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vilmati's review against another edition
4.0
Toivoin, että olisin tienny kirjan käsittelevän seksuaalista väkivaltaa, sillä odotin jotain kevyttä. Kuvailee kuitenkin hyvin sitä miltä tuntuu kun maailma on epäreilu ja naisena turvaton
thebookberrie's review
TW: rape, sexual assault
Okay here's the thing: this started off SO FUCKING GOOD but then it just, yeah no it decided it didn't want to be so good anymore.
Pretending is about a woman named April who is relatively normal, but she can't seem to get past date 5 with a guy. Every time she thinks she's found someone to trust, he reveals himself to be awful. If only April could be like Gretel- the perfect girl that every guy wants. The only thing is that Gretel isn't real and April is pretending to be her. As soon as April starts being Gretel, dating is much easier and she lands a guy named Josh. As she gets closer to Josh, April doesn't know how long she'll be able to keep pretending.
This had such potential but it just throws it all away just to be a shitty romance with a catfish. And for what? At the beginning of this book, it was literally the "cool girl" speech from Gone Girl. She makes Gretel out to be the girl every guy would want. Personally for me, I would have made this more murderous instead of a just a traumatized woman lying and taking a catfish game too far.
It was just weird honestly. April goes way too far in the relationship with the guy like?? Why are we doing all of this lol just start killing dudes or something idk. April joints a boxing class for sexual assault survivors which was nice but either the book should have been all about them or just not had them as a subplot because it was so random??
This book talks a lot about sexual assault and feminism and I did like what it was saying there. I really wish I could have stanned this book but it just wasn't it for me.
Okay here's the thing: this started off SO FUCKING GOOD but then it just, yeah no it decided it didn't want to be so good anymore.
Pretending is about a woman named April who is relatively normal, but she can't seem to get past date 5 with a guy. Every time she thinks she's found someone to trust, he reveals himself to be awful. If only April could be like Gretel- the perfect girl that every guy wants. The only thing is that Gretel isn't real and April is pretending to be her. As soon as April starts being Gretel, dating is much easier and she lands a guy named Josh. As she gets closer to Josh, April doesn't know how long she'll be able to keep pretending.
This had such potential but it just throws it all away just to be a shitty romance with a catfish. And for what? At the beginning of this book, it was literally the "cool girl" speech from Gone Girl. She makes Gretel out to be the girl every guy would want. Personally for me, I would have made this more murderous instead of a just a traumatized woman lying and taking a catfish game too far.
It was just weird honestly. April goes way too far in the relationship with the guy like?? Why are we doing all of this lol just start killing dudes or something idk. April joints a boxing class for sexual assault survivors which was nice but either the book should have been all about them or just not had them as a subplot because it was so random??
This book talks a lot about sexual assault and feminism and I did like what it was saying there. I really wish I could have stanned this book but it just wasn't it for me.
leny_ba99's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sivukerrallaan's review against another edition
4.0
Vetävä juoni ja uskottavat pää- sekä sivuhenkilöt. Vakava ja ajatuksia herättävä aihe. Yksi tähti tippuu ajoittaisesta junnaamisesta sekä ennalta arvattavasta lopusta.
scribblinginthemargins's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
missvall's review against another edition
I did not like the mindset of the main character.
lilymitchell17's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5. Personally, I liked the extremity of emotions presented in this novel and appreciated Bourne not holding back. I feel the facade of Gretel is one a lot of girls hold onto as a metaphor of the patriarchy and the setting of standards in dating and relationships nobody can live up to. It made me laugh and cry in various parts. Minus 1 star for not having a final chapter about how her and Joshua got on in a real life, honest relationship after the wedding.
notchloelucas's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is about picking yourself up and healing, it is honest, it is hilarious, it genuinely made me grin from ear to ear and it genuinely made me almost swell with tears.
The main character April is complicated and you just want for her to get better. The romance takes a backseat as April learns to love herself and Oh My God, it was incredible.
The main character April is complicated and you just want for her to get better. The romance takes a backseat as April learns to love herself and Oh My God, it was incredible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
jodyclair's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I have ever read which is saying something. Related with it so much and I feel like it has enabled me to think about some of my past through a new lens, and come back fighting. Thank you Holly Bourne for this excellent book