Helpful Score: 8
Last year, I read Heartsick and was blown away. Tonight, in one sitting, I read Sweetheart and was again in awe. Like Heartsick, Sweetheart has to be one of my all time favorite books.
The twisted, sick, unstable relationship between Archie and Gretchen is written so perfectly. This author has a true gift for writing. She puts you there at the scene. You smell the corpses. You taste the bitterness of the pills Archie continues to shovel in like candy. This book drags you in from page 1 and doesn't let go even long after you've closed the book.
All I can say is Chelsea Cain better be writing another book asap!!!!
The twisted, sick, unstable relationship between Archie and Gretchen is written so perfectly. This author has a true gift for writing. She puts you there at the scene. You smell the corpses. You taste the bitterness of the pills Archie continues to shovel in like candy. This book drags you in from page 1 and doesn't let go even long after you've closed the book.
All I can say is Chelsea Cain better be writing another book asap!!!!
Shannon Y. (dolphinlover) reviewed Sweetheart (Archie and Gretchen, Bk 2) on + 209 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
I really enjoyed this one. The first installment of the series-Heartsick was really good. I loved this second one. I can't describe how good it was. Chelsea Cain is worth the hype. Please do read Heartsick first though you will be able to feel this book's emotion much more if you do.
Helpful Score: 5
This "series" (I can only hope there will be more!) reminds me a lot of Thomas Harris' Hannibal Lechter. The character Gretchen Lowell is extremely intelligent but also enormously twisted. Another excellent read from this author. I was not disappointed!
Helpful Score: 5
Although both Heartsick and Sweetheart contain plot elements commonly found in serial killer/thriller books, Cain's series continues to be outstanding because she brings her characters to life so well. The main character of Archie is especially unique, and the scenes in Sweetheart in which Archie tries to return to a normal life with his family are very poignant.
In addition, Cain manages to maintain a dark tone throughout both books, causing the reader to feel a sense of dread as s/he turns the pages. The reader is submerged in the grisly details of Archie's world from page 1 of Sweetheart.
Although I very much enjoyed the Gretchen storyline of Sweetheart, overall I did not like it as much as Heartsick because I was a little disappointed by the Susan storyline. It seemed like relating the two stories was too much of a stretch.
Overall however, this book is a must read for fans of grisly thrillers, and I hope that Cain does not make us wait as long for the third installment.
In addition, Cain manages to maintain a dark tone throughout both books, causing the reader to feel a sense of dread as s/he turns the pages. The reader is submerged in the grisly details of Archie's world from page 1 of Sweetheart.
Although I very much enjoyed the Gretchen storyline of Sweetheart, overall I did not like it as much as Heartsick because I was a little disappointed by the Susan storyline. It seemed like relating the two stories was too much of a stretch.
Overall however, this book is a must read for fans of grisly thrillers, and I hope that Cain does not make us wait as long for the third installment.
Helpful Score: 4
When I finished reading HEARTSICK, the first novel of this series, I touted it as the best thriller ever. I still stand by that sentiment. And even though SWEETHEART doesn't quite live up to the greatness of that first book, it's still a really good read.
All of the characters from the first book are back, and they find themselves in circumstances that are, in a lot of ways, similar to those in the first book.
Archie is still obsessed with Gretchen. Gretchen is still obsessed with killing -- and with Archie.
Archie's family, friends, and co-workers are trying to help him end his addiction to both painkillers and Gretchen, but it doesn't seem to be working. He's living with his ex-wife and children, and he loves them and wants to keep them safe, and yet he still wants -- no, needs -- to be with Gretchen in some way.
The plot is added to (and sometimes complicated by) the story that Susan Ward began working on in HEARTSICK -- that of the affair between the beloved Senator and the underage babysitter. This story becomes intertwined with the present when Susan's friend/mentor is killed, and the case falls into Archie's lap.
SWEETHEART is a fairly quick read, and I stayed up late to finish it. I really did like it, even though I wasn't as impressed with it as I was HEARTSICK.
There's no doubt that Archie and Gretchen will be back. I'm anxious to see more of them, and to find out who will be the death of who.
All of the characters from the first book are back, and they find themselves in circumstances that are, in a lot of ways, similar to those in the first book.
Archie is still obsessed with Gretchen. Gretchen is still obsessed with killing -- and with Archie.
Archie's family, friends, and co-workers are trying to help him end his addiction to both painkillers and Gretchen, but it doesn't seem to be working. He's living with his ex-wife and children, and he loves them and wants to keep them safe, and yet he still wants -- no, needs -- to be with Gretchen in some way.
The plot is added to (and sometimes complicated by) the story that Susan Ward began working on in HEARTSICK -- that of the affair between the beloved Senator and the underage babysitter. This story becomes intertwined with the present when Susan's friend/mentor is killed, and the case falls into Archie's lap.
SWEETHEART is a fairly quick read, and I stayed up late to finish it. I really did like it, even though I wasn't as impressed with it as I was HEARTSICK.
There's no doubt that Archie and Gretchen will be back. I'm anxious to see more of them, and to find out who will be the death of who.
