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baz_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Incest, Racism, Suicide, and Classism
Minor: Misogyny and Sexism
jackie10024's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
This book was engaging. As crazy as the story was, you could understand how the facts unfolded. What I didn’t understand as readily was how the core six characters put up with each others’ insufferable qualities for so long, and under such complex conditions. Having said that, the character development was rich and interesting, and the plot kept you engaged. It was also a time capsule of the ‘80’s, which is kind of a black hole as far as important times in history, but is when I went to college, so that was fun for me. Didn’t love the author’s narration. Her southern accent was discordant for the New England context of the book, and some of her voicing, particularly of the male characters, was unintentionally comic. Very good book overall, though. Would definitely recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Drug use, Self harm, Suicide, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Incest
ameliebouchermalloy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Such a fall book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Blood, and Alcohol
caffeinatedbookdragon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I don’t know y’all. I think dark academia might not be for me. I really enjoyed the prose. It was engaging and kept me interested to a degree, but the pacing was SO SLOW. I ended up skimming some parts just to get through it.
The characters are morally bankrupt (mostly) rich kids, so it was hard to really care about them. I genuinely don’t understand why Richard in particular went along with some ~particular~ actions of the others.
The characters are morally bankrupt (mostly) rich kids, so it was hard to really care about them. I genuinely don’t understand why Richard in particular went along with some ~particular~ actions of the others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Murder, and Classism
toast_renumeration's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Classism
kjm19's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Wow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
mishasmum's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.5
A disturbing but entertaining read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Suicide, and Murder
abhea_reads's review against another edition
4.75
I love linguistics so much and this book would get 5 stars if slurs didn't jump scare me every time I started to feel safe again
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Incest, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Classism
Minor: Rape
jcinf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.0
Was this a good book? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Not really.
First, it was so long. I would check to see how many pages I read, realize I had only read about 10 pages, and then just feel annoyed at the author for writing so much. (Though it is almost fitting that a pretentious book with pretentious characters be as long and self-absorbed as it was). I could have enjoyed this so much more if it has like 150 less pages.
Then, I didn’t like the characters. I either disliked them or felt neutral about them. So, I couldn’t empathize with any of them, which made it hard for me to enjoy the story.
And (not a spoiler, I promise) why did Richard keep saying he loved these people? I didn’t feel love between anyone. I just felt like they all used each other. Maybe that was the point, I suppose. To illuminate how selfish people can be and to demonstrate how they think they love someone when really their idea of the person is self-serving because it feeds their ego or identity in some way. Maybe I’m not allowing the characters to have depth with that interpretation, but with the nihilistic perspective used throughout the book, I feel like my take is pretty accurate. So it just annoyed me because it didn’t feel self aware.
What I did enjoy was the portrayal of specific people spiraling because of a set of circumstances that just wrecked their mental state. I thought that was psychologically interesting, sort of lol. But that too started to wear on me and I was getting tired of watching these people fall into substance abuse issues.
I also enjoyed the style of writing. Even though it dragged, the author’s writing was fantastic and engaging.
I noticed myself picking this book up to “get through it” rather than to actually enjoy reading it. I kept pushing because this book was so beloved, but in the end I don’t really think I was converted into loving it.
I think I like the idea of dark academia more than I actually like dark academia. Something about reading about academic snobs drives me crazy, no matter how cool the ‘vibes’ are.
List of spoilers with questions I had and/or general commentary:
1. So, let me get this straight, they (minus Richard) all killed a man in some drugged out daze? And somehow Richard figured it out because one of the guys had been out of town for a couple days? And tickets to Greece or whatever? Weird.
2. Incest?! wtf. So strange that came up and then was like never mentioned again. I wondered if I actually read that right, bc it was mentioned so flippantly.
3. Was Henry really wanting to kill Charles, or was that just meant to demonstrate Charles’ unraveling?
4. Henry was a psychopath and we’re just gonna not acknowledge that any further than the one conversation? And then make Charles feel crazy for thinking Henry wanted to kill him? Okay then lol.
