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colourado's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Murder, Antisemitism, Genocide, Gun violence, Rape, Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and War
growfromit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Antisemitism, Death, Gun violence, Abandonment, Murder, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Rape
lampbee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Violence, Hate crime, Murder, Death, Child death, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Police brutality, Addiction, Antisemitism, Genocide, and War
Obviously a lot of the book centers around how one of the school girlsboba_n_books's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Written in a dual timeline, The Broken Girls tells the story of Vermont in the 1950s as well as in 2014. In the 50s, we follow four girls who were sent to Idlewild Hall--a boarding school for "troubled" girls. Each girl has their own struggles and reasons for ending up at Idlewild, and they come together to support each other and protect themselves until one of them goes missing. In 2014, Fiona is a journalist whose sister's body was dumped near Idlewild Hall years ago. Her sister's murderer has been in jail for quite some time, but Fiona wonders if there isn't more to the story. At the same time, someone is trying to restore Idlewild Hall, for reasons Fiona could never imagine, as she has heard nothing but horror stories from that school. Fiona discovers long-forgotten secrets of the school that tie back to her sister, and she will stop at nothing to find the truth and justice for the living and the dead.
I love how St. James creates dual timelines that slowly begin to relate to each other and reveal more as you continue reading. I thought the four girls from the 1950s were better characters than Fiona from 2014, though I did still appreciate her motivations and character development.
This well-written mystery/thriller will keep you on your toes and make you think about what you consider "justice."
Graphic: Physical abuse, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, Child death, and Sexual harassment
muse692's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.25
Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Child death, and Child abuse
Minor: Miscarriage
minimicropup's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
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🫶 There are a lot of characters and that can be difficult for audio-only. I didn't have an issue keeping track because the writing style introduces us to them by weaving their traits into the story naturally, so I didn't feel like I had to take notes just to remember who was who. The layout of the boarding school and surrounding sites both in the 1950s and after it was abandoned was similarly woven in the story so I had no trouble imagining everything and situating the characters. Plus with this style of writing, you probably won't feel bogged down in details if you aren't an imaginations reader.
- Historical fiction coming-of-age friendship-by-proximity
- Puzzles and clues via investigative journalism of true crime type missing and murdered girls
- Touches of dark academia from abandoned boarding school paranormal horrors
- Can-they-make-it-work, lovers-to, touch of forbidden romance
- Interwoven themes of found family, teen friendship, convention and rebellion, morality, justice, courage, and tragedy
Moderate: Murder, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Death
Minor: Suicide attempt, Child death, Mental illness, Sexual content, and War
flying_monkeys's review against another edition
3.5
Set during winter in a small town called Barrons, Vermont. Part of the story takes place in the 1950s at Idlewild Hall, a boarding school for "bad girls." The other part takes place in 2014. Both involve the town legend of Mary Hand.
While its mystery is a page-turner, some of the situations the 1950s girls experienced before being cast off to the school's responsibility, were horrific and might trigger certain folks.
Prepared for that brutality, though, this thriller would be an excellent read on a cold winter's day.
3.5 stars
Graphic: Genocide, Rape, and Child abuse
Moderate: Suicide attempt
exlibrissum's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Murder, Police brutality, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, and Suicide attempt
pauinha6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Suicide, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Gaslighting
dalek_caan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Confinement, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Antisemitism, Gun violence, Child abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Mental illness
Minor: War and Violence