Book Review: Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi
Ah, psychological thrillers—there’s something undeniably addictive about diving into the mind of a character unraveling as they chase a mystery. When I first stumbled upon Claire, Darling, I couldn’t resist its tantalizing hook: a fiancé that vanishes, leaving our protagonist in a tailspin. Written by Callie Kazumi, this book promised a thrilling ride, and boy, did it manage to grip me—until it didn’t. Let’s unpack this rollercoaster of emotions together.
At its heart, Claire, Darling is a tale of obsession and identity. Claire is living the “perfect” life, en route to marrying the seemingly ideal partner, Noah. However, everything crashes down when her surprise visit to his workplace reveals that he doesn’t even work there. From that moment, the tension escalates as Claire, determined to get answers, spirals into a deeply psychological chase. The multi-layered narrative explores themes of love, betrayal, and the fine line between sanity and delusion, forcing the reader to question: who’s really the liar here?
Kazumi’s writing shines in the first 90%. The pacing is electric, with a tight narrative that had me flipping pages as if my life depended on it. The dual timelines and diary entries cleverly introduce Claire’s backstory while propelling the plot forward. I found myself lost in Claire’s world, anxious to uncover each layer of her past. However, as much as I relished the baiting drama, I must also acknowledge that Claire can be… a lot. She’s messy, obsessive, and, at times, utterly delusional. While I adore morally gray characters, I struggled to connect with Claire fully, which made her descent harder to empathize with.
Alright, let’s discuss that last 10%, shall we? Just when I thought Kazumi would deliver a satisfyingly shocking twist, we were abruptly met with the revelation that Claire imagined the whole thing due to a mental illness. And the dreaded “it was all in their head” trope reared its uninvited head. I found this ending both frustrating and puzzling. It felt like a last-minute escape hatch that diminished the tension built throughout the book. Plus, the lack of consistent logic concerning Claire’s communications with Noah left me baffled. Why didn’t anyone check her call logs? It was as if the storyline crumbled under scrutiny, leaving me shouting, “What was this?” in disbelief.
In terms of recommendations, I would say this book has its audience. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers and can overlook a contentious twist, dive in—just know that Claire’s journey may be more of a headache than a heart-thumping thrill ride. However, if you’re sensitive to mental illness being used as a plot device, you might want to skip this one.
In the end, Claire, Darling left me with mixed feelings—a gripping start that ultimately stumbled at the finish line. But perhaps that’s the beauty of thrillers; they spark discussions and reflections on deeper themes that resonate, even when they fall short in delivery. Happy reading, fellow book lovers! 💌