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rafacolog's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, and Bullying
sarahthenerd's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
TW: slut shaming, racism, cyber bullying, misogyny, nudity, pornography, sexual harassment, body shaming, invasion of privacy, toxic masculinity and toxic relationship.
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Racism
beckyvz421's review
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was the book that got me out of my reading slump that I've been in since March 2020. I've only been reading books for my classes and wanted to get back into reading.
I saw the description and immediately I was hooked. It was right up my alley. I was about to buy it (as it wasn't available at my local library) but halted when I saw that it was published by Wattpad books.
I love that Wattpad is a place for writers to put their books and fanfiction out for free and that these writers are given the opportunity to become published but the work I've seen turned out can be questionable at best. So I checked out that the first two chapters were up on the website and read them. It was better than I expected causing for me to get hooked and go through with purchasing it. I read it all in one day.
When the character who ended up being behind 'Nudegate' (the name given was Eros), was figured out, I will say I wasn't surprised. They were on my suspect list on who did it and I was still surprised that Walton went this route. Honestly, I felt very satisfied that I figured it out before the characters did since with books like this, you honestly don't know what direction the author will take it in.
I'm also glad that this book also did not fall into the Wattpad/ YA stereotype of forcing a relationship subplot into it the story. The hints and backbone of one are there, but it doesn't go any further than that. Relationships are interesting but having a chapter dedicating to Eden, the main character, getting into one felt tacky on the backbone of revenge porn.
Instead, there is a heavy focus on both friendship and budding friendships which was a delight to read.
Side note, I was worried the story would take the same angle as the movie Promising Young Woman did with the 'male character that was portrayed to be good was just as bad as the bad guys' in regards to the character of Atticus. That did not happen and he was fully against Eros and 'Nudegate'.
On the revenge porn angle, everything that got brought up was realistic. I've heard people slut shame those who send nudes. I've seen people say that 'well then she shouldn't have taken them' when celebrities nudes get leaked. I've seen places where people have posted celebrities leaked nudes for others to 'enjoy' without any thought to how the person who took them felt. I've seen school and college administration try and brush scandals like this (and worst) under the rug in order to not ruin their reputation. I've seen how poorly schools support the victims of acts like this. I've seen and heard about censorship of school newspapers. Everything that Walton brought up was how people have reacted in the past to cases like this- especially in places where revenge porn is not a crime.
Sloane is the best character in this book hands down.
While the title of the book does have the word 'revenge', it was not some grand high school revenge fantasy. While the 'Slut Squad' did not team up and take down Eros as a way to get revenge, I saw the 'revenge' being used less literal. Things like revenge porn is used to tear women down and make them feel awful about wanting to be free in there sexuality. That did not happen here. Yes the seven girls in are hurt, but they stand together and don't let who tried to hurt them work. They stand up for themselves and demand that their voices will be heard. They will risk it all.
The main place I will say this book is lacking is in terms of representation. Eden is Korean-American and that part of her identity was barely given much thought outside of a couple lines. Ronnie, Eden's friend and editor in chief of the newspaper, is one of the only Black students at there high school and is stated to be the scape goat on things. Margot, member of the Slut Squad, was called fat in the book (albeit by Luke who is the type of person you want to punch so it could be she is not a size zero or she really is plus sized). Then there was side character Jeremy, a fellow journalist on the newspaper, who is stated to have a boyfriend, making me believe that he is queer. None of these character's identities are heavily explored in this book and how that might affect the scenario.
I want to see more BIPOC, fat/ plus sized, and queer representation in the books I read, however it was also refreshing to read that these parts of the characters identities weren't the focus. Not only was it not the focus of the book to be on these identities, but these characters could just exist in the story like white, skinny, straight characters get to do. I still wish these identities could've been explored more in the text- especially with Eden as the main character -but with the story that was being told, I understood why it wasn't.
Honestly, what bumped this book up to five stars to me was how engaged I was in the story. I wanted to keep reading and figure out who did it. I wanted to know if I was right in my predictions or if it was someone who I didn't even consider. I was rooting for everyone to get justice and to beat the system. I was rooting for the enablers, Eros, and the sexist guys to be called out and punished. I got heated at how unjust life is. A part of me is now interested in figuring out if my area has protection against revenge porn and what I can do to make sure it does.
