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boba_n_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Adina is a Black teenager who was about to secure her future through her scholarship to Yale. Her plans are ruined once an incident at school causes her to lose that well-earned scholarship. The only way to get it back is to enter the Finish--a competition where young women prove themselves worthy of being a part of the wealthy Remington family through three different events. It is not long before Adina and the other girls in the Finish realize that the stakes are higher than money and power. It's life or death. The younger Remington boys say they're trying to change the system, but are they? Being one of the only girls who didn't grow up in the rich world the Remingtons live in, Adina realizes she has to either change herself or change the Finish to survive.
Though the characters may seem superficial at first, each one has their own motivations and moments of reckoning. Wellington's commentary on race and class and what people will do to achieve and maintain power is fascinating. She certainly doesn't attempt to make the reader comfortable, and there are many times I had to remind myself that I wanted Adina to get out and not to conform to the Remington way.
This novel challenges social structures and typical tropes, and it was just a damn good book with a satisfying ending.
Graphic: Violence, Death, Sexism, Misogyny, Classism, Gaslighting, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Racism, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol and Vomit
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Gore, Death, Classism, Misogyny, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Animal death, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infidelity, Vomit, and Grief
sarah984's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
The ending felt very silly to me as well
Graphic: Child death, Classism, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Murder, Bullying, Cursing, Grief, Confinement, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
Minor: Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Animal death
starrysteph's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Toxic friendship, Murder, Racism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Gun violence, Vomit, Misogyny, Sexism, Gaslighting, Animal death, and Bullying
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
- Survival/competition shows like The Hunger Games and Alice in Borderland
- Plot-based storylines that keep you turning the pages to figure out what happens next
- Tackling systemic discrimination and entrenched privileges
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Vomit, Death, Gore, Murder, Classism, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content and Confinement