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writeasiread's review against another edition
challenging
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
classically intriguing premise & characters but not the writer to pull it off.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Rape, Pregnancy, Murder, Suicide, and Sexual assault
ratcousin's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I kind of don't know how I feel about this book. On one hand it had a very unique and kind of surpriseing conclusion that I was refreshing as I feel a lot of thrillers feel the same, on the other hand the beginning is very confusing and kind of boring due to how much information is withheld from the reader for the sake of twists later on. It was really interesting following a character who is genuinely horrible though. Amb is like one of those girls you went to school with who has a massive victim complex and uses that to justify her cruelty to others. That being said, if you have a hard time reading about super hypocritical characters this might not be the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Drug use and Fatphobia
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
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