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theghostofyou's review against another edition
5.0
I've read this book many times since it came out and am truly surprised it didn't EXPLODE. This is the dark academia book girlies everywhere are searching for. I adore this book. The ending took me reading it a couple times over to truly understand, but once I did this book was sealed to me as an all time favorite. It is very slow like many critics say, but that's what makes me love it honestly.
cocopurplebooks's review against another edition
1.0
The writing style was meh and none of the characters really blow me away. This book was a real struggle for me to get through because I was really bored. The second half of the book was better but it wasn't enough to keep me interested.
Emily was a boring protagonist and her obsession with Emily Dickinson got annoying after a while but what disappointed me the most was the fact that there was no mystery in the book until the very end. The plot twist felt random and had no buildup. The best part about the book was Emily's relationship with M. In fact, M was the best part of the novel. Everything else was meh and boring.
Emily was a boring protagonist and her obsession with Emily Dickinson got annoying after a while but what disappointed me the most was the fact that there was no mystery in the book until the very end. The plot twist felt random and had no buildup. The best part about the book was Emily's relationship with M. In fact, M was the best part of the novel. Everything else was meh and boring.
_judegray_'s review
1.75
I very broadly skimmed the last 10% of this book. tldr: this would have been so much better if M didn't exist and everything from pg. 251 onward wasn't an awful mess. I would have given this book 3 stars if not for those two things.
allie_schick's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jbrooxd's review
3.0
This was not a good fit for me. There wasn't enough suspense throughout the story - only at the end. The first section/"chapter" went on for ages, jumped around in time, and didn't seem to be going anywhere related to the plot of a girl who seems targeted by a murderer killing everyone she gets close to. I was disappointed in this one.
egurgens's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
I didn't know what to expect going into this book, but it definitely delivered. Main character Emily has experienced the murder of anyone she gets close to, until she learned the 'rules'. She found her mother, at age 4, brutally chopped to pieces. Later, her dad was also murdered. Her best friend when she was 8, also killed. The pet dog that kept her company with her awful aunt: horrendously butchered. She learned that no one and nothing she loves is safe, so she learns how to lock herself away and let no one close. She becomes mean, sarcastic, and rude enough that no one ever wants to be her friend again. At least, until she meets M. M is just as sarcastic and rude, and very direct in her intent to become friends with the school's bitch. Hawthorne is a school for women who want to focus on their talents before going to college: art, poetry, theater, etc. It's a small school, so avoiding M is difficult for Emily. As much as Emily tries to drive M away, the more insistent M becomes at trying to befriend the snarky loner. The problem is, anyone who gets close to Emily gets murdered. A diary style novel, Emily tries to deal with growing affection for M, along with the guilt of being the 'cause' of so many deaths. Will she let her feelings overcome the rules she has set for herself? Will the murderer ever be found? The answer comes in the final third of the book.
This book tends to focus mostly on Emily and her obsession with Emily Dickinson, as well as her guilt, loneliness, and desperate attempts to keep those around her safe from the murderer haunting her. What happens when one stubborn girl refuses to be driven away? What lengths will Emily go to in order to keep those around her safe? And why was a random man murdered, dragged, and left in front of her boarding school? She has no connection to him, is it just a coincidence? Or is it a reminder?
This book tends to focus mostly on Emily and her obsession with Emily Dickinson, as well as her guilt, loneliness, and desperate attempts to keep those around her safe from the murderer haunting her. What happens when one stubborn girl refuses to be driven away? What lengths will Emily go to in order to keep those around her safe? And why was a random man murdered, dragged, and left in front of her boarding school? She has no connection to him, is it just a coincidence? Or is it a reminder?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, and Stalking
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Car accident, Cursing, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
sandygirl's review
1.0
uhhh this book was awful. literally nothing happened ??, ever??? the main character is annoying and whiny and literally 300 pages is just her walking around complaining and whining which. i get it. everyone u have ever loved has been murdered and u r afraid of getting close to anyone bc of that but this !! IS SIPPOSED TO BE A MYSTERY AND THERE IS NONE OF THAT. the killers reveal is so anticlimactic and the motive made absolutely no sense. it sounded like something i would have written in 4th grade and thought i was so clever for SKSKKKS . M is annoying and their relationship ??? was so weird and rushed?? also why is every character in this book named emily i - anywho this book SUCCKS sksksnsn