Overall, I would say that anyone intrigued by the description of the book to not let it being a Wattpad Book scare you.
I saw the description and immediately I was hooked. It was right up my alley. I was about to buy it (as it wasn't available at my local library) but halted when I saw that it was published by Wattpad books.
I love that Wattpad is a place for writers to put their books and fanfiction out for free and that these writers are given the opportunity to become published but the work I've seen turned out can be questionable at best. So I checked out that the first two chapters were up on the website and read them. It was better than I expected causing for me to get hooked and go through with purchasing it. I read it all in one day.
When the character who ended up being behind 'Nudegate' (the name given was Eros), was figured out, I will say I wasn't surprised. They were on my suspect list on who did it and I was still surprised that Walton went this route. Honestly, I felt very satisfied that I figured it out before the characters did since with books like this, you honestly don't know what direction the author will take it in.
I'm also glad that this book also did not fall into the Wattpad/ YA stereotype of forcing a relationship subplot into it the story. The hints and backbone of one are there, but it doesn't go any further than that. Relationships are interesting but having a chapter dedicating to Eden, the main character, getting into one felt tacky on the backbone of revenge porn.
Instead, there is a heavy focus on both friendship and budding friendships which was a delight to read.
Side note, I was worried the story would take the same angle as the movie Promising Young Woman did with the 'male character that was portrayed to be good was just as bad as the bad guys' in regards to the character of Atticus. That did not happen and he was fully against Eros and 'Nudegate'.
On the revenge porn angle, everything that got brought up was realistic. I've heard people slut shame those who send nudes. I've seen people say that 'well then she shouldn't have taken them' when celebrities nudes get leaked. I've seen places where people have posted celebrities leaked nudes for others to 'enjoy' without any thought to how the person who took them felt. I've seen school and college administration try and brush scandals like this (and worst) under the rug in order to not ruin their reputation. I've seen how poorly schools support the victims of acts like this. I've seen and heard about censorship of school newspapers. Everything that Walton brought up was how people have reacted in the past to cases like this- especially in places where revenge porn is not a crime.
Sloane is the best character in this book hands down.
While the title of the book does have the word 'revenge', it was not some grand high school revenge fantasy. While the 'Slut Squad' did not team up and take down Eros as a way to get revenge, I saw the 'revenge' being used less literal. Things like revenge porn is used to tear women down and make them feel awful about wanting to be free in there sexuality. That did not happen here. Yes the seven girls in are hurt, but they stand together and don't let who tried to hurt them work. They stand up for themselves and demand that their voices will be heard. They will risk it all.
The main place I will say this book is lacking is in terms of representation. Eden is Korean-American and that part of her identity was barely given much thought outside of a couple lines. Ronnie, Eden's friend and editor in chief of the newspaper, is one of the only Black students at there high school and is stated to be the scape goat on things. Margot, member of the Slut Squad, was called fat in the book (albeit by Luke who is the type of person you want to punch so it could be she is not a size zero or she really is plus sized). Then there was side character Jeremy, a fellow journalist on the newspaper, who is stated to have a boyfriend, making me believe that he is queer. None of these character's identities are heavily explored in this book and how that might affect the scenario.
I want to see more BIPOC, fat/ plus sized, and queer representation in the books I read, however it was also refreshing to read that these parts of the characters identities weren't the focus. Not only was it not the focus of the book to be on these identities, but these characters could just exist in the story like white, skinny, straight characters get to do. I still wish these identities could've been explored more in the text- especially with Eden as the main character -but with the story that was being told, I understood why it wasn't.
Honestly, what bumped this book up to five stars to me was how engaged I was in the story. I wanted to keep reading and figure out who did it. I wanted to know if I was right in my predictions or if it was someone who I didn't even consider. I was rooting for everyone to get justice and to beat the system. I was rooting for the enablers, Eros, and the sexist guys to be called out and punished. I got heated at how unjust life is. A part of me is now interested in figuring out if my area has protection against revenge porn and what I can do to make sure it does.
Overall, I would say that anyone intrigued by the description of the book to not let it being a Wattpad Book scare you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Bullying
Conflict is driven by revenge pornrbookish's review
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
it was honestly pretty good
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Sexual content
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