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caissa_chthonia's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Torture, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
elenakperez's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
charliedon's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Police brutality, and Toxic friendship
nicole__reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
rallythealli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
taylorerin294's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
4.5
Graphic: Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Murder and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide
lus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent
katarinabee's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
What a fascinating satirical novel that provides scathing commentary on true crime fixations, and "mean girl" culture. I also recognize the irony that I am now listening to the Crime Junkie podcast as I write this review. I'm also trash, and also part of the problem that Eliza Clark's novel comments on.
This book is actually a book within a book, which was wildly entertaining (and as I write "entertaining," I'm like 'omg, AGAIN, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM BRITTANY!' but you know... at least I'm self aware I guess *cries at how annoying self is*). The book within the book is a true crime novel by journalist Alec Z. Carelli, who interviewed the suspects of a murder, and did extensive research about the murder. The murder happened about a decade ago as of the time that the book publishes, and Carelli believes the story was begging to be told! There is also a disclaimer at the very beginning of the book which notes that it came to light that Carelli fabricated much of what interviewees actually said, and facts were glamorized and polished in the final edit. That's how you start the book, wondering what was true and to what extent these interviewees are telling the truth too. It's a wild ride.
We receive perspectives from the three young women accused of the crime, who the victim Joan named before she died. The girls are from a northern seaside town, Crow-on-Sea, where class disparities left unfettered only heightened the cruelty and egos of these teenagers. Eliza Clark comes for the 2010s Tumblr honeys and takes no prisoners with the authentic portrayal of the deep dive into online spaces like Tumblr; we were all read for filth in this commentary on the internet culture when it comes to fandoms, fixations, and how we could essentially be complicit in such unrelenting ugliness. This was the era of Bella Swan, of notoriously shouting we were "not like other girls," and these three murder suspects were such delectable characterizations and slices of that. They represented the dangers of when internalized misogyny can become emotionally and physically violent. Most notably, the way their stories all differ and how they all point to the other as the true ringleader is terrifying and unsettling.
Ultimately, this made me uncomfortable, because that's how satirical litfic is supposed to make you feel! You are supposed to wince, and question your contribution to a certain darker part of larger culture. I certainly did! Anyway, I read this from a rec from my friend @maddysbookopinions for my #12Friends12Books 2024 reading challenge, and I'm really glad I did, even if I oscillated between anger, guilt, and horror for the characters; and admiration for Clark.
Graphic: Bullying, Torture, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide
moa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Rape