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ingridostby's review against another edition
4.0
This is an incredible book that defies genres—a memoir that reads like a novel with [real] true crime woven in here and there. It is not "true crime." It is filled with authentic 90s specifics that forced me back into time and filled me with nostalgia. I appreciated the true crime *elements*, I loved the prose (which were exquisitely read in the audiobook) and I was moved by reading about a woman, and a girl, who grew up in the 90s never feeling good enough. It's incredibly relatable and poignant—I know all too well how it was to be a girl then. I know what it was like to, because of being raised in that era, struggle with self esteem and with not being popular, with losing friends, with wanting to be an adult's favorite, with being sexualized and wanting but not wanting to be sexualized, of being raised to accept a certain degree of sexualization, disrespect, bullying. All of this is covered, and poetically, in the book.
I know what it is like to be a victim of horrific crimes because I am a woman, and many women know what that's like. Most women can also relate to being a young girl coming of age in a world that is particularly patriarchal and predatory, a world in which we don't quite understand stalking and don't quite believe women when they say they are being stalked, a world that has endless amounts of men who believe you to be an object for their fantasies, who feel entitled to your space, who are convinced they are superior and see no issue to use you to fill their emotional voids and complement their neuroses. Piper was a victim of all of that, as were all of "Gary's girls." Varying degrees of victimhood exist. When you are in the network of a predator, you are already in his net, by his design.
I know what it is like to be a victim of horrific crimes because I am a woman, and many women know what that's like. Most women can also relate to being a young girl coming of age in a world that is particularly patriarchal and predatory, a world in which we don't quite understand stalking and don't quite believe women when they say they are being stalked, a world that has endless amounts of men who believe you to be an object for their fantasies, who feel entitled to your space, who are convinced they are superior and see no issue to use you to fill their emotional voids and complement their neuroses. Piper was a victim of all of that, as were all of "Gary's girls." Varying degrees of victimhood exist. When you are in the network of a predator, you are already in his net, by his design.
womaninread's review against another edition
1.0
I tried to get into this book, but I just couldn’t. DNF. I got a little ways in and when I realized it’s more a memoir about a girl growing up rich in Manhattan, I just didn’t care anymore? I thought there would be more true crime with the teenage piece woven in, but that’s not really wants happening. I wouldn’t recommend unless you’re interested in reading about a teenage girl growing up in New York during the 1990s.
rattgurl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Sexual violence
yasy_yasy16's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
3.0
A slow read but not boring. The story is so sad and gripping. Some of the writing is very well crafted and poetic, but the majority seems very conversational and simple.
erndixon's review against another edition
4.0
A very intimate self-portrait painted by the author. A reminder of how impossible and dangerous it is to be a teenager. I'm thankful that she allowed this glimpse into her mind and I thoroughly enjoyed every word. The crime talked about between the covers is interesting for true-crime aficionados, but it is as mysterious to us as it is to everyone else involved. Just like Piper, you never really get a grip on Gary, and that's OK, because this isn't about him. It's about her.
afortsch's review against another edition
4.0
Such an amazing read. I love the true crime story weaved into Piper's coming of age story.