5. At least one review said “they all deserved what they got” and now I’m wondering what that reviewer meant. Only one of them actually died as a consequence of his actions. And that was by choice. AND romanticized as well. Not this sad death they made it out to be. I would’ve loved if this book punished the characters more, actually.
6. Oh, and that brief mention of wanting to r*pe Camilla. wtf was that? I know it was meant to illustrate how far gone Richard was to this weird power high. But I really wish the author didn’t include that part. To me, even though it was mentioned briefly, it was disturbing.
7. Did Henry really manipulate Richard into getting involved? Or was that another example of unreliable narration?
I guess I’m still glad I read it? Idk man.
Oh, and I’m not sure why all these reviews mention being deceived at the end. Either I missed something or I had something clocked the whole time. I’m just not sure what that is. Lol
Another thought: was “Bunny” by Mona Awad inspired by this? Brb gonna Google it.
First, it was so long. I would check to see how many pages I read, realize I had only read about 10 pages, and then just feel annoyed at the author for writing so much. (Though it is almost fitting that a pretentious book with pretentious characters be as long and self-absorbed as it was). I could have enjoyed this so much more if it has like 150 less pages.
Then, I didn’t like the characters. I either disliked them or felt neutral about them. So, I couldn’t empathize with any of them, which made it hard for me to enjoy the story.
And (not a spoiler, I promise) why did Richard keep saying he loved these people? I didn’t feel love between anyone. I just felt like they all used each other. Maybe that was the point, I suppose. To illuminate how selfish people can be and to demonstrate how they think they love someone when really their idea of the person is self-serving because it feeds their ego or identity in some way. Maybe I’m not allowing the characters to have depth with that interpretation, but with the nihilistic perspective used throughout the book, I feel like my take is pretty accurate. So it just annoyed me because it didn’t feel self aware.
What I did enjoy was the portrayal of specific people spiraling because of a set of circumstances that just wrecked their mental state. I thought that was psychologically interesting, sort of lol. But that too started to wear on me and I was getting tired of watching these people fall into
I also enjoyed the style of writing. Even though it dragged, the author’s writing was fantastic and engaging.
I noticed myself picking this book up to “get through it” rather than to actually enjoy reading it. I kept pushing because this book was so beloved, but in the end I don’t really think I was converted into loving it.
I think I like the idea of dark academia more than I actually like dark academia. Something about reading about academic snobs drives me crazy, no matter how cool the ‘vibes’ are.
List of spoilers with questions I had and/or general commentary:
2. Incest?! wtf. So strange that came up and then was like never mentioned again. I wondered if I actually read that right, bc it was mentioned so flippantly.
3. Was Henry really wanting to kill Charles, or was that just meant to demonstrate Charles’ unraveling?
4. Henry was a psychopath and we’re just gonna not acknowledge that any further than the one conversation? And then make Charles feel crazy for thinking Henry wanted to kill him? Okay then lol.
5. At least one review said “they all deserved what they got” and now I’m wondering what that reviewer meant. Only one of them actually died as a consequence of his actions. And that was by choice. AND romanticized as well. Not this sad death they made it out to be. I would’ve loved if this book punished the characters more, actually.
6. Oh, and that brief mention of wanting to r*pe Camilla. wtf was that? I know it was meant to illustrate how far gone Richard was to this weird power high. But I really wish the author didn’t include that part. To me, even though it was mentioned briefly, it was disturbing.
7. Did Henry really manipulate Richard into getting involved? Or was that another example of unreliable narration?
I guess I’m still glad I read it? Idk man.
Oh, and I’m not sure why all these reviews mention being deceived at the end. Either I missed something or I had something clocked the whole time. I’m just not sure what that is. Lol
Another thought: was “Bunny” by Mona Awad inspired by this? Brb gonna Google it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
sunlitridges's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
My rating for this one keeps getting higher and higher bc while it didn't originally seem spectacular to me, I find myself thinking about it in my spare time immediately started re-reading to see if I can pick up on any details I previously missed. Also wonderful descriptions from the author. I'll likely read of few times
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Stalking