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eliofynn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Late to the party but so glad I read this! Infuriating, energising and emboldening.
I could feel Lexi's anger. I was feeling it to. And I could also feel those awful, all-enveloping, confusing, overwhelming thoughts and worries that are happening at the hardest part of the teenager's life.
She's in love, she's got life-changing exams ahead, her body is a woman's but she's treated like a child, and on top of all the 'normal' 15-year-old experiences... her mother is marrying a man Lexi just can't get along with.
An adult reader will see this with the experience of a few extra years and know John for what he is. Teenagers are about to feel as powerless as Lexi upon reading this, seeing her lash out to protect her mother in the only way she can - by becoming Furious.
A book for women and those on their way to womanhood really. Men and boys here are the adored, the friends, the pursued. Women and girls are those who have to pursue what they want, or fight for what is right - or to prevent being trodden on.
I could empathise with Lexi's mother, enraptured by a confident man, in love and making excuses, beaten down by gaslighting. My heart also went out to Lexi's sister, not yet trodden down and caught in the middle of everything. But Lexi of course is the heart, and she has to break out of her mental chains and affect any change herself, even if it shouldn't be her that does it.
This was powerful, sinister at times, and I liked the way Downham really lets us into Lexi's psyche, but also her mother's, John's and even that of almost-step-brother Kass.
Realistic portrayal of teenagers and of dysfunctional relationships. Not overly graphic but for age 13 and above really.
I could feel Lexi's anger. I was feeling it to. And I could also feel those awful, all-enveloping, confusing, overwhelming thoughts and worries that are happening at the hardest part of the teenager's life.
She's in love, she's got life-changing exams ahead, her body is a woman's but she's treated like a child, and on top of all the 'normal' 15-year-old experiences... her mother is marrying a man Lexi just can't get along with.
An adult reader will see this with the experience of a few extra years and know John for what he is. Teenagers are about to feel as powerless as Lexi upon reading this, seeing her lash out to protect her mother in the only way she can - by becoming Furious.
A book for women and those on their way to womanhood really. Men and boys here are the adored, the friends, the pursued. Women and girls are those who have to pursue what they want, or fight for what is right - or to prevent being trodden on.
I could empathise with Lexi's mother, enraptured by a confident man, in love and making excuses, beaten down by gaslighting. My heart also went out to Lexi's sister, not yet trodden down and caught in the middle of everything. But Lexi of course is the heart, and she has to break out of her mental chains and affect any change herself, even if it shouldn't be her that does it.
This was powerful, sinister at times, and I liked the way Downham really lets us into Lexi's psyche, but also her mother's, John's and even that of almost-step-brother Kass.
Realistic portrayal of teenagers and of dysfunctional relationships. Not overly graphic but for age 13 and above really.
aurelyarose's review against another edition
An effective portrait of gaslighting and emotional abuse.
I understand that seeing the psychologist was... an iffy situation given because it was through a connection with her step father and brought about by his desire to control her, but I wish they had turned it into something positive. Or at least *mentioned* that therapy and medicine can really help people even if it was not the answer for Lex.
The ending was not the fireworks the idealist in me would have liked. And the catalytic scenario itself seemed a bit unrealistic. but it was at least realistic in its subtle changes for the family *and* it was hopeful.
Also, Lex's obsession with Kass was very uncomfortable for me. Granted, I don't think it was supposed to be comfortable, but it nearly distracted from the rest of the book for me, lol.
I understand that seeing the psychologist was... an iffy situation given because it was through a connection with her step father and brought about by his desire to control her, but I wish they had turned it into something positive. Or at least *mentioned* that therapy and medicine can really help people even if it was not the answer for Lex.
The ending was not the fireworks the idealist in me would have liked. And the catalytic scenario itself seemed a bit unrealistic. but it was at least realistic in its subtle changes for the family *and* it was hopeful.
Also, Lex's obsession with Kass was very uncomfortable for me. Granted, I don't think it was supposed to be comfortable, but it nearly distracted from the rest of the book for me, lol.
clairewilsonleeds's review against another edition
4.0
This was pretty good - I really enjoyed it as a teen book. My only criticism is that sometimes the inner monologue wasn't totally consistent - I know she was trying to portray someone who is a victim of gaslighting/narcissism, but Lexi's knowing/not knowing didn't quite work for me. I felt like it needed to be more of a slow revelation rather than her hairpinning backwards and forwards between hatred and adoration.
Oh, and just a style thing - she was writing from a UK voice, so 'butt' should be bum and 'yard' should be garden. There were a few other little bits like that.
Oh, and just a style thing - she was writing from a UK voice, so 'butt' should be bum and 'yard' should be garden. There were a few other little bits like that.
readingintheether's review against another edition
5.0
This book is deeply sad, and not in an obvious way. No one in Lex’s life understands why she can’t control her fury, not even Lex. Everyone around her is telling her she needs to calm down, try harder, be kinder, focus more, and just behave, but what no one sees is the way her manipulative, gaslighting stepfather has completely sunk his claws into any shred of power she or her mother might have. Lex is consistently put down, made to feel like nothing, and forced to witness her mom’s problematic relationship up close. Reading this felt like being constantly aware of an impending doom. The ending was far from what I would have wanted if I’d written the book myself, but that’s okay. It rings realistic and true, and is overall hopeful. I loved this book.
0liviamarie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
taylorthiel's review against another edition
4.0
This reads a little on the YA side to me, which isn’t a bad thing. Very full of emotional trauma/abuse. That John character is a piece of work. But I’m always gonna love a story about feminine rage.
elliebeadle's review against another edition
4.0
‘Get them to stop,’ Iris said. ‘Do your furious thing... Do your monster'
This book was a completely heartbreaking and painful read. I couldn't put it down, even though it was quite tough. I've read so many YA books that deal with difficult subject matter but this one hit me harder even than others I've read with topics such as cancer, death etc.
The only other Jenny Downham book I've read is Before I Die when I was 14 and it completely wrecked me. I remember literally sobbing my heart out during those final pages. This was back in 2008, a few years before the 'sick lit' trend really began, but reading about Tess' health detiriorating and her struggle to retain her teenage experience was destined to have teen me crying. But in Furious Thing, the main character (Lex's) confusion, anger and pain was what broke my heart, which I think in many ways is harder to achieve than with the obvious pain of death, illness and loss, which are pretty popular in YA. It felt like I was experiencing it myself, it hurt my heart.
I also have to add, Downham deals with the subject of emotional abuse in a sensitive way and I really felt like she dealt with the 'slipperiness' and 'greyness' of the topic. It's not so black and white, and its not so easy to spot.
This is seriously one of the best YAs I've read dealing with such emotional in intense topics in a long time. It's fresh and honestly it really just stunned me. She's a great writer. Couldn't recommend this one enough really.
lauravernon's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0