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peppermintz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The start was pretty slow and then the book just kept speeding up. I loved how the girls described each other, like sunshine and a dark forest respectively . The mention of asexuality was weird thought and it made me feel as if they didn't do enough research - basically, she said that asexuality fit perfectly until . It's like, demi or gray sexuality exists. Also, I am so glad they finally got therapy would have saved alot time/stress if it had happened earlier.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia
cecilie26's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Okay, this is the first time that I have tried to read something in this kind of genre. I have read murder mysteries but this is a whole other genre than that in my opinion.
It was nice to try something new, but this book was really not something for me.
I’m gonna make some pros and cons, because that the only way that I can make this kind of shot and not write something that doesn’t make sense.
Let’s start with the pros:
- liked the generational women rage and what it represents
- did like the girl kinda fight club vibe.
The cons:
- the animal cruelty(could not for the life of me see the reason for that even thoughthe cat lived.
I know the authors perspective was to show how far she would go, but that could have been done another way. I just really don’t like animals being hurt to further the stories cruelness.
- the romance was a bit weird. It didn’t feel like it came naturally.
It was nice to try something new, but this book was really not something for me.
I’m gonna make some pros and cons, because that the only way that I can make this kind of shot and not write something that doesn’t make sense.
Let’s start with the pros:
- liked the generational women rage and what it represents
- did like the girl kinda fight club vibe.
The cons:
- the animal cruelty(could not for the life of me see the reason for that even though
I know the authors perspective was to show how far she would go, but that could have been done another way. I just really don’t like animals being hurt to further the stories cruelness.
- the romance was a bit weird. It didn’t feel like it came naturally.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Violence, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Misogyny, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Death
gen_nh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed reading this throughout but it did feel a little trite at the end with a very on the nose wrap up where the whole context and moral of the book were explicitly spelled out in an internal monologue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Self harm
Moderate: Suicide and Murder
bookaddictlt's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Suicide
emmataylor173's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Animal death, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Violence, and Suicide
Minor: Sexual harassment
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Details:
Narrated by Farrah Cave and Beth Easdown
Unabridged
Absolutely adored Every Exquisite Thing, so was excited to see that Steven's debut was available through my library app.
This is a sapphic, modern gothic retelling of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
I'm not sure if it wad the share name of Lottie combined with the sapphic grumpy x sunshine, but it at first had a wholesome likness to The Rosewood Chronicles. It also reminded me of Claire and Elise from The Coldest Touch.
This was such a good story!
I definitely see improvements in storytelling and writing style in the delivery of the modern gothic/dark academia genre, going back to this after reading Every Exquisite Thing, but it wasn't off putting.
The conversations did feel a little more juvenile than I'd expected but it was easily overlooked once I connected to the characters and got really invested in the story.
This inspiration of the classic has made me appreciate the themes of mental health that the original introduces.
I hope there are more in to come from these retellings, as I see these as becoming very beloved.
Narrated by Farrah Cave and Beth Easdown
Unabridged
Absolutely adored Every Exquisite Thing, so was excited to see that Steven's debut was available through my library app.
This is a sapphic, modern gothic retelling of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
I'm not sure if it wad the share name of Lottie combined with the sapphic grumpy x sunshine, but it at first had a wholesome likness to The Rosewood Chronicles. It also reminded me of Claire and Elise from The Coldest Touch.
This was such a good story!
I definitely see improvements in storytelling and writing style in the delivery of the modern gothic/dark academia genre, going back to this after reading Every Exquisite Thing, but it wasn't off putting.
The conversations did feel a little more juvenile than I'd expected but it was easily overlooked once I connected to the characters and got really invested in the story.
This inspiration of the classic has made me appreciate the themes of mental health that the original introduces.
I hope there are more in to come from these retellings, as I see these as becoming very beloved.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual harassment, Murder, Sexual content, Bullying, Child death, Toxic relationship, Gore, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
raye_charlie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide, Sexism, Self harm, Death, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
freyaboobac's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Misogyny, and Violence
Moderate: Death
_pauline's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
this is for the angry girls.
- it was NOT what I thought it would be; not at all bad - just different
- it’s one of those books that have a special place in my heart & I‘ll remember for a long time although I‘m not giving it the best rating (I don’t even know how that’s supposed to make any sense)
- there’s a lot less romance than you might expect reading the blurb (which I thought was a good thing)
- the
cat scene was brutal but I guess I see why the book needed it - I‘m usually not a huge fan of supernatural elements but didn’t mind them in this book
- I enjoyed Every Exquisite Thing more but the overall vibes were similar
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Animal death, and Violence
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Lottie and Alice start at the newly reopened Carvell College of Arts. But history starts to repeat itself as a new series of killings start, eerily similar to the ones from ten years ago that caused it to close its doors.
This book is reported to be dark and "funny". Dark yes, funny much less so. The animal murder is resolved in a way that makes it less traumatic to the reader, but at the time it happens it's very dark and disturbing. As an animal lover, I had to stop reading the book for the day after that scene.
I get where the author was coming from with the message about female anger and how it needs to be accepted and we need to change the sexism in the world. I really wish the author had stayed away from harming animals. I'm a person who prefers human death to animal death in fiction.
The book was decent. I liked the premise but the execution wasn't as good as possible.
Extra ratings: Fluff - 0/5 Heartfelt- 4/5 Helpful-NA Horror- 3/5 Inspiration- NA Love aka Romance-2/5 Mystery-3/5 Predictability- 3/5 Spice- 0/5 Suspense- 2/5 Tear 3.5/5 Thrill- 3.5/5 Humor-1/5
This book is reported to be dark and "funny". Dark yes, funny much less so. The animal murder is resolved in a way that makes it less traumatic to the reader, but at the time it happens it's very dark and disturbing. As an animal lover, I had to stop reading the book for the day after that scene.
I get where the author was coming from with the message about female anger and how it needs to be accepted and we need to change the sexism in the world. I really wish the author had stayed away from harming animals. I'm a person who prefers human death to animal death in fiction.
The book was decent. I liked the premise but the execution wasn't as good as possible.
Extra ratings: Fluff - 0/5 Heartfelt- 4/5 Helpful-NA Horror- 3/5 Inspiration- NA Love aka Romance-2/5 Mystery-3/5 Predictability- 3/5 Spice- 0/5 Suspense- 2/5 Tear 3.5/5 Thrill- 3.5/5 Humor-1/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Confinement, and Self harm
Minor: Chronic illness, Sexual harassment, and Dementia