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xavreadsbooks's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, and Rape
Minor: Pedophilia
annabelreadsandwrites's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Racism
thoughtsofastar's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is so valuable. It talks of all the ways girls and women are subjected to violence, abuse and inequality. In a Doctrine-obsessed town, Belle lives a life that does not belong to her, a life where all money and time is spent on making sure she looks Pretty. But for Joni, life is different. She does not follow the rules of the Doctrine, but her life isn't easier because of it. She's ignored and laughed at for her brilliant ideas and wisdom and hopes. When Belle finally sees her, their lives change for good. Uprooted from the Doctrine and spun into a completely new, realer person Belle can finally accept her life has not been perfect, and with Joni at her side, she's finally ready to do something about it. But their town isn't ready for this uprising, and no matter who they are or how they look, it's always the girls who must pay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Domestic abuse and Pedophilia
amber_bookworm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
What a book to start the year with. Powerful, evocative, an excellent read. The only thing that stopped me from rating 5 stars was some of the linguistic choices at times by the author which felt a bit jarring. Would definitely recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexism
goatsrsexy's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Okay this book was definitely giving Barbie (movie) in a lot of ways. 1. It was an entertaining and interesting story that had something to say. 2. The social commentary was 100% right and told in an accessible way. 3. It was not made for people who already care about this stuff.
I'm not saying if you're educated on feminist and gender equality you won't like this book. It's a good book, but I was definitely left disappointed that it didn't take things a little further or hit a little harder. The potential was definitely there, but so were the cringy monologues.
I'm not saying if you're educated on feminist and gender equality you won't like this book. It's a good book, but I was definitely left disappointed that it didn't take things a little further or hit a little harder. The potential was definitely there, but so were the cringy monologues.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
bookishstevie's review
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Rape, Racism, and Sexism
olivia_b2509's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I would want more if the slight lgbtq element but that is a personal opinion and only very slight
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexism, Sexual violence, Dysphoria, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Fatphobia
murderousscottishgremlin's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I found this disappointing and thought it added nothing new to the conversation, but I’m aware I’m not the target audience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming
Moderate: Sexual violence, Eating disorder, and Sexual assault
Minor: Racism
ianb's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Before I Get Started, this book can be quite triggering. In the authors words,” it deals with many real issues including eating disorders, domestic abuse, sexual harassment and assault, pornography and misogyny.”
“This Isn’t Dystopia. This isn’t a fiction. THIS IS NOW. NORMAL. OUR WORLD TODAY”.
I have been a huge fan of Bourne’s for several years now and when I saw that she had another YA book out, I was in too minds as I know it’s a genre that I’m reding less and less but once again she has not disappointed with this one, a holding a light up to our social conventions and asking us to consider to what extent we choose to be compliant in this environment.
I think for Women, Girls this is a book that you/they are going to relate to on so many levels. This explores the extremely high expectations that society has placed on the appearance of women and girls and with this being a topic that has been in the Press and what seems like everywhere, with filter at the palm of your hands. This books tackles that and inequality in such a clever way.
As a teen in high school, or more aptly named in the novel, your “Just Right” years, you can either be Pretty, or you can be Objectionable. This book holds a dual point of view where Belle is Pretty, someone who always wears Masks and follows strict eating habits and beauty regimes whilst being rewarded for this behaviour, and Joni is Objectionable, an outspoken, Mask-less, “abomination” who does not follow the social norms and ascribe to any beauty regime whilst being ostracized and humiliated by society.
”Choice means nothing if you feel you have no other option than to choose what everyone chooses. Choice means nothing if there are significant consequences for not following the established path.”
You Could Be So Pretty shows a society that awards beauty with validation and has consequences for anyone who doesn’t fit the Criteria, including fat women, older women, women with features that aren’t acceptable, poor women, and women who are outspoken, to name a few.
This is a book which will provoke numerous emotions: awe, sadness, anger, guilt, envy. It is so cleverly written and one I will be sharing with as many people as possible.
“This Isn’t Dystopia. This isn’t a fiction. THIS IS NOW. NORMAL. OUR WORLD TODAY”.
I have been a huge fan of Bourne’s for several years now and when I saw that she had another YA book out, I was in too minds as I know it’s a genre that I’m reding less and less but once again she has not disappointed with this one, a holding a light up to our social conventions and asking us to consider to what extent we choose to be compliant in this environment.
I think for Women, Girls this is a book that you/they are going to relate to on so many levels. This explores the extremely high expectations that society has placed on the appearance of women and girls and with this being a topic that has been in the Press and what seems like everywhere, with filter at the palm of your hands. This books tackles that and inequality in such a clever way.
As a teen in high school, or more aptly named in the novel, your “Just Right” years, you can either be Pretty, or you can be Objectionable. This book holds a dual point of view where Belle is Pretty, someone who always wears Masks and follows strict eating habits and beauty regimes whilst being rewarded for this behaviour, and Joni is Objectionable, an outspoken, Mask-less, “abomination” who does not follow the social norms and ascribe to any beauty regime whilst being ostracized and humiliated by society.
”Choice means nothing if you feel you have no other option than to choose what everyone chooses. Choice means nothing if there are significant consequences for not following the established path.”
You Could Be So Pretty shows a society that awards beauty with validation and has consequences for anyone who doesn’t fit the Criteria, including fat women, older women, women with features that aren’t acceptable, poor women, and women who are outspoken, to name a few.
This is a book which will provoke numerous emotions: awe, sadness, anger, guilt, envy. It is so cleverly written and one I will be sharing with as many people as possible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Body shaming, and Bullying
Moderate: Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol
etoile75's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, and Sexual harassment