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whrohala's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Dark. Fascinating. Terrifying. Terrifying in a - "My God... I could know someone like this, but not even know it."
The writing is great, and I will likely need to read again to catch all the small, subtle things that provided insight into the way that Joe's mind works. The inconsistencies in his mindset, the depravity, the twisted way he views the world becomes more and more obvious the longer you are reading (from his POV) and almost makes you sick to your stomach.
There was a moment towards the end, maybe 75-50 pages left, when I was reading Joe contradic himself in his own mind multiple times on a single page about what made Beck "perfect" that it really hit me - There was always only one way the story could end. With Beck dying. Because Joe doesn't know what he wants from a women, yet she needs to meet his expectations constantly or be met with intense criticism and suspicion and hatred. She is perfect for being bold, but also perfect for being shy. Perfect for being independent and strong, but also perfect for being obsessed with him 24/7. Perfect for looking down on fluffy books, but perfect for not being a snob like all the other bitches she goes to school with who also look down on fluffy books. Perfect for being daring and sexual, but a slut because that sexuality hasn't been solely focused on him since the beginning of time. And it's hot when she doesn't wear a bra... except for when someone else looks at her of their own accord, because she likes the attention - slut.
She can't be a person, she can only be his. She has to always be the version of her that he created in his mind the first second he saw her, but she can't be that person. Because that person doesn't exist. She never did.
Also... FUCK JOE. He acts like his dick cures the flu. It doesn't, it's a dick and he probably has good days and bad days like every other person. He's a bad boyfriend. He isn't cool for hating everything - he's a cliché. And he's cliche that he doesn't know he's cliche.
Joe is a human embodiment of the way society as a whole treats women - puts them on a pedestal, treats them like shit, doesn't understand why they are upset and tells them to not be so sensitive, calls them ungrateful, praises the "not like other girls" girls, but they shouldn't stray from the ideal beauty standard or feminine clothes, interests, characteristics...
Joe doesn't know what he wants because the world tells him to expect everything and nothing and whatever is in between from the woman he honors with his love... (give me a break.)
Already bought book 2.
FYI - If you came to this book due to the show (like I did), this is way darker, dirtier, and grittier. The show makes the characters more likeable (on purpose, obviously), but I think the story told in the book is more believable. You will not finish this book liking the characters - certainly not Joe. Thank God.
The writing is great, and I will likely need to read again to catch all the small, subtle things that provided insight into the way that Joe's mind works. The inconsistencies in his mindset, the depravity, the twisted way he views the world becomes more and more obvious the longer you are reading (from his POV) and almost makes you sick to your stomach.
She can't be a person, she can only be his. She has to always be the version of her that he created in his mind the first second he saw her, but she can't be that person. Because that person doesn't exist. She never did.
Also... FUCK JOE. He acts like his dick cures the flu. It doesn't, it's a dick and he probably has good days and bad days like every other person. He's a bad boyfriend. He isn't cool for hating everything - he's a cliché. And he's cliche that he doesn't know he's cliche.
Joe is a human embodiment of the way society as a whole treats women - puts them on a pedestal, treats them like shit, doesn't understand why they are upset and tells them to not be so sensitive, calls them ungrateful, praises the "not like other girls" girls, but they shouldn't stray from the ideal beauty standard or feminine clothes, interests, characteristics...
Joe doesn't know what he wants because the world tells him to expect everything and nothing and whatever is in between from the woman he honors with his love... (give me a break.)
Already bought book 2.
FYI - If you came to this book due to the show (like I did), this is way darker, dirtier, and grittier. The show makes the characters more likeable (on purpose, obviously), but I think the story told in the book is more believable. You will not finish this book liking the characters - certainly not Joe. Thank God.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
kylantis's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I wanted to give 4 stars just because it was really interesting and unique to see this situation from this point of view, but overall I was left disappointed.
I was hoping for it to be a little darker/scarier, and I didn't like how well everything worked out for Joe throughout the book:It just didn't make sense for him to get away with the murders as well as he did, especially with Peach's. Who plans their suicide so carefully that they stuff their pockets with rocks to make sure no one finds your body? Nobody. Also, she thought she had a stalker, and Beck knew that. Beck would have at least been questioned since she was the last person with her and would've been a suspect, and the topic of the stalker would come up.
As for Beck's murder, it'd make sense for her seduced therapist to be the murderer, but you're telling me that nobody talked to her friends and that they didn't mention her boyfriend/fling of the past few months? It just didn't make sense for him to not even be questioned about his relationship with her.
I was hoping for it to be a little darker/scarier, and I didn't like how well everything worked out for Joe throughout the book:
As for Beck's murder, it'd make sense for her seduced therapist to be the murderer, but you're telling me that nobody talked to her friends and that they didn't mention her boyfriend/fling of the past few months? It just didn't make sense for him to not even be questioned about his relationship with her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement and Domestic abuse
Minor: Car accident
caseyf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Stalking
ellalafontant's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, and Grief