Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman

48 reviews

fallenstarr's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? No

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Death, Sexism, Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Murder

Moderate: Classism, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

thissagreads's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-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

1.75

A YA mystery for sure, but at times I was confused about the characters and their roles. There were a lot of names bounced around and the mains character started to annoy me with keeping all these secrets to herself. In my opinion, this book would’ve been better had there been clearer “game” instructions and there was a lot of internal thoughts from the main character, that I wanted to just tell her to shut up and continue on with the story! Lol because when she went down a rabbit hole of thoughts it became such a slow read. Towards the end the book picked up thankfully, so it wasn’t all a drag.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Sexual assault

Minor: Drug use

beth_s98's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

3.75

I really thought I knew where the story was going, and then there was another twist. It made sense, but

I was so heartbroken over the betrayal of the actual killer

I’m not sure I could read it again. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Gaslighting, Child death, Violence, Death, Alcohol, Murder, Sexism, Grief, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, and Sexual harassment

the_true_monroe's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Decent read- the first half was super slow for me but the 2nd half was captivating. This can be shown by how even though I read this book over 20 days, the last 50% were all in one day! It was pretty predictable but despite the outcome not being a shocker, I still felt all of the tension as things came into place. I also did not really like most of the characters but some who I really disliked for the majority of the book did get to me near the end. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Confinement, Grief, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Racism, and Self harm

libraryghost's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Murder, Blood, Misogyny, Classism, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Death, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Confinement

lindsayerin's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Murder, Grief, Child death, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Violence and Sexual assault

Minor: Drug abuse and Adult/minor relationship

jillkaarlela's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.75

This was an interesting YA murder mystery about a rich private school and a secret society,  called “the players”, that gets away with anything.  But, when one of the players is killed by another, everything is messed up. everyone accepts that the boyfriend did it, because the boyfriend always does it, right? Jill isn’t so sure anymore. How far would some of these students go to keep their advantage and their secrets hidden? 

I thought this was pretty interesting and gripping. I don’t think it was the best Jessica Goodman book, I think “The Councilors” was better, but it was still good! I think this is a good one to check out if you’re fans of authors like Karen M. McManus! They have a similar writing style and mystery type. They both have a way of creating such a complex and vast range of characters, particularly in high school, as well as high school social clubs or hierarchies that are very vivid and intriguing. I think I do prefer McManus, but Goodman is still good. I did kinda expect/predict a few of the plot twists, but it was still entertaining! 

I would say please be aware of the trigger warnings, this does deal with a corrupt high school party group, so there is a lot of drinking and hazing type of rituals. Other trigger warnings include attempted SA, adult/minor relationships, borderline stalking behavior, and s*xual content. As well as, you know, murder. 

Age rating: 14+ (language, one brief spicy scene, it’s not vivid as much as assumed what is happening)

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Sexual content, Stalking, and Sexual assault

jamiejanae_6's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, Blood, Bullying, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

1rae1's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content

yikes_bee's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

2.0

the beginning was bad, i didnt like it but like 150 pages in jill was a lot better. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Classism, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Stalking