Scan barcode
thefebruaryfriday's review against another edition
4.0
I never read anything like that. The writing is so
stimulating, it makes you want to read nonstop, the
chapters are easy to go through because they're short
and with clean writing even though it brings heavy
subjects. I loved how each character had a backstory of
their own and how it makes them perfect together.
liked their dynamic so much and their dialogue and the
way Nora narrates the whole book. The conclusion
really felt like the ending and it made justice to Nora's
own story and the book itself.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
maaikereadsbooks's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
caregorman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abortion, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
puddleshoes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Abortion
tessakm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
malloryfitz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
make_believer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Abandonment
yvonne_cl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Abortion
anika222's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Abortion
outcrye's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
That arc set up a satisfyingly badass final scene with
The thing I love most about this book is how Nora, the main character, lived so many lives with the intent to fool but still managed to make real, meaningful relationships in the present. None of those connections are perfect, because Nora sure isn't, but throughout the book, I could see how the past shaped her and how her current relationships developed as she did in order to process it.
In my opinion, The Girls I've Been is primarily a story about trauma, recovering from abuse, and letting go of the toxic habits one would get from having experienced said abuse. To see this victim love and be loved in whole, healthy ways despite all that baggage is interesting as well as heartening.
The only specific criticism I have is about Nora's relationship with Wes, her best friend. All of her other relationships felt very fleshed out and real to me, despite her past and present being so vastly different from mine, and probably most readers'. I would include Wes in this too, but to a lesser degree when compared to the other characters.
All throughout, we are told that Wes and Nora love each other deeply (explicitly platonic, despite Wes also being an ex-boyfriend) and this love is rooted in their shared childhood trauma. I don't doubt the existence of this love. But what I can't understand is why they connected in the first place, what caused that initial draw—how was young, reclusive Nora, fresh out of an abusive situation, able to open up to this stranger, thus beginning their lifelong friendship?
In contrast with her other connections (her sister, her mom, her girlfriend), we don't see how they meet nor do we have key scenes in their relationship that wasn't
In my opinion, the story placed Wes on the same level as the other key figures in her life but held back for whatever reason... perhaps because, again, there were so many things grappling for the reader's attention.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Drug use, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit
Minor: Cursing, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Murder