4.09k reviews for:

Maeve Fly

C.J. Leede

3.77 AVERAGE

dark fast-paced
robynkerr3391's profile picture

robynkerr3391's review

2.0

Disney Princess releases her inner Patrick Bateman.

Cool idea, bland execution.
chansrote's profile picture

chansrote's review

3.75
dark funny tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Liked, didn’t love. Strong FMC development/psyche exploration, but other characters fell flat. I was intrigued by the story, definitely kept me engaged from start to finish. Not totally sold on the relationships between various characters and MC, plus Maeve’s internal dialogue was super annoying and repetitive most of the time. Also, the  grandma backstory and the whole doll thing felt a little half-baked to me. That said, the writing was fun and the pacing was on-point. I actually kinda liked the ‘trying too hard to be edgy’ cringe vibe, it brought some (probably unintentional) levity to the book that just worked for me. The final twist at the end was both shocking/heart-breaking yet totally predictable, but I really enjoyed it. 

Overall, probably not for everyone, but definitely worth a read.

sailorjuniper's review

3.5
dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book really had me in the first half. I didnt know how I felt about the writing style and the way the author had to write around copyrights, but it really came together in the end. It kept me on my toes, and there were so many things about this book that I really enjoyed, but I do find myself having to give it 3.5 because of the beginning, and while I think the book is the perfect length, some of the best parts went by so so fast. 

also, if I had a nickel for every book I read this year that some one gets skinned alive in, i’d have 2 nickels which isn't a lot but weird that it happened twice

maciung's review

2.0

Overall the book was okay, some parts were very good and had potential but the author’s fixation with shoving weird things into vaginas gave me the ick.
The ending was surprisingly good though.
dark tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Wow, idk how to feel about this one. Unlikeable unrealizable FMC. Not sure how it's considered feminist and I just felt sad for her by the end. 

Her crash out was entertaining enough; Not the best book i've ever read.

ellegreads's profile picture

ellegreads's review

3.0

I thought I would have liked this one more as it’s described as a feminine version of American Psycho, but I found it really dull and lacking when it came to her violence. I think the author could have gone into a little bit more detail without going over the top so that readers could see the full depravity of Maeve as we’re made to, but it just doesn’t happen. Sure, there are a few good scenes, and I like the idea that a woman was written for this part, but it was a bit boring and didn’t completely hold my interest. I know there are many people who loved this one so I do recommend reading their reviews too but I personally recommend reading this or buying when it goes on sale just in case you don’t like it.

tabbycatssidy's profile picture

tabbycatssidy's review

5.0
dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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alxenterprise's review

3.0

This was alright. A decent enough output for a debut, but the entire ethos of the story really is summed up in the author’s/Maeve’s Dostoyevsky rant about how women shouldn’t need a reason to monstrous. However, in that same explanation she also laments that women who are portrayed as such have their depravity sourced from their sexuality or their sadness. Despite that, Maeve encompasses all of these attributes that are supposedly denouncing: she is entirely driven by her sexuality and her sadness (which only she projects onto herself) while also having no drive or reasoning beyond….. it’s just who I am?
The violence and gore are descriptive and engaging, like if John Waters had a hand in screenwriting an indie horror flick. The main drawback truly is Maeve’s characterization. In no way is she a Bateman, but with a bit more thought and reason, as much maligned as that is I guess, she could have been her own, wondrous yet monstrous creation.