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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Okay this was GOODDD. I didn't expect that. I saw an instagram reel about it ONCE a long time ago and immediately added it to my list and now here we are.
I'll admit if it ended 50 pages before it would've been a 5 star but by the time I finished reading those last 50 pages that feeling of awe I felt reading the book dissipated. But it was still good enough for a 4. It was an insane ride, somehow the cult aspect seems like a minor thing in the background over literally everything else going on?? That's how insane it is so be mindful of trigger warnings.
It was however a fun insane ride and I enjoyed the stabs taken at the patriarchy, the girls having each other's backs, and I'm proud of our main character's development and happy for that ending for her. This book is however not all happy and not as joyous as the cover makes it look it takes a look at the effects of drought, poverty, and lack of education/mental health help on the small amount of people who live in the fictional town of Peaches in California from the POV of a 14 year old girl! It was super real and raw and it made me feel a lot of things because it's funny at times but deeply heartbreaking as you start to care for the characters and see what they have to go through.
Also the jokes they make about misoginy make me unsure whether to laugh or cry, the state of the women in this book was absolutely heartwrenching and the reason it hits even worse is because it's not just fictional it might speak to real women and real situations they've been in. THIS is how you make a feminist book.
Also even though this was obviously an extreme case because its a cult there's also a very real aspect of it that parallels real life where people often use religion to justify hate and evil deeds.
Mentioned lots of themes and sensitive topics that are brought up in this book and that was STILL not all of them so I'll say it again be mindful of triggers, and enjoy <3.
I'll admit if it ended 50 pages before it would've been a 5 star but by the time I finished reading those last 50 pages that feeling of awe I felt reading the book dissipated. But it was still good enough for a 4. It was an insane ride, somehow the cult aspect seems like a minor thing in the background over literally everything else going on?? That's how insane it is so be mindful of trigger warnings.
It was however a fun insane ride and I enjoyed the stabs taken at the patriarchy, the girls having each other's backs, and I'm proud of our main character's development and happy for that ending for her. This book is however not all happy and not as joyous as the cover makes it look it takes a look at the effects of drought, poverty, and lack of education/mental health help on the small amount of people who live in the fictional town of Peaches in California from the POV of a 14 year old girl! It was super real and raw and it made me feel a lot of things because it's funny at times but deeply heartbreaking as you start to care for the characters and see what they have to go through.
Also the jokes they make about misoginy make me unsure whether to laugh or cry, the state of the women in this book was absolutely heartwrenching and the reason it hits even worse is because it's not just fictional it might speak to real women and real situations they've been in. THIS is how you make a feminist book.
Also even though this was obviously an extreme case because its a cult there's also a very real aspect of it that parallels real life where people often use religion to justify hate and evil deeds.
Mentioned lots of themes and sensitive topics that are brought up in this book and that was STILL not all of them so I'll say it again be mindful of triggers, and enjoy <3.
Going with 4 stars after a good book club discussion. If you want a book about messed up cults, I recommend this one.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The tone of this book is really weird and inconsistent -- sometimes it felt as absurd as The Righteous Gemstones (HBO) and sometimes it felt as depressing as Waco. Once I got into it though, I had a hard time putting it down.
It's me, not the writing.
I did not love this book like so many others did.
It was so depressing and disturbing and the characters had very few redeeming qualities, all the way through to the last pages. I just couldn't relate to anyone or anything (and I have some experience with cultish religion and a single mom that, at the time, I thought was selfish, but clearly I didn't know how good I had it).
It's well-written and fast-paced (especially if you are skimming sections just to get through it) but just not for me.
I did not love this book like so many others did.
It was so depressing and disturbing and the characters had very few redeeming qualities, all the way through to the last pages. I just couldn't relate to anyone or anything (and I have some experience with cultish religion and a single mom that, at the time, I thought was selfish, but clearly I didn't know how good I had it).
It's well-written and fast-paced (especially if you are skimming sections just to get through it) but just not for me.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes