Reviews with content warning for Rape - All Girls

I really liked the structure of this, and the way all of the different narrators kept you moving quickly through the book and gave a wider view of the school as an institution and how different people viewed it. The only downside of this is that it lacks a satisfying conclusion and seems to just end, because the institution will long outlive them and their effect on it.

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gimmebooksjoanna's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

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milliep's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

1.5

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katie_ponderingthepages's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

Set in an all girls boarding school outside of New York the new school term starts but as the girls and their families approach Atwater School they see signs everywhere with an image of the school saying ‘a rapist works here’.

I feel so utterly frustrated by this book, it could easily be amazing but due to too many characters with each chapter voicing another girls point of view the potentially powerful and empowering messages looses their hit. There are signs of the storyline exploring themes of sexual injustice, coming of age, sexual expectations of young women, racism, inequality and mental health difficulties, but due to such a disjointed narrative the book never gets the chance to fully invest in these themes.

I did however like Macy’s storyline. Her anxiety and obsessive behaviours to try and control her anxiety was actually brilliantly written. Just when I became invested in her the storyline flips to another character leaving me wanting more. I continued reading hoping to pick up again with Macy’s story but was left disappointed. I wish the author had focussed on two or three girls to narrate the year at Atwater School, I could have connected more.

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