Scan barcode
crabbytaco's review
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Murder, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
thazell's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
There is always a girl who won't stand down and refuse to roll over for others, that is Zarin; the novel tells her story of how she ended up dead in a car accident with Porus in their home Saudia Arabia. It started with the car crash, which was interesting but it was also overwhelming as there were many characters introduced immediately as well as in the next chapters with multiple perspectives being tossed around. Then, the story unfolds of how they got into that "mess". The author tackles difficult subjects such as rape, sexual assault and gender discrimination with beautiful writing but still shows the effects on the victims that go much further than just the assault but the grief and pain as well. I can not comment on the accuracy of how the characters were portrayed based on their identity because it's not my place but one thing that did upset me is the lack of positive female relationships between ANY of the characters. All of them seemed as though with just one word they could and would turn on their friends back. That was horrid to read about as the girls were constantly putting each other down. I found many of the character relationships fell flat and Porus and Zarin's relationship also fell flat for me. There was no chemistry and it seemed that they only stuck together for plot purposes. Despite those issues, I did enjoy Zarin and her story did leave me on the edge of tears multiple times and my heart being torn from the hardships she was forced to experience because of her gender.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Animal death, Car accident, and Death
decklededgess's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
trigger warnings: rape and sexual assault, harassment, roofies, drug abuse and drug related death mention, teenage pregnancy mention, abortion mention, physical abuse, abusive relatives, domestic abuse, bullying, slut shaming, sexism and misogyny, gun violence mention, death of parent, cancer mention, death, car accident
God this book was heartbreaking. The cover is deceptive. It seems cool and mysterious. Unfortunately it's depressing as fuck but so well written. This is about a young girn named Zarin who dies in a car accident with a close friend in Saudi Arabia. The book starts out with them as ghosts and cycles back to a point in Zarin's life that seems to set this event in motion. You get to read from a few people's POVs which gives you both an internal and an external look into what Zarin's life was like and how she was perceived by the people around her.
This book tears into bullying culture, slut shaming, sexism, and abuse, and how that affects an individual mentally and physically. Through the book you see Zarin break down and attempt to build herself u time and again as trauma after trauma are thrown at her.
I can't really say much about the optimism factor of this book. As is common with books that take on heavy trauma with no trace of vindication and revenge, this is more about personal healing or lack thereof. Zarin's life is painful but there are moments of optimism. It ends on a peaceful note which is something.
It's frankly a genius work of literature, it's just fucking sad dude. Falls right along with books like My Dark Vanessa, Hurricane Summer, and A Little Life in my opinion.
I did really enjoy reading about a Parsi character though. I haven't interacted with someone who's Parsi since I left India and this was (while tragic as shit and definitely not reflective of their lives and Zoroastrianism as a whole) a nice change to see some of my friends' culture represented in a book.
God this book was heartbreaking. The cover is deceptive. It seems cool and mysterious. Unfortunately it's depressing as fuck but so well written. This is about a young girn named Zarin who dies in a car accident with a close friend in Saudi Arabia. The book starts out with them as ghosts and cycles back to a point in Zarin's life that seems to set this event in motion. You get to read from a few people's POVs which gives you both an internal and an external look into what Zarin's life was like and how she was perceived by the people around her.
This book tears into bullying culture, slut shaming, sexism, and abuse, and how that affects an individual mentally and physically. Through the book you see Zarin break down and attempt to build herself u time and again as trauma after trauma are thrown at her.
I can't really say much about the optimism factor of this book. As is common with books that take on heavy trauma with no trace of vindication and revenge, this is more about personal healing or lack thereof. Zarin's life is painful but there are moments of optimism. It ends on a peaceful note which is something.
It's frankly a genius work of literature, it's just fucking sad dude. Falls right along with books like My Dark Vanessa, Hurricane Summer, and A Little Life in my opinion.
I did really enjoy reading about a Parsi character though. I haven't interacted with someone who's Parsi since I left India and this was (while tragic as shit and definitely not reflective of their lives and Zoroastrianism as a whole) a nice change to see some of my friends' culture represented in a book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Grief, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Blood
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Abortion, and Suicide attempt
readwithemily's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
~3.5~ I haven't read a book that gave me as many mixed emotions as this book has in a while. It was emotional, heartbreaking, and unsatisfying in the best way possible. This is a love story that ends before the love. I really really enjoyed the build-up to the conclusion. Zarin's struggles in life are devastating. You just want a happy ending for her, you know you won't get it, but you hope. I mean she is literally dead in the Prologue.
I really enjoyed the character of Mishal, she's basically Zarin's school bully and academic rival. You quickly realize through her POV that she's also a victim of her society. Watching her self-reflection in the novel was very rewarding.
My biggest problem with this book is the ending. It happened way too quickly! The last chapter before the Epilogue was like "this happened to this character, this happened to this character, and this character did this." I was like woahhh slowdown! The first 3/4 of this book is a 5/5 read. The last 1/4 is a 1/5 read.
I really enjoyed the character of Mishal, she's basically Zarin's school bully and academic rival. You quickly realize through her POV that she's also a victim of her society. Watching her self-reflection in the novel was very rewarding.
My biggest problem with this book is the ending. It happened way too quickly! The last chapter before the Epilogue was like "this happened to this character, this happened to this character, and this character did this." I was like woahhh slowdown! The first 3/4 of this book is a 5/5 read. The last 1/4 is a 1/5 read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Minor: Religious bigotry
gracew's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
You can find my full review here: https://bookedwithgrace.wordpress.com/2021/01/14/the-complexities-of-self-in-a-girl-like-that/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
More...