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hailslayton's review against another edition
5.0
A grim but exceedingly insightful study of the irreality of turn of the millennium technology. Frightening and thought-provoking. Loved it.
pensnfeathers's review against another edition
4.0
I'm going to keep my thoughts on this book spoiler free and relatively short since I know at least one of my friends plans on reading this book in the near future.
Jesus Christ, this was one of the absolutely wildest, most roller-coastery, most sick and twisted and depraved and shocking books I've ever read. It is a treatise on cruelty and deciet and desperation.
It is difficult to put down.
If I'm being honest, I didn't have super high hopes going into this book. I wanted to read it because of its, and the author's reputation, but books pretty explicity written to shock and appall rarely do much for me. This was the exception. It was excellent. It's the kind of book that you can get totally wrapped up in, where you don't know what's going on, but rather than feeling frustrated by that, you feel like you're along for the ride.
I'd highly recommend this book, but make sure you have the stomach for it. I cannot overstate how dark and unpleasant this one gets.
Jesus Christ, this was one of the absolutely wildest, most roller-coastery, most sick and twisted and depraved and shocking books I've ever read. It is a treatise on cruelty and deciet and desperation.
It is difficult to put down.
If I'm being honest, I didn't have super high hopes going into this book. I wanted to read it because of its, and the author's reputation, but books pretty explicity written to shock and appall rarely do much for me. This was the exception. It was excellent. It's the kind of book that you can get totally wrapped up in, where you don't know what's going on, but rather than feeling frustrated by that, you feel like you're along for the ride.
I'd highly recommend this book, but make sure you have the stomach for it. I cannot overstate how dark and unpleasant this one gets.
howevernot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
Fast paced with an interesting storytelling format. The lines of fantasy and reality are constantly bleeding together. A crime thriller for the ages. Successfully keeps me wanting more while also making recoil in disgust at times.
dead_wallflower's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
I've just read this book to trauma bond with a friend over it. It was probably the worst book ever and I got physically sick when reading it.
I can appreciate the idea of the book but this is where it ends (Meaning I liked the style of the book, that it was written in posts, emails etc.)
I can appreciate the idea of the book but this is where it ends (Meaning I liked the style of the book, that it was written in posts, emails etc.)
readbyrodkelly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
drunkennoodle's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
maiamgn's review against another edition
4.0
you see, my best friend lent me his copy of this book after weeks of him raving about it. the fact that i read this book in the span of a single day says something great about the way this book was written, the story portrayed, and it’s ability to hold your attention to it for hours.
the story is told through a webpage used to rate and review male escorts, specifically a thread on that webpage that follows all of the reviews left on a young, junkie escort named brad. it shows the horrifying reality of that side of humanity, and the internet. it’s easy to lie under an anonymous name, it’s not easy to follow this story without being at least a little confused, but that was precisely the point with this book. i don’t think you’re really supposed to know exactly what is really going on at any given time until the end, and that’s what makes this story what it is. it feels unbelievably real throughout.
i seriously enjoyed this book, every page comes with a shock factor so great that i had to lie about the book i was reading to my mom, just in case she decided to look it up. even in it’s less horrifying moments, and i say “horrifying” with the most positive connotation you can imagine, the little actual real personality and emotion the main character, brad, is given is with intention. reading this book gives the feeling of reading through a murder mystery in a way, and yet at the same time it’s not only that but a light shone into the terrifyingly disgusting cracks and corners of humanity. i’m very glad i read this book, even though i had to sit there for a minute to snap back into reality.. and let my stomach settle.
the story is told through a webpage used to rate and review male escorts, specifically a thread on that webpage that follows all of the reviews left on a young, junkie escort named brad. it shows the horrifying reality of that side of humanity, and the internet. it’s easy to lie under an anonymous name, it’s not easy to follow this story without being at least a little confused, but that was precisely the point with this book. i don’t think you’re really supposed to know exactly what is really going on at any given time until the end, and that’s what makes this story what it is. it feels unbelievably real throughout.
i seriously enjoyed this book, every page comes with a shock factor so great that i had to lie about the book i was reading to my mom, just in case she decided to look it up. even in it’s less horrifying moments, and i say “horrifying” with the most positive connotation you can imagine, the little actual real personality and emotion the main character, brad, is given is with intention. reading this book gives the feeling of reading through a murder mystery in a way, and yet at the same time it’s not only that but a light shone into the terrifyingly disgusting cracks and corners of humanity. i’m very glad i read this book, even though i had to sit there for a minute to snap back into reality.. and let my stomach settle.
thornehall's review against another edition
challenging
dark
1.0
is this the worst book i have read all year? yes. am i glad i read it? like maybe.
spencellio's review against another edition
dark
tense
- Loveable characters? No
2.25
This is not a book for me. It has a story to tell, in its own depraved way, of sex work and mythologization and the heightening of sick fantasies when they are given a place to flourish, but the first and most prominent thing that a story designed to disturb you will do is make you feel horrifically disturbed. A difficult read from beginning to end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Homophobia, Suicide, and Terminal illness
Minor: Pregnancy
summerstorm's review against another edition
what’s drawn me to the sluts is the same as what’s drawn me to gregg araki’s mysterious skin adaptation. which is a movie i love and think highly of. this book is no doubt a difficult read, one that i should’ve known i wouldn’t be able to stomach any longer once it was pages after pages of (child) rape and murder fantasies. i’m not interested in learning more or knowing the conclusion either. though this is considered an especially brave thing to write (as fiction) i’m unconvinced it's worth finishing. the sluts ultimately failed to impact me in any meaningful way. though it may have also been because i didn't need any further reason or rather visualization to be disgusted with the sex trade to begin with.