time lines, the characters uni days and then the present. Their is a bit of a plot twist but I will say I saw it coming fairly early on so it was not really much of a surprise. I also found myself really disliking Chloe for her rather unpleasant plot to unmask Max and I found the sudden disappearance of Zadie to be weird for someone who had been portrayed as an attention seeker.
All in all I did enjoy it but no where near as much as I did Rebecca's two previous books.
When Chloe met Zaidie in college, she had no idea that it would change her life forever. 15 years later and Chloe is haunted by that night, that last night she saw Zaidie. When an old friend comes back into her life, Chloe knows that this is her chance to find closure and justice for Zaidie.
Where to start, where to start. I think the writing was great, and I LOVED the main character. I found her so relatable and it made it such an enjoyable read. My big issue was the storyline and the ‘big reveal’, which I saw coming miles off and left me feeling overall disappointed. Not a bad read overall, but definitely not a must.
I have read Rebecca Reid’s previous novels and thoroughly enjoyed them. This was in the same league and I found it another compelling read.
The story is told in two timelines. The first being when Chloe arrives at university, she finds she is sharing a room in the Halls of Residence. Chloe is shy but is looking forward to meeting her new roommate, Zadie. She is in for a surprise as Zadie doesn’t turn up as she has other plans and is moving in with her boyfriend, Max, in a house his parents own.
When they finally meet Zadie takes Chloe away from her studying into a party environment with an abundance of drink and drugs. Chloe struggles to keep up with her course work.
In the present-day Chloe is married to Rav, who she met on her partying spree at university but she hasn’t been able to track down Zadie since she left university one evening after an incident. She has spent many hours searching social media to track her down.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Corgi and Rebecca Reid for my ARC of ‘Two Wrongs’ in return for my honest review.
This is brilliant if you like a twisty, no holds barred read. Highly recommended.
Two Wrongs is told in flashbacks between present and the events of 15 years earlier. Chloe has always wanted to know what happened to her best friend Zadie after becoming very close to her at university. Zadies sudden disappearance after their first year has been a constant thorn in her side and she has never been able to let it go. I found this an easy read but didn’t feel drawn to the characters. I would look for other books by this author.
Chloe can't wait to meet her new roomate at university, she's sure they're going to be best friends, unfortunately for her Zadie has decided to.move in with her boyfriend Max. So when Zadies parents decide to pay a visit, the pretence of where she's living begins.
Zadie is a party girl and after one particular party she disappears, Chloe doesn't know where she is and neither does Max. But Chloe can't help.but feel that Max has something to do with her disappearance, and keeps this going for 15 years....... Only then are secrets revealed can they get on with their lives after the revelations or is it all too much?
A great read told in different time frames to.understand what happened then and now.
Before she even meets her, Chloe is convinced that her new room-mate at university is going to be her best friend. But Zadie, her room-mate has decided to live with her boyfriend and so Chloe doesn't get to meet her until quite far on in the term when Zadie's parents pay an unexpected visit. Forewarned by her brother, Zadie turns up and with Chloe's help convinces her parents she is behaving herself for once. Zadie is super grateful to Chloe and Chloe is smitten by everything about her. They become firm friends.
The story is told in two time frames: the past (as outlined above) and the present (15 years on). Chloe is now happily married to Zav but her happiness is incomplete as Zadie disappeared 15 years before. Chloe is convinced Zadie's boyfriend, Max knows something about her disappearance and when he reappears she is determined to find out more.
This was a readable novel which I quite enjoyed. The characters were flawed but believable although they did things which weren't all that believable especially Chloe.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
T
An excellent thriller posing difficult ethical questions. The disappearance of her friend during their college day studies haunts the protagonist at present time and presents her with a moral dilemma. The way she handles it is the crux of this fascinating story.
Really enjoyed this story. The characters were great and you could buy into them but everyone is not as they seem. Quite a bit of suspense in waiting to find out moe about Zadie but well worth the wait.