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florenceassetto's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Death, Toxic friendship, Child death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Alcoholism, Suicide, and Vomit
bionicfox666's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Self harm, Violence, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Child abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Torture, Rape, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Mass/school shootings
artrobot5000's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Violence, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Torture, Ableism, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, Animal death, Pedophilia, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Mental illness, and Bullying
laran_s's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Fatphobia, Torture, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Vomit, Suicide, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Ableism, and Classism
caissa_chthonia's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Murder, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, and Body horror
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Ableism, Alcohol, Blood, Self harm, Violence, Addiction, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Sexual violence, and Alcoholism
Minor: Eating disorder, Suicide, Fatphobia, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, and Rape
elenakperez's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Alcohol, Grief, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Mental illness, Racism, Racial slurs, Self harm, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Mass/school shootings, Pedophilia, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Stalking, Torture, Violence, Child death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
nicole__reads's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Gun violence, Self harm, Child death, and Torture
Moderate: Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Incest, Racism, and Sexual assault
rallythealli's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Self harm, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Homophobia, Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Death, Child death, and Bullying
katarinabee's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Torture, Pedophilia, Mass/school shootings, Violence, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Death, Murder, Mental illness, and Child death
Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Fatphobia, Self harm, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Bullying, and Rape
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
What a fascinating satirical novel that provides scathing commentary on true crime fixations, and "mean girl" culture. I also recognize the irony that I am now listening to the Crime Junkie podcast as I write this review. I'm also trash, and also part of the problem that Eliza Clark's novel comments on.
This book is actually a book within a book, which was wildly entertaining (and as I write "entertaining," I'm like 'omg, AGAIN, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM BRITTANY!' but you know... at least I'm self aware I guess *cries at how annoying self is*). The book within the book is a true crime novel by journalist Alec Z. Carelli, who interviewed the suspects of a murder, and did extensive research about the murder. The murder happened about a decade ago as of the time that the book publishes, and Carelli believes the story was begging to be told! There is also a disclaimer at the very beginning of the book which notes that it came to light that Carelli fabricated much of what interviewees actually said, and facts were glamorized and polished in the final edit. That's how you start the book, wondering what was true and to what extent these interviewees are telling the truth too. It's a wild ride.
We receive perspectives from the three young women accused of the crime, who the victim Joan named before she died. The girls are from a northern seaside town, Crow-on-Sea, where class disparities left unfettered only heightened the cruelty and egos of these teenagers. Eliza Clark comes for the 2010s Tumblr honeys and takes no prisoners with the authentic portrayal of the deep dive into online spaces like Tumblr; we were all read for filth in this commentary on the internet culture when it comes to fandoms, fixations, and how we could essentially be complicit in such unrelenting ugliness. This was the era of Bella Swan, of notoriously shouting we were "not like other girls," and these three murder suspects were such delectable characterizations and slices of that. They represented the dangers of when internalized misogyny can become emotionally and physically violent. Most notably, the way their stories all differ and how they all point to the other as the true ringleader is terrifying and unsettling.
Ultimately, this made me uncomfortable, because that's how satirical litfic is supposed to make you feel! You are supposed to wince, and question your contribution to a certain darker part of larger culture. I certainly did! Anyway, I read this from a rec from my friend @maddysbookopinions for my #12Friends12Books 2024 reading challenge, and I'm really glad I did, even if I oscillated between anger, guilt, and horror for the characters; and admiration for Clark.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Suicide