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edwardian_girl_next_door's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
"'I don't know now, really; that's the thing, isn't it, especially when you are a teenager, you tend to think you are the center of the universe. Like everything moves for you, but you have such little power really, or power that you can direct in a useful way,' she said, seeming almost deliberately elusive.
'Do you remember the intensity of it,' she said, leaning forward slightly, 'the burden of being at that age, everything still new, and you had to pretend to be jaded and not affected by it? I wish now I could go back, go back and say don't pretend, don't be embarrassed by it. It's only new once. What's that poem, "the hardest hue to hold?"'" (pg. 171).
*!! Read the reviews! If you picked it up for a good, gossipy, scandalous, and possibly gory read, as I did, look elsewhere. Some say the ending is anticlimactic, so lower your expectations a little bit. It's still possible to have fun with this book if you aren't looking for those particular things. !!*
This book hovered juuust in the realm of believability for me. The setting and premise are very cliche -- snooty, ultra-rich girls, distrustful of the 'normal' outsider; isolated in a crumbling old mansion; with the one captivating male presence destined to disrupt things. While the author does take a more original twist at the end, it was a bit of a slog to get through all the stereotypes and cardboard side characters. The constantly-touted 'irony' was more bratty than clever, though there are a few good lines of prose here and there. But she sets the scene really well (the beginning had me hooked!), with a kind of 'last-summer-of-childhood' haze of nostalgia interrupted by the cynicism and sinisterness of the surroundings. I think, within a few books, she could produce something that I really enjoyed.
Louisa was a very interesting main character, in that she tells most of the story, even though we know she is missing from the beginning.It's also quite a bold move that she continues telling the story even after she has died. To me, her life seemed flat, unaffected, and only marked by Victoria -- really, she is more contented dead than alive, which may be the point of the story. She is incredibly cold and disinterested towards her parents, she doesn't appear to have any friends, and she has no ambitions or hobbies outside of protecting her intellectual reputation and, later, Victoria. I suppose her grand purpose in life culminated in protecting and loving Victoria, which is a rather pitiful end. I found her very unlikable and I would have been bored by her nihilism and indifference if the book had been any longer.
I failed to see the pull of Mr. Lavelle. However, since he is a bit of a child groomer, it's plausible to argue that Louisa, Victoria, and Helen are manipulated into their fascination with him. To me, he was a largely predatory figure, and sneakily so-- he never outright denies the girls' affection towards him, and when things with Victoria go to far, he fails to set firm boundaries or talk to the school officials. Somewhat of a coddled phony, he enjoys the company of younger woman because of the power his language and good looks have over them. He openly has 'favourites', and his praise and extra attention to Louisa set off so many alarm bells. Not only do they feel they can visit his house, but they also have an uncomfortably blurred definition of a student-teacher relationship when it comes to special visits, adventures, &c. I was a little disappointed at his ignominious end, but glad that Louisa haunted him. By not supervising or taking initiative to deescalate the situation, I feel he shares some blame in how things turned out, and I wish more had been attached to him.
If you liked this book, I would highly suggest The Shell House by Jane Thynne. It has a similar present-investigates-past format, with lots of juicy and fulfilling side plots throughout.
'Do you remember the intensity of it,' she said, leaning forward slightly, 'the burden of being at that age, everything still new, and you had to pretend to be jaded and not affected by it? I wish now I could go back, go back and say don't pretend, don't be embarrassed by it. It's only new once. What's that poem, "the hardest hue to hold?"'" (pg. 171).
*!! Read the reviews! If you picked it up for a good, gossipy, scandalous, and possibly gory read, as I did, look elsewhere. Some say the ending is anticlimactic, so lower your expectations a little bit. It's still possible to have fun with this book if you aren't looking for those particular things. !!*
This book hovered juuust in the realm of believability for me. The setting and premise are very cliche -- snooty, ultra-rich girls, distrustful of the 'normal' outsider; isolated in a crumbling old mansion; with the one captivating male presence destined to disrupt things. While the author does take a more original twist at the end, it was a bit of a slog to get through all the stereotypes and cardboard side characters. The constantly-touted 'irony' was more bratty than clever, though there are a few good lines of prose here and there. But she sets the scene really well (the beginning had me hooked!), with a kind of 'last-summer-of-childhood' haze of nostalgia interrupted by the cynicism and sinisterness of the surroundings. I think, within a few books, she could produce something that I really enjoyed.
Louisa was a very interesting main character, in that she tells most of the story, even though we know she is missing from the beginning.
I failed to see the pull of Mr. Lavelle. However, since he is a bit of a child groomer, it's plausible to argue that Louisa, Victoria, and Helen are manipulated into their fascination with him. To me, he was a largely predatory figure, and sneakily so
If you liked this book, I would highly suggest The Shell House by Jane Thynne. It has a similar present-investigates-past format, with lots of juicy and fulfilling side plots throughout.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Death, Murder, and Bullying
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Suicide
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