Reviews

The Book of X by Sarah Rose Etter

beequeue's review

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

nicolejlevy's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.5

roguedaffodil's review

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.0

ajj10's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

dignitash's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

literarydaph's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional

5.0

molly28's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

jordan21's review

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

thistigercanread's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

3.5

the bizarre and grotesque of The Book of X is Etter at her best. the book reads like a parable—a moral tale—but the characters are given depth. the unexplained oddness create intrigue and the bleeding heart of cassie anchors the novel to reality. 

but i read this book after Ripe and i think her sophomore pursuit is much stronger.

it also ends in the same way and i found both instances disappointing.

 

i greatly enjoyed both novels and would recommend them but i think Ripe does more with its premise and engages with its themes with a stronger understanding than X. 

jessbishai's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

3.5