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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
After finishing this I realized that I just really like revenge stories. They're a lot of fun and I love seeing people getting justice by their own hands and not backing down or giving up. This wasn't as traditionally weird as other Mindy McGinnis books, but it did contain her staple complex and unlikable female lead - but I was cheering for Alex the whole time.
I struggled with whether or not to give this five stars, because there were parts of it that I felt were unnecessary or didn’t understand. Though I realized the “unnecessary” parts were mostly necessary, I’m still left with several plot points and details that I can’t puzzle out. Regardless, it was really close to getting five stars.
McGinnis’s novel was amazing. It reflected the stark reality of sexual assault, reminding readers how prevalent it is and just how much it impacts victims’ lives. I think that that’s a really important subject to bring awareness to, but in addition, this book had great humor, complex characters, and a uniquely motivated character that I really enjoyed learning more about.
The end was… tough. I expected it in a way, but not in the way it actually played out. And yet, I still felt that it was done well.
Certainly worth reading!
McGinnis’s novel was amazing. It reflected the stark reality of sexual assault, reminding readers how prevalent it is and just how much it impacts victims’ lives. I think that that’s a really important subject to bring awareness to, but in addition, this book had great humor, complex characters, and a uniquely motivated character that I really enjoyed learning more about.
The end was… tough. I expected it in a way, but not in the way it actually played out. And yet, I still felt that it was done well.
Certainly worth reading!
3.5 stars at the moment but I think my thoughts could change
Trigger warning for graphic depictions of rape. There are other instances of rape than just the one that happened previously in the story, as well as descriptions of animal death and cruelty please take care of yourselves
This book..... was not what I expected.... I don't know what I expected but this wasn't it
Things I liked: I really appreciated how the girl on girl hate was called out, especially by other girls, I liked the focus on female friendship, I appreciated the commentary on rape culture and the explanation of the lack of criminal justice when it comes to rape. I think Alex was a super interesting character to follow and I did like the dual perspectives.
Things I didn't like: I think the romance was too insta love and really took away from the weight of the story, I was not super into Alex's "I'm not like other girls" mindset and the way her aggression was discussed in general
Overall, I think this was a unique look at rape culture and what trauma can drive people to do.
Trigger warning for graphic depictions of rape. There are other instances of rape than just the one that happened previously in the story, as well as descriptions of animal death and cruelty please take care of yourselves
This book..... was not what I expected.... I don't know what I expected but this wasn't it
Things I liked: I really appreciated how the girl on girl hate was called out, especially by other girls, I liked the focus on female friendship, I appreciated the commentary on rape culture and the explanation of the lack of criminal justice when it comes to rape. I think Alex was a super interesting character to follow and I did like the dual perspectives.
Things I didn't like: I think the romance was too insta love and really took away from the weight of the story, I was not super into Alex's "I'm not like other girls" mindset and the way her aggression was discussed in general
Overall, I think this was a unique look at rape culture and what trauma can drive people to do.
5/5 stars. An absolutly dark and brutal story . All 3 POV's were amazing. It's about revenge/justice, friendship, finding love and about being the female of the species.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4-4.5 stars.
I really enjoyed this book! I think Mindy McGinnis did an excellent job at portraying the importance of female friendships and how they tie into a form of solidarity amidst rape culture, while still emphasizing that the characters made mistakes and are still learning. I found it really fascinating to be in Alex's head and I feel like a lot of women can understand where she is coming from. I saw a lot of myself and my own anger towards rape culture in her character and I appreciated how openly McGinnis discussed the issue of rape through Alex's character.
I really enjoyed this book! I think Mindy McGinnis did an excellent job at portraying the importance of female friendships and how they tie into a form of solidarity amidst rape culture, while still emphasizing that the characters made mistakes and are still learning. I found it really fascinating to be in Alex's head and I feel like a lot of women can understand where she is coming from. I saw a lot of myself and my own anger towards rape culture in her character and I appreciated how openly McGinnis discussed the issue of rape through Alex's character.
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
This book has taken every thought I’d ever relate to and put it on a page
Alex Craft knows how to kill someone. And she doesn’t feel bad about it.
Three years ago, when her older sister, Anna, was murdered and the killer walked free, Alex uncaged the language she knows best—the language of violence. While her own crime goes unpunished, Alex knows she can’t be trusted among other people. Not with Jack, the star athlete who wants to really know her but still feels guilty over the role he played the night Anna’s body was discovered. And not with Peekay, the preacher’s kid with a defiant streak who befriends Alex while they volunteer at an animal shelter. Not anyone.
