Play Book Tag discussion

It is hard to share any details about the plot for The Need because the most interesting parts are what you don't know going in, so here is simply the beginning of the story; it starts with a home invasion. Molly, home alone with her 2 small children while her husband is away on business, suspects there is someone in the home. The who's-it and why's-it gets revealed early on so Phillips can further explore Molly's dilemma, and her own motivation, the rest of the novel.

It is a unique story with an innovative plot twist that I loved early on, but the meditations on our protagonists motivation slowed the pacing and bogged the story down which made it less enjoyable overall.

As a childless woman I found Phillips mother figure successfully relatable and I could connect with the all the emotions unique to motherhood, but it could also be monotonous at times.

Phillips hit just the appropriate length for this novel, clocking in at 272 pages. Any longer and I think the impact of the story would suffer greatly.

Overall, this is a great concept and Phillips is a talented writer but the pacing diminished my enthusiasm as the story progressed.

I will still recommend to all my fans of home invasion horror, readers who like suspense, or those who want a story delving into the anxieties of motherhood.

I will read this author again.