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lilifane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was a lot more fun than I expected it would be, although there are some dark and difficult topics as well. Since I still don't read book descriptions, I didn't know what this would be about and was completely surprised.
I knew it was a female rage book, but I had no idea about the plot or themes. So this centers around 3 middle-aged women at the beginning of their menopause who discover a dead girl at the beach as well as some supernatural powers within themselves. With these powers, they try to solve the murder that no one else seems to take seriously and generally help out other women and take revenge on men, basically.
I did not expect a murder mystery to be part of the story and since I love those, I was pleasantly surprised. Thought, the mystery is kind of in the background of the plot for most of the time and is more of a plot device. I think it was rather predictable too, but I didn't mind because I cared more about the characters, themes and messages of the book.
I loooooved the characters. Not only the 3 protagonists but also their families and their dynamics. The way they talked to each other, to their daughters, to anyone around them really. The way they just stopped giving a f*** and took control over their lives. Amazing.
The plot was often interrupted by background stories of the women involved which showed how they were wronged by men in their lives one way or another. Usually these kinds of tangents would make me impatient or bring me out of a book completely, but I was enjoying the whole experience way too much here and couldn't put the book down. The misogynistic microaggressions also made me SO angry, because they felt so real. And it might feel like a lot or even extreme, but is it though? The way feminist themes are portrayed here is very on the nose, but it's also refreshing how unapologetic and direct they are handled.
I'm a peaceful person and I believe in peaceful solutions. But I get there are situations where peaceful doesn't accomplish anything. And it felt so good and cathartic to see these women reclaiming their power and taking revenge in such a satisfying way.
Loved the writing, loved witchy vibes, loved the humor. And the audiobook is excellent.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Murder, Misogyny, Child death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Classism, Sexism, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Infidelity, Rape, Confinement, Car accident, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, and Body shaming
lorahkay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, Trafficking, Murder, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child death, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Classism, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, and Fatphobia
Minor: Eating disorder
kmark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Eating disorder, Rape, Child abuse, Death, Murder, and Kidnapping
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug use, Grief, Pedophilia, Rape, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Murder, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Classism, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Vomit, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Pedophilia, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Classism, Suicide, Rape, Misogyny, Trafficking, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Car accident, Body shaming, Bullying, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent
Iliblady0308's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Stalking
sophsg88's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Death
Minor: Suicide and Trafficking
kaseymkelley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Rape
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This reminded me of a darker Murder She Wrote or a Charlie’s Angels, in which the women were calling their own shots, or maybe a nature-Ocean’s Eleven.
There are parts that are difficult to read though. There are times where I hated the way most of the men were portrayed. But then I thought, does it bother me this much when it’s women being portrayed similarly? And isn’t that the point of this novel, that sometimes men create their own world and women sometimes are invited to have a seat at the table. Unfortunately I still think this can be true today.
In our discussion with @lbtheloverofbooks, Kirsten Miller said “We need to change the narrative about being this age. It is one of the best times of our lives. Do younger women a huge favor and give them something to look forward to.” Laura Beth posted in our group that Kirsten Miller was doing a giveaway and I was lucky enough to get one. Miller was such a generous and fun guest.
I’m on fall break and had some time, but I pretty much read the book this afternoon. Once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down. The 470 pages went by a lot quicker than I thought they might.
There are definitely content warnings for this one, though.
“You’re saying you found a witch like Miss Ella?
I found two. A protector and a punisher.” P97
“‘Witch’ is the label society slaps on women it can’t understand or control.” P113
“Women are allowed everywhere these days. Golf courses, nudie bars, the Racquet and Tennis Club. It would be scandalous if we weren’t allowed. So instead, we’re just not invited.” P180
“The key to getting away with anything is convincing yourself that you’ve done nothing wrong.” P188
“Accept that what you find may be worse than you ever thought possible. And believe you possess the strength to see it.”
“Our lives are designed to have three parts. The first is education. The second, creation. And in part three, we put our experience to use and protect those who are weaker. This third stage, which you have entered, can be of incredible power.” P436
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Child death, Murder, and Trafficking
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Violence
Minor: Eating disorder
sidekicksam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was fun to read a story about women in their forties/fifties who aren't having a mid-life/menopausal crisis, and the witchy element made it perfect for seasonal reading. I loved the friendships that blossomed in the search for justice, and the powers that the three women found were also cool (give me Harriett's garden please).
I will say that this book was not entirely it for me. Though it was interesting to meet more characters and histories, it would have served the story well to have let out a few and keep the pace of the story up. For me, the book lost some of its thrill and mystery because of its length.
Also, the general undertone of the book was very bitter. I work in a male-dominated field too, and I am very young, so I get the misogyny and the inequality in business. I would have preferred the writing to work it into the characters and their actions more subtly, not only to make the characters displaying such behaviour more interesting, but also to make the responding women come across as less sour, bitter and discarded women.
I'd recommend this to everyone who is into thrillers, witchy-themes/magical realism or who wants a spooky season read without having to sleep with the lights on for the rest of the month!
Graphic: Kidnapping, Misogyny, Death, Murder, and Child death