Scan barcode
sxndaze's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- 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
2.75
It’s a little haunting and heartbreaking. It’s unsettling to relate to some of the aspects, especially Ren’s experience as a queer Chinese person. The characters aren’t particularly likeable, but it works with the story and the circumstances they’re shrouded in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Body horror, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Blood
Minor: Alcohol, Vomit, and Drug use
gigireadswithkiki's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book won't be for everyone, but as a former competitive swimmer (who still swims, albeit recreationally) it was everything to me.
Chlorine is a story about a girl who's over-powering drive towards obsession rewards her with a freedom that comes with the highest stakes. Ren's dark journey through competitive high school swimming spoke heavily to my own experiences as a swimmer, from the back-breaking practices to the high intensity of swim meets to (almost) everything in-between.
I particularly enjoyed how the author gradually stacks the dominos against Ren, building up layers upon layers of trauma laced with issues ranging from abandonment, sexual trauma, and emotional abuse, culminating in the final breaking of her psyche. The writing was highly compelling, spurring me onwards to determine what was in store for Ren. The only thing I found issue with was the ending; I felt like the conclusion of the story dragged on for longer that was necessary, especially after reaching the climax of Ren's transformation.
Nonetheless, even though I don't normally gravitate towards the horror genre, I still enjoyed this book very much and I look forward to exploring more of Jade Song's works in the future.
Chlorine is a story about a girl who's over-powering drive towards obsession rewards her with a freedom that comes with the highest stakes. Ren's dark journey through competitive high school swimming spoke heavily to my own experiences as a swimmer, from the back-breaking practices to the high intensity of swim meets to (almost) everything in-between.
I particularly enjoyed how the author gradually stacks the dominos against Ren, building up layers upon layers of trauma laced with issues ranging from abandonment, sexual trauma, and emotional abuse, culminating in the final breaking of her psyche. The writing was highly compelling, spurring me onwards to determine what was in store for Ren. The only thing I found issue with was the ending; I felt like the conclusion of the story dragged on for longer that was necessary, especially after reaching the climax of Ren's transformation.
Nonetheless, even though I don't normally gravitate towards the horror genre, I still enjoyed this book very much and I look forward to exploring more of Jade Song's works in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Self harm, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Vomit, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse
jamie_reads_stuff's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC!
This was a stunning debut from Jade Song about the pressures of expectations and claiming your own independence and choices. Ren is a very compelling, obsessive, and delusional character and I was hooked every step of the way. I also really appreciated the content warnings at the beginning (which I recommend reading since this is book leans into horror quite a bit). I will say that this is not a plot driven book and the focus is more on Ren as a character and thus some of the plot events are a bit slower. It's reminiscent of Black Swan, and I highly recommend this book if you enjoyed the movie! Overall, a really strong debut and I'm excited for what Jade Song comes out with next!
Chlorine comes out March 23rd!
This was a stunning debut from Jade Song about the pressures of expectations and claiming your own independence and choices. Ren is a very compelling, obsessive, and delusional character and I was hooked every step of the way. I also really appreciated the content warnings at the beginning (which I recommend reading since this is book leans into horror quite a bit). I will say that this is not a plot driven book and the focus is more on Ren as a character and thus some of the plot events are a bit slower. It's reminiscent of Black Swan, and I highly recommend this book if you enjoyed the movie! Overall, a really strong debut and I'm excited for what Jade Song comes out with next!
Chlorine comes out March 23rd!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Body horror, Blood, Self harm, Eating disorder, and Vomit
Moderate: Abortion, Sexual assault, Abandonment, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Pedophilia, Racism, and Pregnancy
More...