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nineinchnails's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this was so refreshing! i went into it knowing the general gist of the story (read the blurb so that’s on me) but it was still insane to watch unfold. the commentary on wellness culture and influencer cults was super interesting and combined with the unreliable narrator it was addictive to read.
i found myselfreally rooting for the protagonist at one point - not because i supported her actions but because i wanted to believe she was innocent, or at least just flawed in the way all humans are flawed. she is undeniably a horrible person and that’s cemented by the end but there were moments in between where i was starting to genuinely believe her. for better or for worse sam felt incredibly real and in parts gut wrenchingly relatable. i did find the ending a little unsatisfying because i felt like the story had been gearing up to show us how evil (privileged) people usually do get away with being monsters and end up thriving in the spotlight, however i can see how some would prefer the ending as it is.
i found myself
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Addiction, Abandonment, Abortion, Bullying, Drug abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Body shaming, Infertility, Death of parent, Dementia, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Bulimia and Overdosecontemporarymeepsie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Samantha Miller is a lifestyle guru, with millions of Instagram followers dedicated to praising her every move. But when she writes an essay about a formative sexual experience with her childhood best friend, her life take a turn when that ex-best friend emails her agent to say that isn't how she remembers it happening.
I enjoyed this book overall. I found the themes dark but very interesting. The protagonist, Sam, is famous for her work around the #MeToo movement saying all victims should be believed. But what happens when a victim claims SHE was the abuser? Who's truth is the real truth? That is such an interesting theme to write about and the author did such an incredible job of writing a dislikable character who gradually gets more and more manipulative as the story progresses. I tend to like unreliable narrators so this book was on for a winner, however there is a little bit of an unrealistic heel turn at the end. Which didn't sit right with me, which is why it dropped a point. I think it could have been polished a bit more to make the whole thing more believable and comprehensive. But overall I enjoyed my time with this book and I might read it again.
I enjoyed this book overall. I found the themes dark but very interesting. The protagonist, Sam, is famous for her work around the #MeToo movement saying all victims should be believed. But what happens when a victim claims SHE was the abuser? Who's truth is the real truth? That is such an interesting theme to write about and the author did such an incredible job of writing a dislikable character who gradually gets more and more manipulative as the story progresses. I tend to like unreliable narrators so this book was on for a winner, however there is a little bit of an unrealistic heel turn at the end. Which didn't sit right with me, which is why it dropped a point. I think it could have been polished a bit more to make the whole thing more believable and comprehensive. But overall I enjoyed my time with this book and I might read it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Addiction
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, and Body shaming
Minor: Gaslighting, Dementia, and Abortion
sorkka's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, and Stalking
Moderate: Drug use, Rape, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Addiction, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Sexual violence
martafossati's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thrilling from start to finish
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder and Sexual assault
pippahawkins's review
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Abortion, Abandonment, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Bullying, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Cultural appropriation, Eating disorder, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape
tomesandtash's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
What an interesting book! After the last couple of books I’ve read by Louise O’Neill were a bit disappointing, I’m so glad that this was a return to form from an author I love.
The themes discussed here are fantastically done. I loved the commentary on “wellness influencers”, the impact and perception of trauma, and the lengths people will go to to convince themselves that they are a good person.
If you are the kind of person who needs to like the main character of a book, then this is not for you because as the story goes on, and the more we learn about Samantha, the worse she becomes. However, for me, this makes the book so much more interesting to read. The things this woman does are absolutely wild; it’s like being unable to turn away from a terrible car crash. Pretty much every character is a shade of grey; no one is completely likeable or sympathetic.
The writing is well paced and it doesn’t take long to get into the action of the story. Every scene feels necessary and nothing feels like filler.
The most interesting idea discussed, to me, was the differing perspectives on the incident of alleged sexual assault and the utter hypocrisy displayed by Samantha regarding it. It’s similar to the many people crying out to believe victims, while also begging for proof when it comes to their favourites. Samantha is known for the former, but doesn’t for one second stop to think about things from Lisa’s perspective. Two different people can have two wildly different versions of the same event. I loved that, in the end, Lisa stuck to her guns and finally told Samantha that she really did believe that Samantha had assaulted her that night. I loved that Samantha is implied to get her comeuppance in the end. I love that, overall, it’s not about what Samantha did that night, it’s her attitude to the whole accusation. If she had had some more compassion, understanding, or self awareness, she may not have brought about her own downfall. It was her own self righteousness and staunch belief that she was a good person who could never do such a thing that caused her to treat the people involved so terribly, that caused her to deserve to have her whole livelihood taken away.
