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gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
- 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
Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller
Unabridged
This was such an entertaining read. The relationships, both toxic and pure, was such a fantastic study of high school life, but added in sinister atmosphere with the whole possession plot (which reminded me of Jennifers Body mid way through).
It wasn't really that scary but the scene with Good Boy Max the dog made me feel sick.
The manipulation of Gretchen as she became deeper consumed by her demon was interesting to see, especially when no one else could see what was happening other that Abby.
I thought the ending about friendship was so sad and true and it wrapped up perfectly, with closure, as I like my stories to do.
Graphic: Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Eating disorder, Rape, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Vomit, Excrement, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Torture, Gaslighting, Grief, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Violence
lostinworlds's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Vomit, Animal death, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Drug use, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Body shaming
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Homophobia
Minor: Medical content
amberbjorge's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Body horror, Vomit, Eating disorder, Torture, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, and Animal death
thehhugg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Self harm, Body horror, Eating disorder, Gore, Violence, Vomit, Child death, Animal death, and Confinement
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Drug use, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Classism, Violence, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, and Addiction
tiernanhunter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Eating disorder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Drug use, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Grief, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Torture, Gun violence, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Cursing, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, and Forced institutionalization
sydneynorman's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Slavery, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Grief, Murder, Violence, Vomit, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Torture
Moderate: Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Racism, Alcoholism, and Animal death
frankieclc's review against another edition
1.0
Graphic: Vomit, Animal death, Body horror, Eating disorder, and Violence
Moderate: Drug use, Sexism, Fatphobia, Rape, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Abortion, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Ableism, and Racism
dwejra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
At first, the story seems great, but the moment Gretchen becomes possessed the book took a turn to the worst. While having a gripping, fast-paced style, the second part was difficult for me to go through. While alp reviews focus on the friendship as a core of the story, in its majority the book shows everyone gaslighting Abby, without really making any comment on the real-life significance of the issue. I wish the gaslighting was carefully orchestrated by the demon, since for me it made for the most gut-wrenching part of the book, but the characters just ignore Abby without much reason - it seems all adults hate her just because it is convenient for the plot.
Finally, although the whole story is almost exclusively female-centered, it fails to be in any way feminist or diverse. For example, Abby is the only one trying to help her friend, but in the end, it is the male exorcist who needs to save the day. Someone else already pointed out the unnecessary racism, which the author casually excuses with the "it was the 80s" phrase. The biggest offender is the brief scene including Slave Day at school, when some students get to humiliate others, which is absolutely unnecessary (the bullying depicted during it could have just as easily taken place on any other day). Similarly, 80s setting seems to jusrify for the author the omnipresent fat phobia and body shaming, making you wonder if he does not share these prejudices himself.
However, I know that many people will enjoy it for its decent writing and fast pace, but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth, all for the wrong reasons.
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Animal death, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Racism
allhailursula's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
The author didnt HAVE to include Slave Day in the schools spirit week.
The author didnt HAVE to use offensive language that may have been used back in the day.
The author didnt HAVE to write this book about young girls in a terribly flat, vapid, and boring way.
The author CHOSE to use homophobic language and situations.
The author CHOSE to include enough 80s references to bait readers into a sense of nostalgia that it distracted from a lacking plot.
The author CHOSE to include abelist stereotypes as a "comedic moment"
Id almost say that by adding those things the author shows a lack of creativity in navigating between making something offensive and feel like the 80s and something thats not offensive but still feels true to the time period. He didnt have to write those things, he chose to do so.
I am not sure how this author was able to make a jam packed book, filled with fast paced plot moments boring but he did.
If you like nostalgia porn and can read offensive material for the sake of fake authenticity then by all means. This captured the essence of a 80s possession horror to a T.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Gore, and Vomit
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Sexual content, Body shaming, Drug use, Alcohol, Fatphobia, and Racism
Minor: Incest and Suicidal thoughts
beesb00ks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Self harm, Vomit, Body horror, Animal death, and Fatphobia