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cor_luz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Medical content and Blood
stellahadz's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Medical content
oywiththepoodles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Body horror, Medical content, Self harm, and Gore
jennifercheck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Mental illness, Body horror, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault
embargo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is definitely a horror novel that relies on the tension of the inevitable. It's pretty obvious where everything is heading, but the buildup is done methodically. The pay off feels natural in a way I wouldn't have thought would be possible if just describing the premise of the book. It feels less like a "how could they?", where the horror is directed at the MC and more of a "well of course", where the horror is directed at the culture that has led her to this moment. It's upsetting, but it doesn't feel like a sideshow, which is often my issue with body horror.
If you're the type of horror reader who likes to dissect the themes and symbolism more than you like the scares, this might be one to check out.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Rape, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Bullying, Eating disorder, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
Okay, a lot of CWs on this one. In order to give info without spoiling too broadly, I'll split the spoilers into a few groups: Violence and Gore, Mental Health, and Sex Violence and Gore, major spoiler for end of the book:naomirosewright's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Medical content, Self harm, and Mental illness
henrygravesprince's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Self harm, Medical trauma, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Eating disorder, Racism, Gore, Fatphobia, Toxic friendship, and Sexual content
Minor: Misogyny, Body shaming, Medical content, Xenophobia, and Ableism
lexiesophocli's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Gore, Medical content, Body horror, Blood, Self harm, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Fatphobia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Pregnancy, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Addiction, Drug use, Abortion, and Car accident
moonmisandrist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The story reads like a fever dream, and Ren Yu and Cathy are wonderful narrators. Cathy is filled with regret and yearning over in action, while Ren is a character who takes her future into her own hands. She knows who she is, and who she needs to be, and while she can cruelly block out the world and her loved ones to become herself, she has moments of love and introspection over her choices.
I greatly prefer this kind of story/character and intention over seemingly similar books of the "girlhood is a horror story" genre like 'My Year of Rest and Relaxation'. Where My Year of Rest and Relaxation is gross purely for the shock factor and features disgusting apathy for humanity, the dark obsession and gore of Chlorine is far more nuanced and impactful.
Graphic: Self harm, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Racism and Eating disorder
Minor: Medical content and Sexual assault
biobeetle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, and Blood
Moderate: Medical trauma and Medical content
Minor: Sexual harassment