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starryeyedlover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Stalking, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Body horror, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Violence, Torture, Self harm, Vomit, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Grief, Drug abuse, Gore, Sexual violence, Rape, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Child death, Blood, Death, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Addiction
Moderate: Dementia, Cursing, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Fatphobia
Minor: Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
aaronreadsatad's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Sexism, Blood, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Torture, Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Kidnapping, Violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Child death, Drug abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Misogyny, Murder, and Physical abuse
kaceylc's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Torture
gustavwind's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Addiction, Drug abuse, Suicide, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Drug use, Rape, Alcohol, Blood, Self harm, Car accident, and Fatphobia
kwoot7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Stalking, Death, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, and Trafficking
elliott_the_clementine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
I gave this novel 0.25 stars because it was a book that was written. For a book lauded for its thrilling aspects and thoughtful family drama, there is no thrill and there is no thought, just bloody, useless horror that fails to do anything but shock. Unfortunately, instead of representing the rage of women victimized repeatedly by their society, Pretty Girls tortures its main characters for the pleasure of an audience clearly imagined as male while seeping its depiction of violence against women in privilege and glamour. An irresponsible and poorly done romanticization of torture. In a word: careless.
Also, I would ask Karen Slaughter to be more thoughtful in her depictions of mental illness. There are many resources online and in libraries for authors to read about mental health and therefore accurately and safely portray it in their work.
Graphic: Blood, Stalking, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gun violence, Fatphobia, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Car accident, Child death, Death, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Confinement, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Claire and Lydia, estranged sisters brought back together by another tragedy, embark on a journey almost twenty-five years old as new clues come to light about their older sister, Julia, who went missing when she was nineteen and was never found. Nothing is as it seems as present begins to connect rather ominously with the past.
This was my first Karin Slaughter book and man, did it deliver. It’s definitely a very dark book that seems to get darker with each shocking turn, not shying away from grisly facts or chilling thoughts. The writing was intense, fast-paced, evocative. Slaughter’s words made the story so vivid and realistic, my heart pounding the whole way through as if I were one of Julia’s sisters, too.
If you’re a fan of Gillian Flynn, you’ll also devour this one. I found their writing styles quite similar and engaging.
I loved the way this story played out, the different story arcs that came to fruition. Of course, the subject matter is even more sinister then you’d imagine out the gate, but it was used so well in this one.
I suspect I will be thinking of this book for a long time!!
Graphic: Medical trauma, Murder, Violence, Alcoholism, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Rape, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Addiction, Gore, Cursing, Drug use, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Death, Death of parent, Blood, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Suicide, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Infidelity, Abandonment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Excrement, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, and Gun violence
Minor: Body horror
saraavowlerr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Drug use, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Rape, Suicide, Vomit, Bullying, Confinement, Grief, Violence, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Self harm, Stalking, and Torture
corpseparty's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Confinement, Drug use, Body horror, Death of parent, Murder, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Torture
mkzach'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Drug abuse, Vomit, Suicide, Body shaming, Cursing, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Addiction
Minor: Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, and Infidelity