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greatlibraryofalexandra's review against another edition
2.0
Super disappointing. I had faith (ha) that this was going to be a solid 3 for most of the book (despite the more cringe/silly narrative choices) but after the last fifty pages or so, I had to convince myself not to be so harsh as to hate it.
The small things that were a bit off could have been overcome if the ending hadn’t been so cheap and lazily atrocious.
The blog format of the novel was great, but I had the wish washy complaint that Lansens didn’t commit enough to a true blog format. More than anything the book ended up just being a steak of word salad - teen bloggers don’t blog poke this. Lanaens’ attempt to talk like a teenager was freeing as well; it was unconvincing and awkward, particularly since this novel isn’t set too far in the future.
Mixing old slang with current slang and trying to project what future slang might be gave it a sloppy, irksome feel - “spoo” as a word for semen? “Plug” for tampon? Frequently using sentences such as “She was ick because daddies” or “we wore dresses because virgins” - it was just out of place and contrived. Poor choices.
Rory herself was irritating and prone to making grand assumptions and sweeping generalizations. She, and Paula, were both written as if Lansens had no idea what children of certain ages act like - wildly mature at some moments, wildly off putting at others. Also, the hero worship references to the Kardashians was consistent weird.
I think this book would have seriously benefited from reformatting and from a more in depth attention paid to some of the characters, but it got truly stupid when the barely-known Chase Mason shows up, professes his love for Rory, and the book turns into some wayward romance. That was a truly appalling choice for a story that has the potential to have so much feminist grit, and truly had so much else going on.
In the end, a lot of the cringe things I wanted to overlook because I liked the concept and was rooting for the story (and if Trumpers had stayed in power, I don’t think our future would have looked different than this) and it’s characters could not be looked ofer because the evolution of the story and lack of attention to some key archetypal characters was so brutally neglected. Some very, very serious issues seemed to have been thrown in for shock factor, and no attention to the devastating trauma they would have produced was given.
It’s unfortunate that this book didn’t hit its mark, because the concept had so much potential. What it ended up being is a bandwagon novel that tries to capitalize on things like “The Handmaid’s Tale” and fails to deliver.
The small things that were a bit off could have been overcome if the ending hadn’t been so cheap and lazily atrocious.
The blog format of the novel was great, but I had the wish washy complaint that Lansens didn’t commit enough to a true blog format. More than anything the book ended up just being a steak of word salad - teen bloggers don’t blog poke this. Lanaens’ attempt to talk like a teenager was freeing as well; it was unconvincing and awkward, particularly since this novel isn’t set too far in the future.
Mixing old slang with current slang and trying to project what future slang might be gave it a sloppy, irksome feel - “spoo” as a word for semen? “Plug” for tampon? Frequently using sentences such as “She was ick because daddies” or “we wore dresses because virgins” - it was just out of place and contrived. Poor choices.
Rory herself was irritating and prone to making grand assumptions and sweeping generalizations. She, and Paula, were both written as if Lansens had no idea what children of certain ages act like - wildly mature at some moments, wildly off putting at others. Also, the hero worship references to the Kardashians was consistent weird.
I think this book would have seriously benefited from reformatting and from a more in depth attention paid to some of the characters, but it got truly stupid when the barely-known Chase Mason shows up, professes his love for Rory, and the book turns into some wayward romance. That was a truly appalling choice for a story that has the potential to have so much feminist grit, and truly had so much else going on.
In the end, a lot of the cringe things I wanted to overlook because I liked the concept and was rooting for the story (and if Trumpers had stayed in power, I don’t think our future would have looked different than this) and it’s characters could not be looked ofer because the evolution of the story and lack of attention to some key archetypal characters was so brutally neglected. Some very, very serious issues seemed to have been thrown in for shock factor, and no attention to the devastating trauma they would have produced was given.
It’s unfortunate that this book didn’t hit its mark, because the concept had so much potential. What it ended up being is a bandwagon novel that tries to capitalize on things like “The Handmaid’s Tale” and fails to deliver.
kelboo's review against another edition
2.0
I am on board with the overall themes and message of this book, 100%. It is timely and relevant and important. But the writing is so cringey it hurts. This is clearly an author trying too hard to take on the voice of a teenager, and botching it in the process. And some of the things that happened we're just outright ludicrous (chugging an entire bottle of tequila without realizing it's tequila, and thinking it's Gatorade? Has Lansens had tequila ever?). It made it very difficult to buy into the story. Disappointing, since I was very intrigued by the premise.
mverdoorn's review against another edition
4.0
This is written as a blog post by a teenager, so once I got used to the language, it was a fun ride. I thought that the vernacular would put me off, but it didn't. It was a pretty effective tool to show how vapid teenage girls are. I am a big fan of feminist dystopia, so I was into it right away and those purity balls have always given me the creeps. And normally I am not a fan of epilogues, but this one actually made the book better, not worse! (Like so many of them do...)
nessaf's review against another edition
4.0
It almost felt like a bit of a stretch to call this dystopian because in some ways, it didn’t feel that unrealistic to picture a culture getting to that point. I found the main character relatable and someone to root for but I never got to that point with her best friend, Fee, who I found naive and frustrating. I can see how the writing style could be annoying for some readers but it did feel like an authentic teenager’s voice.
mactammonty's review against another edition
4.0
A commentary on the direction our society is going now. The way that women, transgender and minorities are treated by those with power.
I liked the choice of the main character writing a blog to deliver the story. It tied both the past, journaling, the present blogging, with the not to distant future.
I feel this story can be read by all ages. It's message is very clear.
I liked the choice of the main character writing a blog to deliver the story. It tied both the past, journaling, the present blogging, with the not to distant future.
I feel this story can be read by all ages. It's message is very clear.
lkayydub's review against another edition
2.0
It is crazy that this was written BEFORE the overturning of roe v wade. I did like the topics on women’s rights and makes you really think about the path America is on and how this could seriously be us in a few years in regards to abortions, religious views, etc. I, however, absolutely hated the writing of this book. I actually almost DNF’d it before the first chapter was done but I stuck it out. I understand that it is from the viewpoint of a gen z writing in her blog but it was so damn annoying and every time I saw “prolly” instead of “probably” I wanted to scream. Rory’s “friends” were all garbage. Every single one of them. And what was up with these parents!? I get that they’re rich but damn, doesn’t anyone give a shit about these kids? I was hovering around a 3 star because I did like the subject matter even though the delivery wasn’t what I liked but then the end of the book smacked me in the face and I was like… what the actual fuck? So yeah. Didn’t like that.
karig's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
caledonia's review against another edition
5.0
I'm actually fucking crying right now. That ending hurt so much. I could be so critical of the plot or the characters but Jesus fucking Christ my heart is in pieces. I thought they might actually make it.
jessicaf1616's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jdoughty1608's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0