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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What in the PLL… but very entertaining and the audiobook carried at times when the story lulled. I feel like the rating might deserve to be higher because I ate the book up in 48 hours
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Rape, Mass/school shootings
This was not as good as I had hoped. It was like the author was trying to create this hard edgy character and just couldnt quite bring herself to do it.
Definitely not 'the next Gone Girl' as it has been described.
Definitely not 'the next Gone Girl' as it has been described.
I liked this book, but not enough to rate it any higher than 3 stars. When I finally figured out what happened at Bradley it wasn’t what I expected. I was thinking this would go more in the thriller direction. It was just an all around strange book.
4.5⭐️. I’m honestly surprised by the negative reviews for this book. Granted the main character, Ani, comes across as a very shallow, pretentious, woman so not likeable. Ani has manicured her life very carefully, all for optics. Smoke and mirrors! What we learn is that all of theses characteristics, defects are her walls for survival.
This is not an easy read as it deals with some pretty heavy traumas that unfortunately are all to normalized today.
Though a bit “Hollywoodized” underlying themes of this novel were quite powerful.
This is not an easy read as it deals with some pretty heavy traumas that unfortunately are all to normalized today.
Though a bit “Hollywoodized” underlying themes of this novel were quite powerful.
is it groundbreaking? no. was it extremely entertaining and an enjoyable read? I'd say yes.
I hate this book. I did not finish it I did not like it and I do not ever want to finish it.
I got about 3/4 of the way through this book before I just couldn't handle it anymore. The characters are incredibly unlikeable - I can typically stand to read a character who is vapid and absolutely terrible, but typically they have some sort of redeeming quality. This didn't. It's a suspense that's wrapped up in clichés. Also - rape culture.
Not for me.
Not for me.
I had wanted to read this book before the film came out, but I did see the movie first. I went in with no context, not knowing what would unfold. My most significant criticism of the film and this applies to the book, is that there needed to be a trigger warning.
However, I will say this: the book makes you feel seen. Even if what Ani experienced did not exactly happen to you, her reflection on trauma, pain, and this desire to put up a front to the world around you because shame is perceived as one of the worst things a person can feel, is spot on. Insomnia, the troubled relationship to food as both comfort and something to be feared, not knowing what part of you is real and what part was invented, Knoll's descriptions are difficult to read because they are so true. There were moments when I was reading this book that I had to put it down, not because it wasn't good, but because it was all so true. It was a difficult book to read regarding the content, but I want to applaud Knoll for turning her experience into a refuge for others.
However, I will say this: the book makes you feel seen. Even if what Ani experienced did not exactly happen to you, her reflection on trauma, pain, and this desire to put up a front to the world around you because shame is perceived as one of the worst things a person can feel, is spot on. Insomnia, the troubled relationship to food as both comfort and something to be feared, not knowing what part of you is real and what part was invented, Knoll's descriptions are difficult to read because they are so true. There were moments when I was reading this book that I had to put it down, not because it wasn't good, but because it was all so true. It was a difficult book to read regarding the content, but I want to applaud Knoll for turning her experience into a refuge for others.