Reviews

this book's greatest downfall was its marketing-- this book is neither horny nor thrilling, and reads as if the mc was a deeply neglected child. "sleaze" and anything related to it was only relevant when the author remembered they were supposed to include it. mc's desires are very childish because she is still quite young, and when she fantasizes about her crush, it is always stilted and awkward. the last twenty or so pages were the most interesting, i guess, but i was still never thrilled. everything felt lukewarm, unbaked. all of the characters were interchangeable, one-dimensional, and inconsequential (the book would be completely the same without polly...). i can't even say i enjoyed the writing because each scene was a maximum of two pages long, so the whole book felt like a series of vaguely related vignettes. i never felt close or connected to the characters or plot because of this. speaking of the plot... what was it supposed to be lol? i kept waiting for something to happen but it didn't until the very end.

could be good as a film, but i will not be reading from this author again.

cricketworm's review against another edition

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adventurous funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

siebensommer's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

The scene made me nostalgic for a girlhood I'd never had.
Three best friends, drinking sweet wine. The prism hanging from the fishing line in the window, and the jewelry hanging from nails, and the nail polish on the dresser, and the uneaten bags of fruit candy. We were sharing secrets in the fading light, laughing like sleigh bells, wearing colorful socks. I felt like I was getting an education.

Content Warnings

chelseascurrentread's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

an_tonym's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No

2.75

yuleham's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

ermw0's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I read this book in one sitting and found it completely engaging. I found the main character such a curious narrator, I do not think I've read a character this unique in a while. She is obsessed with all things "Sleaze" which is a fascinating lens to view the rest of the events that take place. The way the plot unfolds isn't in a narrative way that I was used to, so that was such a unique read. I very much enjoyed this book and would recommend it. (Thank you to my beloved, Interlibrary Loan, for allowing me access to a copy.)

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