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This is close to a perfect book for me. To be honest, I'm not sure why I can't bring myself to give it 5 stars but I'm just stingy. A masterclass in building tension. Not an in your face, "this is a thriller!" tension, but a subtle bubbling under the surface tension. By the end I felt so worried for these characters even though from the start they show themselves to be morally bankrupt. Someone tell me why I cried for a character who I would absolutely have hated if I met him in real life.
At it's heart, this is a greek tragedy told through the eyes of a naive young man who becomes enraptured with the wealthy and hedonistic world of his fellow students.
A compelling, gripping, interesting read. I'll be thinking about this one for a while.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide, Murder, Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Homophobia, Grief, Toxic friendship
Minor: Incest
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Suicide, Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Incest, Medical content
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Islamophobia, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Classism
Minor: Chronic illness
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Suicide, Xenophobia, Murder, Alcohol
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Moderate: Incest, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal cruelty
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Violence, Murder
Minor: Drug use, Incest, Sexual content, Suicide
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Islamophobia, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship