Rock Paper Scissors Book Review
Alice Feeney takes us on a confusing journey about broken marriages, secrets, and lies. This brief book review of Rock, Paper, Scissors is an unpopular opinion, but it must be said.
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Summary:
Amelia, the pet rescue, and Adam, the screenwriter, couldn’t have less in common. Most times, he can’t even recognize her due to his disorder: prosopagnosia. When Amelia wins a retreat to Scotland, she decides it's the perfect opportunity to rekindle their marriage. However, the eight-hour drive in the middle of a snowstorm tests their patience, and they each carry secrets as thick as the snow they’re trapped in.
They pull up to the destitute and seemingly abandoned chapel Amelia won as a giveaway. Its eerie atmosphere irritates Adam but they try to make the most of it, until the power goes out. Now, the old church seems haunted. They search for answers and escape, only to resurrect their deepest secrets.
Book Review:
Let me start out by saying, I’m not a fan of horror or thrillers. Reading this novel solidified that opinion. Before you disregard my review because of that statement, I’m breaking down how this story failed to connect various narrative elements in a cohesive way.
First, the characters were punching bags for the plot. There was absolutely no reason to care for any of them— especially the wife. Honestly, I felt bad for the husband the entire story— his wife was not a partner and purposely sabotaged him. On the other hand, I don't feel bad for him because he allowed her to control and degrade him. A lot of authors don't know how to write men anymore; not all men are villains. Nor are they weak— where is the middle ground?
Secondly, the plot was confusing. The twists didn’t make sense; Feeney hid key information from the reader! This choice made for an unenjoyable reading experience.
** spoilers**
I must express my anger. Feeney hid the fact that Adam has an ex-wife: Amelia was the second wife. The reader never discovers this until the end. All the characters were aware of this crucial detail—except the reader. The author implemented this twist solely for shock value.
Why should we care about these characters when crucial information is hidden? It’s never hinted at during the entire first two acts of the story. The rest of the unveiling was shoved down our throats within the last few chapters because there was more than one twist. And let me be frank, they don't get any better.
Finally, the blurb incited that Adam or Amelia were lying about the trip as if someone was going to kill the other. There was no intention of murder in either of them. The ex-wife set it up unbeknownst to them, so that was misleading.
Overall, this book was not for me, and I don't see myself picking anything up by Feeney again. The generous two-star rating was given because I'm grateful this is a modern story without propaganda infecting it's pages.
Rating:
★★
Tell me if you share some of these opinions on this novel, or if you feel completely opposite. I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below!
