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noveltay's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This felt like a documentary and a thriller movie combined. Very entertaining and a quick page turner. I googled multiple times reading to see if this was a true story, or based on a real town etc. Every character was unlikeable, minus maybe some parents.
I can’t wait for another book by this author. Her two out right now, are both 5 star reads for me.
I can’t wait for another book by this author. Her two out right now, are both 5 star reads for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Blood, Rape, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Gun violence, Outing, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Body horror, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Death of parent, Child death, Grief, Murder, Violence, and Suicide
emmiepee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
left my head spinning!! really impressed with how Clark handled the Tumblr of it all, i sometimes feel like we are still too close to the birth of social media for actually insightful takes on it but Clark did a good job. definitely brought me back to the yucky teen feelings that still live in my body.
i do wonder if Clark was just doing Too Much with this one, I will say I audiobooked this one and it maybe would’ve played out better in print, but between the meta book-within-a-book and unreliable narrator and blog posts and timeline jumping, she lost me a bit. it’s no Boy Parts but overall still a good read!
i do wonder if Clark was just doing Too Much with this one, I will say I audiobooked this one and it maybe would’ve played out better in print, but between the meta book-within-a-book and unreliable narrator and blog posts and timeline jumping, she lost me a bit. it’s no Boy Parts but overall still a good read!
holmahoney's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
robs320's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
mikitastic's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to the publisher and Goodreads for providing me with a copy of this book.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
☁️ When I first came across “Penance”, I was imediately thrilled by its premise of a fiction book that passes on as a true crime book.
☁️ It is a slow-burn. You won’t know what truly happened until the very last few pages, which can be very frustrating for some readers.
☁️ The narrator is not an agreeable character and lots of times the narrative would focus on certain people and background that were unnecessary and didn’t add up much to the main storyline, which made the reading dull and uninteresting every so often.
☁️ The author did an outstanding job developing the political scenario and the history, lifestyle and social conventions that are imposed on the residents of the small city where the story takes place.
☁️ Just when you think the book will end on an unexciting and predictable route, Eliza Clark surprises us with a clever turn of events that brings readers self-reflection upon how we consume true crime content.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
☁️ When I first came across “Penance”, I was imediately thrilled by its premise of a fiction book that passes on as a true crime book.
☁️ It is a slow-burn. You won’t know what truly happened until the very last few pages, which can be very frustrating for some readers.
☁️ The narrator is not an agreeable character and lots of times the narrative would focus on certain people and background that were unnecessary and didn’t add up much to the main storyline, which made the reading dull and uninteresting every so often.
☁️ The author did an outstanding job developing the political scenario and the history, lifestyle and social conventions that are imposed on the residents of the small city where the story takes place.
☁️ Just when you think the book will end on an unexciting and predictable route, Eliza Clark surprises us with a clever turn of events that brings readers self-reflection upon how we consume true crime content.
maybe_carenza's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
nasukas's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0