Reviews

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

azka_k's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

jenhurst's review against another edition

5.0

After hating the goldfinch with a passion, I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed this! Such a good book. I can definitely see why it started an entire subgenre. I get where mona awad got “bunny” now.

lesapaul's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

roganjn's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

3.5

mrdarcysgirl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

4.75

fjzamo's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

amycanread_'s review against another edition

4.0

4/5

This book held me in a fever-dreamy trance of equal parts disgust and fascination.

Highly unlikeable characters, but interesting: A group of rich, privileged undergraduates at an elite New England college, studying classics in an elite program with only them in it. Kind of gave me cult vibes. Plus our main character/storyteller Richard pretending/pathologically lying/trying desperately to fit in with them.

Richard recalls the story of how the group ended up killing one of their friends, the buildup and fallout surrounding it, and the simultaneous downward spiralling of each character. A disaster train wreck of a story I couldn’t take my eyes off of… and enjoyed.

isteward's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

chloegierling's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

stale_bagel's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.5