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miarae's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Really enjoyed this book. It's split into "before" and "after", alternating between before and after the murder of Hannah's best friend and roommate. I enjoyed the writing style and the plot. Interesting note is that this is the second book I've read from this author where motherhood plays a big part.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault and Vomit
dizpig's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying and Gaslighting
bulbasaurcowboy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Definitely full of twists and turns. A really good whodunit thriller that has a great medium pace throughout. Full of complex characters who come from different class backgrounds to meet at Oxford. The main character is a newcomer to the area and through her roommate blends into this new group full of historh and secrets that lead to tragic consequences.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
elliedwrites's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
This one made me say “WTF” out loud multiple times. So good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, and Pregnancy
sampcole21's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Stalking, and Pregnancy
Minor: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Pregnancy
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was on my radar because I am quickly becoming a Ruth Ware fan, but then it was announced that it is the Literally Dead Book Club pick for September, so I HAD to pick it up. "The It Girl" follows a young woman named Hannah. In college, she was paired to room with this amazing "It Girl" named April. April's personality was electric, and she seemingly had everything she could ever want, and more. Unfortunately, Hannah found April murdered in their dorm room. There were no leads on suspects except for Hannah's testimony that she saw porter John Neville leaving the dorm right before she came in. Because of some complaints John had against him, he was convicted and sent to prison despite a lack of evidence. Now it is almost ten years later, and Hannah is happily married to April's ex-boyfriend, Will and they are expecting their first child together. John Neville has made headlines again because he has passed away in prison, still claiming his innocence. Now Hannah is on a mission to uncover what truly happened so many years ago and find out what really happened to April.
Although this book is only told through Hannah's perspective, the timeline jumps around and as the story progresses and Hannah learns more in the present, we are able to get more information about what happened while they were in college. I loved slowly seeing the story come together simultaneously in the past and present. I was also happy to see that Hannah did not "fall into" April's life and become the new It Girl herself. Hannah and Will had chemistry while April and Will dated, and Hannah never sought to replace April or take over her life. April is a really complex character, and it made it really interesting to read about her and learn more about how she was perceived by her friends. April was dazzling, strong, intelligent, and entirely enticing, but she was also mean, ruthless, and cunning. Hannah did not know April as well as she thought, and it really changed the narrative for the better as Hannah saw that April was just a girl, not an idol.
When the killer was revealed, I was shocked, and I really enjoyed the twist. I do think it may be polarizing, because we do not get a true motive from the killer as to why they murdered April, but I enjoyed the ambiguity of it!
I really, really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to continue to enjoy Ruth Ware's backlist until her next novel comes out.
Although this book is only told through Hannah's perspective, the timeline jumps around and as the story progresses and Hannah learns more in the present, we are able to get more information about what happened while they were in college. I loved slowly seeing the story come together simultaneously in the past and present. I was also happy to see that Hannah did not "fall into" April's life and become the new It Girl herself. Hannah and Will had chemistry while April and Will dated, and Hannah never sought to replace April or take over her life. April is a really complex character, and it made it really interesting to read about her and learn more about how she was perceived by her friends. April was dazzling, strong, intelligent, and entirely enticing, but she was also mean, ruthless, and cunning. Hannah did not know April as well as she thought, and it really changed the narrative for the better as Hannah saw that April was just a girl, not an idol.
When the killer was revealed, I was shocked, and I really enjoyed the twist. I do think it may be polarizing, because we do not get a true motive from the killer as to why they murdered April, but I enjoyed the ambiguity of it!
I really, really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to continue to enjoy Ruth Ware's backlist until her next novel comes out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Gun violence