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hardcover_hazel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
"The living room is empty. Empty as a ditch a girl might have fallen into."
Girls of little hope had me intrigued. Three girls disappear into the woods and only two come back, covered in blood with no memory of what happened.
"All she knows for sure is that one of her best friends is missing, and the other wants her to lie about it"
We travel across different thoughts with each chapter the perspective of a range of characters. The missing girl, Kat, has diary entries from the past we follow along with.
"Sometimes it seems that's all getting older is: just a slow accumulation of damage"
This book is listed as horror fiction and the twist (and a scene or two with gore) is so. good. Please check the trigger warnings before reading as lots of blood tends to be mentioned š©·
"Even the trees, she feels, are aware of her footsteps pressing the soil against their roots"
I didn't expect the twist. Starting out as a murder mystery, it expands into something more, something wild, that forever changes the town of Little Hope.
"Blood mixes with her saliva, creating a perfect map of her"
I loved this so much š„° thank you to Johnathan Ball Publishers for the giveaway I won with this book š©·āØ
Girls of little hope had me intrigued. Three girls disappear into the woods and only two come back, covered in blood with no memory of what happened.
"All she knows for sure is that one of her best friends is missing, and the other wants her to lie about it"
We travel across different thoughts with each chapter the perspective of a range of characters. The missing girl, Kat, has diary entries from the past we follow along with.
"Sometimes it seems that's all getting older is: just a slow accumulation of damage"
This book is listed as horror fiction and the twist (and a scene or two with gore) is so. good. Please check the trigger warnings before reading as lots of blood tends to be mentioned š©·
"Even the trees, she feels, are aware of her footsteps pressing the soil against their roots"
I didn't expect the twist. Starting out as a murder mystery, it expands into something more, something wild, that forever changes the town of Little Hope.
"Blood mixes with her saliva, creating a perfect map of her"
I loved this so much š„° thank you to Johnathan Ball Publishers for the giveaway I won with this book š©·āØ
Graphic: Violence, Self harm, Blood, Vomit, and Body horror
Moderate: Death of parent, Eating disorder, Genocide, Gore, and Murder
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Have you ever read a book that was both eerie and grotesque, yet soo utterly fascinating you were unable to put it down? Well, thatās what Girls of Little Hope was for meā a fabulously weird and unexpectedly compelling YA Horror from writing duo Sam Beckbessinger and Dale Halvorsen. Which perfectly captures the anxiety, angst and (relatable) growing pains of adolescence, but with a much needed (and surprisingly bloody) supernatural twist thatās guaranteed to keep even the most seasoned Horror fans on their toes.
Set in a small California town during the 1990s, Girls of Little Hope follows the mystery and aftermath of the disappearance of three girls (Donna, Rae and Kat) and the strange circumstances surrounding Donna and Raeās return three days later: naked, covered in blood and with no memory of what happenedā¦
I loved every deliciously creepy second of this! Iām not usually a huge Horror reader, but the atmospheric and expertly detailed, small town setting (complete with sinister undercurrent) and compelling, misfit characters had me utterly hooked.
Donna, the first character weāre introduced to is portrayed as quite impulsive and the most vocal of the trio but her sense of loyalty, compassion and long hidden vulnerabilities really made her one of my favourite characters.
Rae, our other āsurvivorā is resident āgood girlā who comes from a respectable, church going family whoās perceived perfection and conservative values have forced Rae into a suffocating state of repression and self loathing that was truly heart breaking to watch unravel.
Kat, our amateur sleuth and budding journalist is the only character whose POV is told via journal entries which really added a sense of intimacy and allowed us to explore their deep bond of friendship in such exquisite detail.
We also get to explore Katās mum Marybethās POV, whose complicated mother-daughter relationship juxtaposes perfectly with Katās innermost thoughts and really captures the flaws and nuances that really make up this fascinating, formidable and surprisingly three dimensional supporting character.
As well as Katās diary entries, weāre also treated to newspaper articles and Riot Grrl-esque āZine pages, which cleverly immerses us in the history of Little Hope, its supernatural goings on and the angsty 90s high school experience without the pace slowing down or becoming too info dumpy.
I canāt say much else without spoiling the plot but, if you love shockingly twisty, House of Hollow meets Stranger Things style Horror, or books that scream āWe are the weirdos misterā, then you definitely need to add this to your TBR just check TWs beforehand.
Also, a huge thank you to Kabriya over at Titan Books for the incredible proof.
Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, Self harm, Animal death, Body horror, Fatphobia, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Lesbophobia, Confinement, Racism, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Gore
Minor: Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Ableism, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Grief, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts
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