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meeklovestoread's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
Honestly this book is just such an experience from start to finish. This book is told from a then-and-now perspective where "THEN' is Ambrosia starting her freshman year of college and the "NOW" chapter surround her current life as a thirty-one-year-old as she contemplates going to her 10-year high school reunion and the events that followed.
Now, I will assume that the author made Ambrosia the way she was on purpose. Like we were supposed to dislike her and Sully because immediately she was giving me insecure vibes and not a "girl's girl" and I was right. Ambrosia frustrated me so much in the "then" chapters because I honestly can't begin to fathom how someone could be so callous, but a people pleaser, and yet internally insecure all at the same time. It took a while (I thought this book was just going to be a cliche mean girl trope), but this book did hold my attention and get me hooked. I was so anxious, angry, and frustrated for the rest of the book because Ambrosia and Sully's actions were downright reprehensible (Kevin is no saint either).
I still felt empathy for Ambrosia, Sully, and Kevin towards the end, however, I feel like they did get what was coming to them. It was really hard to have more sympathy because what they did was just downright wicked. Although I do think Ambrosia, Sully, and Kevin had their fates coming to them, but the moral compass in me just can't help but not support Poppy's actions. She stabs Sully and then pins her murder on Ambrosia and then goes out of her way to steal Ambrosia's husband and weasels her way into becoming her daughter's potential stepmother. Like what?! Although I'm not defending what they did to Flora at all I still think what Poppy did after lowdown behavior and I just can't support it (but they still had it coming so props to Poppy for being so smart). Honestly, Flora is the only good character in this book and it sucks that Sully just went out and killed her.
Overall this book was surprisingly very gripping and was super dark! I really liked how it shed light on the nuances and dark side to mean girl culture as well as displayed the different types of mean girls and how such a mentality can drive you to do unspeakable things. One thing I do wish though is that we got more of Sully's past. I don't think we got enough to fully understand why she was the way that she was.
Now, I will assume that the author made Ambrosia the way she was on purpose. Like we were supposed to dislike her and Sully because immediately she was giving me insecure vibes and not a "girl's girl" and I was right. Ambrosia frustrated me so much in the "then" chapters because I honestly can't begin to fathom how someone could be so callous, but a people pleaser, and yet internally insecure all at the same time. It took a while (I thought this book was just going to be a cliche mean girl trope), but this book did hold my attention and get me hooked. I was so anxious, angry, and frustrated for the rest of the book because Ambrosia and Sully's actions were downright reprehensible (Kevin is no saint either).
I still felt empathy for Ambrosia, Sully, and Kevin towards the end, however, I feel like they did get what was coming to them. It was really hard to have more sympathy because what they did was just downright wicked.
Overall this book was surprisingly very gripping and was super dark! I really liked how it shed light on the nuances and dark side to mean girl culture as well as displayed the different types of mean girls and how such a mentality can drive you to do unspeakable things. One thing I do wish though is that we got more of Sully's past. I don't think we got enough to fully understand why she was the way that she was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicide
Moderate: Body horror, Gun violence, Bullying, Pregnancy, Blood, Drug use, and Grief
Minor: Cursing, Fatphobia, and Vomit
lauren_reads_outside's review
dark
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
4.0
This book in the end the character development wasn't enough for me to care about anything in the book. The storyline was compelling but none of the characters had any feeling behind them.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Suicide, Gun violence, Violence, and Sexual content
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