Holy. Moly. This book is intense. From the very first chapter, this book sucks you in with Alex’s dark and dangerous nature. She stays separate from other people because she knows how dark she really is. After her sister’s death, there’s nothing to rein her in; until she starts working at an animal shelter and becoming friends with Peekay. And when she starts developing a relationship with Jack. But her inner nature is hard to deny. The rage is there waiting to be unleashed.
After all, the female of the species is often more deadlier than the male.
Three years ago, when her older sister, Anna, was murdered and the killer walked free, Alex uncaged the language she knows best—the language of violence. While her own crime goes unpunished, Alex knows she can’t be trusted among other people. Not with Jack, the star athlete who wants to really know her but still feels guilty over the role he played the night Anna’s body was discovered. And not with Peekay, the preacher’s kid with a defiant streak who befriends Alex while they volunteer at an animal shelter. Not anyone.
Holy. Moly. This book is intense. From the very first chapter, this book sucks you in with Alex’s dark and dangerous nature. She stays separate from other people because she knows how dark she really is. After her sister’s death, there’s nothing to rein her in; until she starts working at an animal shelter and becoming friends with Peekay. And when she starts developing a relationship with Jack. But her inner nature is hard to deny. The rage is there waiting to be unleashed.
After all, the female of the species is often more deadlier than the male.
So this book is the one I needed, and deserved!
After the week we’ve had in America, and the years of people belittling sexual assault survivors, I know I at least needed a female character who didn’t stand for it! This book caused me to be really introspective, because I know it’s wrong to take justice into your own hands, I know that we have courts and systems in place for those things, BUT sometimes those systems fail, and I can not fault a badass chick for coming in and handling for them.
Alex is a heroine in the since that, she has no right to pick who deserves to be smashed, but she picks the right people and it just makes you feel good.
So what does it say about me that I liked that she took this justice into her own hands? Especially when I abhor it in real life. I think it’s because I’m this book she always got it right. And in real life, you just can’t count on people to get it right.
I think this book did reenforce my negative stereotypes of Ohio. I mean, this is a shitty little town (I know because it’s mentioned like 9 times) but it has an increased amount of crime I’d say. And really I spent a large chunk of the book, trying to figure out why people even lived there.
This book will trigger people with history of abuse, since it revolves around rape and how we as a society view it. Unfortunately, it took a woman standing up and murdering rapists for people to finally come together in this town and start trying to change the culture.
I think behind everything there is also an interesting stance on encouraging people to report sexual abuse. After PK is assaulted she declines to press charges because it will make people mad, or be embarrassing, and that’s amazingly true, but when someone is almost assaulted by the same person, she lives with the guilt that it couldn’t have happened if she had reported. Which isn’t that just a double edged sword for a victim if you ever heard of one? Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence for victims, but having it subtly stated in a characters consciousness brings it to light in a way, that just people thinking about it. Which in itself is powerful.
I really enjoyed this book, and I encourage anyone full of anger at the toxic masculinity of today’s culture to check it out, but please not take on the role of the heroine in real life.
After the week we’ve had in America, and the years of people belittling sexual assault survivors, I know I at least needed a female character who didn’t stand for it! This book caused me to be really introspective, because I know it’s wrong to take justice into your own hands, I know that we have courts and systems in place for those things, BUT sometimes those systems fail, and I can not fault a badass chick for coming in and handling for them.
Alex is a heroine in the since that, she has no right to pick who deserves to be smashed, but she picks the right people and it just makes you feel good.
So what does it say about me that I liked that she took this justice into her own hands? Especially when I abhor it in real life. I think it’s because I’m this book she always got it right. And in real life, you just can’t count on people to get it right.
I think this book did reenforce my negative stereotypes of Ohio. I mean, this is a shitty little town (I know because it’s mentioned like 9 times) but it has an increased amount of crime I’d say. And really I spent a large chunk of the book, trying to figure out why people even lived there.
This book will trigger people with history of abuse, since it revolves around rape and how we as a society view it. Unfortunately, it took a woman standing up and murdering rapists for people to finally come together in this town and start trying to change the culture.
I think behind everything there is also an interesting stance on encouraging people to report sexual abuse. After PK is assaulted she declines to press charges because it will make people mad, or be embarrassing, and that’s amazingly true, but when someone is almost assaulted by the same person, she lives with the guilt that it couldn’t have happened if she had reported. Which isn’t that just a double edged sword for a victim if you ever heard of one? Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence for victims, but having it subtly stated in a characters consciousness brings it to light in a way, that just people thinking about it. Which in itself is powerful.
I really enjoyed this book, and I encourage anyone full of anger at the toxic masculinity of today’s culture to check it out, but please not take on the role of the heroine in real life.