That Weekend Book Review

Hi everyone! Today I’m going to be reviewing That Weekend by Kara Thomas.

Rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

That Weekend follows our protagonist, Claire, and her journey for answers after a fun prom getaway takes a deadly turn. After waking up alone on a mountain with a head injury and no recollection of the last forty eight hours, Claire’s hunt for the truth begins – starting with where her two best friends are. Who would want to hurt Kat and Jesse – and where are they now?

Ever since I read The Cheerleaders back in May I’ve been desperate to read more of Thomas’ books, and it’s safe to say that this didn’t disappoint. That Weekend was everything I could ask for in a mystery: action, twists, character development and, of course, some drama. I went into this book with really high expectations but Thomas still managed to exceed them, which is definitely a real talent. I can’t wait to read Little Monsters soon, too, which I purchased last month!

I think it’s safe to say that the premise of the book was absolutely superb! Three friends on a secret camping trip over a weekend… Sign me up! Add in the issues of Claire’s memory loss and the deadly turn it takes for Kat and Jesse and I was a goner. I knew as soon as I read the blurb that I would fall in love with this book, and I was right!

I think the aspect which I loved the most about That Weekend was definitely the huge amount of twists and turns. Every time I thought the constant surprises were over, Thomas threw another one at me, which I really appreciated. I loved how intricate the mystery was as well as all of the side plotlines. The last twist was unveiled in literally the last ten or so pages so I think it’s safe to say that this book kept me guessing until the very end!

Of course, twists alone don’t make a good mystery – you need action, too. When I read The Cheerleaders, my main critique was that it lacked a lot of action, but it’s safe to say that this wasn’t the case with That Weekend. Thomas struck just the right balance between action and day to day scenes, which I really appreciated. The action definitely helped to drive the plot forward!

Of course, Claire herself really helped to drive the plot forward. She was extremely determined to find the truth, searching for answers in any way she could and refused to just leave things be. I really enjoyed reading about Claire’s character and her struggle for the truth – reading about her bravery and everything that she went through was really interesting.

I also really liked Claire’s amazing character development. At the start of the novel, she was left a shell of a person following the accident, but by the end she was confident and self-assured. I really enjoyed watching her progress and come to terms with what had happened. It was lovely to watch her development and only added to my enjoyment of the book!

The different parts and POVs also really increased my enjoyment. The whole book was divided into five different parts, which really helped to split up the story and worked really well. That Weekend was also written using multiple different POVs, but, unlike different books, it wasn’t as simple as just alternating every chapter – Thomas just used whichever voice was best suited to tell the story. I thought this was really effective and really appreciated this decision of Thomas’!

Of course, another marvelous skill of Thomas is her excellent writing style. There’s something about it which just flows so effortlessly, and it’s really refreshing to read. I love the ease of readability her books have too – they’re perfect for more reluctant readers! I whizzed through That Weekend due to this, as it was really easy to read but still nearly impossible to put down. I think that goes to show how much talent Thomas has!

The ending also demonstrated this. I don’t want to give away too much but let’s just say it will leave you reeling. I for one know that it completely took me by surprise and the final twist was the last thing I expected. The ending was really action packed but it also really did the job of tying up any of the loose ends, which was the perfect combination!

Overall, I would recommend That Weekend for any fan of Kara Thomas – despite only having read one of her other books before this That Weekend was easily my favourite of hers! I’d also recommend it for any mystery fan, as this is remarkably twisty and the surprises keep on coming! I think it’s safe to say that Thomas has a real way with words, and the way she crafts mysteries is truly amazing.

I hope you enjoyed this review!

Ceri

62 thoughts on “That Weekend Book Review

  1. I was just reading another blogger’s post about how they’re using this book for their book club this month so it must be a popular one! I’m not a fan of thrillers because I spook far too easily, but the concept of this story definitely sounds intriguing. I can always appreciate a good mystery. I’m really glad you enjoyed this!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yeah, it was only recently on June 29th so that might be it! It definitely is – it has such a promising premise! So can I, it’s definitely up there with my favourite genres. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment your thoughts!

      Like

  2. Ooo, I love the sound of this book, especially the mystery in it! Books that have lots of twists are great, aren’t they? I am going to be adding this to my list to read!
    Thanks for sharing 🙂
    Aimsy xoxo
    Aimsy’s Antics

    Liked by 1 person

  3. This is definitely going on my reading list, thanks for bringing this book to my attention, it sounds as though it would be a great read.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Thank you for sharing an amazing review! Considering Claire’s character development, it makes me want to grab this book as soon as I can. I’m all up for some twists and turns haha x

    Liked by 1 person

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