I feel like the book was 90% plotless, which is fine with me, but I don’t think it fits the reviews and descriptions well. The main character was the MOST unhinged female protagonist I’ve ever read. I feel like it was a little bland until the final 100 or so pages, but even then it still felt a little flat. I did really enjoy Clarke’s decision to write not necessarily from the female gaze, but maybe the antithesis of the male gaze. Irina was so deeply unlikeable but relatable in her efforts to have men see her as a threat. While there were moments of violence against women, it was more interesting to read about the violence Irina inflicted. Violence against women is so common in literature and film and the media that Irina’s violence with men felt new and “never-been-done-before” although it most certainly has. Overall an interesting read and that’s why I’ve given it a 3.5, but I don’t think I would reread it, at least anytime soon.

Content Warnings

owenwilsonbaby's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

"I have a photo of each leg, each arm, and his torso: all these boy parts, which I can arrange on my living room floor like a jigsaw."

Solid satire with some really funny moments and interesting characterisation. I really like how Irina's perception of Flo is slowly undercut by external glimpses of Flo. The final conversation about what Flo thinks Irina can give her is such a good example of this, as Irina interprets Flo's doomed desire for her as pathetic, when there is actually something deeply sad about Irina being functionally unable to recognise love and desire as a genuine investment in someone's wellbeing, rather than a means to an end. Irina's cynicism slowly being undercut by her delusions and the optimism of those around her was also really interesting - her voice can be quite compelling so the moments where you realise how flawed her own narrative is about herself and her world was enjoyable.

I did wander what this book was moving towards. The last act felt comparatively slower than previous sections. Anticipating the end of the book, I began to realise it was probably going to lack substantial payoff, which is odd when the first two acts were quickly-paced. Given the prominence of Irina's 'friendship' with Flo, I did feel like that should have featured more in the final conflict.

I have really mixed feelings on this book. The deliberate gratuity was interesting and having also read A Certain Hunger this year I understand the market for and am interested in literary fiction that centres female psychopathy. The commentary on desire and forcing yourself into different boxes was insightful (e.g. Flo only liking who she was supposed to like). I think my main problem is it feels like something is missing, but I just don't know what. I wanted to like it more.

Content Warnings

jinni's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Content Warnings

ardour's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

potential readers who are blessed with psychological abuse/manipulation trauma (like moi👉👈🥴), i’ve put a non-spoilery content warning together! tap below 👇

IMO, proceed *with caution* if you have trauma from psychological abuse/manipulation.

I love a dark atmosphere to a novel but I think this went beyond a ‘dark vibe’—by me feeling a bit terrible after finishing because I realised I had kind of been gaslit/manipulated by the narrator to keep excusing her behaviour and refusing to see her for how awful she really was.

Her unashamedly horrible thoughts/actions throughout the book kinda got me hooked because i kept looking for evidence that deep down she was a good person?

Anyway, I won’t say any more but if you have similar experiences to mine and decide to read ahead, make sure that your overall mental health is okay (as in ur not in the middle of a depressive episode) before starting & make sure you have someone u feel safe with you decompress :)

Content Warnings

bl41's review against another edition

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dark funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

“I could train a camera on a man and look at him like a man looks at a woman; boys, too, could be objects of desire.”

It was deranged and hypnotic

Reversing the male gaze into the “female gaze” with the perfect batshit insane protagonist. It was super unsettling, darkly funny, and provocative— it references pop culture but not in a cringy type of way, so major props to the author. I devoured this book, and anyone who loves the unhinged woman trope should definitely give this one a go.

Content Warnings

raimundo's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

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