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nialiversuch's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Body shaming, Death of parent, Death, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Violence, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Classism, Cursing, Misogyny, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Alcoholism
Minor: Vomit
_tabby_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The theme of deception is vitally important to both the personalities of the characters and the authors writing style. Not only does Darwent use this method to create interesting and surprisingly dark characters but also to give the reader the impression that we're also being deceived from a narration pov. The biased/ unreliable narrator is a very clever technique that this book was perfect for.
However, I couldn't rate it 5☆ simply because the beginning was slow and lacked traction.
Loved this book and I dont think the final plot twist will ever not be on my mind.
Graphic: Abandonment, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical content, Murder, Torture, Toxic friendship, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism
ranuken's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Minor: Death, Murder, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Body horror, Drug use, and Toxic friendship
zxphyrean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Torture, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Violence, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, and Child abuse
Minor: Abandonment, Classism, and Toxic relationship
sarafinley's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Without giving anything away this is essentially a story of a group of unhinged women inflicting friendship on each other. I found it to be more of a slow burn suspense with clever writing that places you within the dark academia atmosphere in a bit of a disorienting way.
This book is told from the perspective of Claire, who is writing out the details of her time with her toxic group of college friends who called themselves The Shiver. This perspective provides peaks into the future, references to Claire’s own dark past, and some incredible insight into obsessive relationships.
This is one of those books where I could definitely see myself re-rating once I sit with it a little longer but for now it feels like a solid four stars.
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual assault