It could be debated, with all the information we learn about Samantha throughout, whether or not she deserved her fame in the first place. She is such an interesting character from start to finish as her own version of events about that night isn’t the only example of her rewriting her own history when it suits her. Sometimes, you can understand. She changes the details of her own story as a victim of sexual assault as she’s frightened that people won’t be sympathetic if they knew it was her boyfriend that did it. While this is a still a questionable choice, you can understand. However, she is so stubborn about her own perceptions of her childhood and her own life events that it’s hard to tell if she actually believes it, or she has to believe it to keep herself sane. We are lead to believe that it was Lisa that had the abortion from the way Samantha thinks and talks about it, only to find that it was really herself, with no indication until it is revealed to us. She forgets that Lisa didn’t write the letters she found, she wrote them herself. She remembers her father being cold and uncaring when other sources tell us that he was deeply loving in his own way and tried to provide for her always. Everything we think we know about Samantha is a lie, but does she know that or has she gaslighted herself to such an extent that she truly believes her own version of events.
Honestly, the more I think about it, this might be one of the most thought provoking books I have ever read and I might need to change my rating from 4 stars to 5 stars. I think I could write an essay (even longer than this one) all about this book. If there is one thing Louise O’Neill is an absolutely stellar at, it’s creating deeply complex, rich characters and stories that relate heavily to current events and discussions in a really mature and smart way. This book as intrigue, mystery, questionable motives and actions, unlikeable and despicable characters and a killer plot. Seriously read this!
What an interesting book! After the last couple of books I’ve read by Louise O’Neill were a bit disappointing, I’m so glad that this was a return to form from an author I love.
The themes discussed here are fantastically done. I loved the commentary on “wellness influencers”, the impact and perception of trauma, and the lengths people will go to to convince themselves that they are a good person.
If you are the kind of person who needs to like the main character of a book, then this is not for you because as the story goes on, and the more we learn about Samantha, the worse she becomes. However, for me, this makes the book so much more interesting to read. The things this woman does are absolutely wild; it’s like being unable to turn away from a terrible car crash. Pretty much every character is a shade of grey; no one is completely likeable or sympathetic.
The writing is well paced and it doesn’t take long to get into the action of the story. Every scene feels necessary and nothing feels like filler.
It could be debated, with all the information we learn about Samantha throughout, whether or not she deserved her fame in the first place. She is such an interesting character from start to finish as her own version of events about that night isn’t the only example of her rewriting her own history when it suits her. Sometimes, you can understand. She changes the details of her own story as a victim of sexual assault as she’s frightened that people won’t be sympathetic if they knew it was her boyfriend that did it. While this is a still a questionable choice, you can understand. However, she is so stubborn about her own perceptions of her childhood and her own life events that it’s hard to tell if she actually believes it, or she has to believe it to keep herself sane. We are lead to believe that it was Lisa that had the abortion from the way Samantha thinks and talks about it, only to find that it was really herself, with no indication until it is revealed to us. She forgets that Lisa didn’t write the letters she found, she wrote them herself. She remembers her father being cold and uncaring when other sources tell us that he was deeply loving in his own way and tried to provide for her always. Everything we think we know about Samantha is a lie, but does she know that or has she gaslighted herself to such an extent that she truly believes her own version of events.
Honestly, the more I think about it, this might be one of the most thought provoking books I have ever read and I might need to change my rating from 4 stars to 5 stars. I think I could write an essay (even longer than this one) all about this book. If there is one thing Louise O’Neill is an absolutely stellar at, it’s creating deeply complex, rich characters and stories that relate heavily to current events and discussions in a really mature and smart way. This book as intrigue, mystery, questionable motives and actions, unlikeable and despicable characters and a killer plot. Seriously read this!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Abortion, and Sexual assault
Minor: Eating disorder and Death of parent
ccassidy98's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Eating disorder, and Rape
Moderate: Drug abuse and Vomit
silverspur's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm in two minds about this book as it had some really interesting concepts about truth and our perceptions of what really happens. It made me think about Plato's Allegory of the Cave in some ways.
None of the characters were likeable and I didn't love the influencer aspect although I recognise why it was used in the plot. I like an unreliable narrator sometimes and I enjoyed the time jumps back and forth.
Overall, I enjoyed it whilst simultaneously feeling quite uncomfortable. Not sure I'd necessarily recommend it to a friend.
None of the characters were likeable and I didn't love the influencer aspect although I recognise why it was used in the plot. I like an unreliable narrator sometimes and I enjoyed the time jumps back and forth.
Overall, I enjoyed it whilst simultaneously feeling quite uncomfortable. Not sure I'd necessarily recommend it to a friend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Rape, Eating disorder, and Abortion
luxxltyd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Rape, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Vomit, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Addiction and Drug use
Minor: Body shaming
zummins's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship