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fatimahfkhan's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
everyone in this book was a piece of shit. but everyone was so well written (minus peach she was a bit 1 dimensional but that may be on purpose idk) . everyone had such bad ISSUES like beck babes rlly needed therapy
this was a bit dragged out like i think a lot of parts could’ve been removed but pretty good. joes character was written so fucking good i was rooting for him and then complete 180 and i fucking hate him but love him?? she did an amazing amazing amazing job writing joe and becks arc.
this defo wasnt perfect but its nearly a 4 star its just 100 pages could've been reduced like there was a whole like 20% where joe and beck didn't interact it was like off idk but the writing was good and i loved the use of like popculture refs and flaws that many ppl have, like i can see parts of beck and benji in me, to show that this could very well become a real story, not just fiction.
+ not nice references abt taylor swift but im happy she was mentioned Lmao
ik a lot of ppl see the point of this is like oh social media bad! and shit but like idk i didn't see a way beck could've avoided joe's inevitable obsession. like obvs she posted everyt and that gave him a way to learn shit but like i feel like he wouldve found them out anyway
decent social commentary but if it was deeper, rating defo goes up
3.5 stars!!!
looking back id defo give it 4 i think abt this book alllll the time!
Graphic: Stalking and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Murder, and Violence
brittsky's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
And yet, for some reason, this particular stream of obscenities really works for me. I think Caroline Kepnes is a uniquely talented writer, capable of giving us a cast of horribly depraved characters and a sick, twisted little plot, and making it both explosive and educational. I feel like this is the best sort of cautionary tale, getting to live in Joe’s head and listen to him rationalize how nothing he does is ever his fault. It’s so disturbing, but in a way that feels purposeful, and the unique second-person perspective makes the readers feel they are in it, experiencing it.
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Stalking, Murder, Sexism, and Rape
te_ss_i's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Toxic friendship, Genocide, Infidelity, Torture, Alcohol, Drug use, Addiction, Stalking, Car accident, Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Abortion, Murder, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Violence
bgmccloud's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Stalking, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
unnamed_individual's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
2. Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
3. Writing Style: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4. Audience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
5. Lasting Impact: ⭐️
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Murder
phantomgecko's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Think of the whiniest, most foul-mouthed little incel you can, and that's this dude. Note how many times he refers to women as objects. How many times he reduces Beck to her sexual availability or genitals. How many times he misinterprets media to justify his actions. Also, lol at how judgmental he is about books. I think this is a more fun variation than being super judgmental about music or comics or video games.
Joe is seven layers of delusional, from thinking Beck is obsessed with him to awaiting the collapse of the internet so he can lord it over with his typewriters to thinking he ever helped anyone. However, some of what I thought he was making up at the beginning turned out to be close to the truth. Like how he says that Beck loves attention and is an exhibitionist. Still, I'd categorize him as an unreliable narrator.
Beck isn't a great person either. She has real issues and a way annoying personality. Joe's observation that she wants to be a writer more than she wants to write is spot on. Nevertheless, a victim is a victim whether or not they are "innocent" or you personally dislike them.
One of the book club questions at the end asked something along the lines of, "did you find yourself wishing Joe would be punished for his crimes or did you want him to get away with it?" And like... ?????????? If you found yourself sympathetic to Joe's self-imposed, imaginary, selfish plight, maybe you need help too?
I honestly cannot adequately express how despicable the main character is. I understand that that is the point. I feel dirty for reading this book, tbh, and I'm not continuing the series. Joe is too accurately written, and that's too depressing for me.
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity, Kidnapping, Car accident, Classism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Death, Misogyny, Murder, Bullying, Confinement, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, and Mental illness
coco78337's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Classism, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Confinement, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Car accident, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, and Sexual harassment
theyannibannireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is one of those times I like the book but dislike everyone in it. Think most of the like comes from the authors writing, its good. It feels like reading a diary. So maybe that's why it's good, its a easy read even better if your listening to the audiobook, which I did.
All in all I liked it but just to clarify this is not a romance book its a horror book everything that happened to the women in this book is tragic. Joe should be in prison.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Sexism, and Misogyny
victaphone's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Sexism, Torture, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Stalking
Moderate: Classism, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Death, Sexual harassment, Confinement, and Cursing
Minor: Fatphobia and Homophobia
talyahonor23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Stalking