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cobaltbookshelf's review
3.0
3.5 stars
Trouble Girls is thought-provoking, road-trip thriller and queer love story about high schoolers turned fugitives is written great. I just wished it had epilogue but overall, it was well-written and I highly recommend it.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Trouble Girls is thought-provoking, road-trip thriller and queer love story about high schoolers turned fugitives is written great. I just wished it had epilogue but overall, it was well-written and I highly recommend it.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
2.0
2.5/5
Found it to be ok, not much but I feel like it could have been better
Found it to be ok, not much but I feel like it could have been better
marieintheraw's review
2.0
You ever have expectations for a book based on what the retelling aspects are meant to be and then that hurts you? Well, that was me and this book. It just felt like it did not do much with the story it was playing with and ended up falling flat for me especially on the character connections to both myself as a reader and each other.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
optimisticbooknerd's review
I've seen so many things and was given an arc but I couldn't get into the writing style at all so I'm dnfing it rn but I'll possibly pick it up in the future maybe.
bookiepanda's review against another edition
1.0
The cover is ugly, not my type.
I didn't have big expectations about this book but it still manages to disappoint me. The summary promises this interesting thriller with a young couple running away from the law and we got NONE of that.
From the summary, I expected the girls to be together or something like that. Even with Trix's words at the beginning I thought they have something going on. Turns out it's actually one girl who heavily (to the point of being kinda delusional) crushes on her best friend, while her best is oblivious and friendzones her all the time. Through most of their journey this pattern repeats until at some point turns out that "I've always loved you, Trix". Bitch where???? The romance in this book feels so unreal and forced I almost wish it was just a straight couple.
At the beginning, I was hoping we'd get to see some of the camping experience because that sounded like such a big deal. And you know, things getting messy in the woods, sounds very nice. But we didn't even go there and yes, I'm mad about that.
For Lux I kinda understand. It was made clear that she doesn't like her father and that taking care of her brother is a burden, so her running away makes sense (I never understood why she's like that tho). But for Trix, from the beginning, it's shown how much she cares about her mother and how her mother is the most important person and she can't leave this town because her mom doesn't know how to take care of herself. And after all that Trix just leaves, runs away, dumping all that responsibility on someone else??? No, girl. Just no.
The trauma that Trix has was a nice touch but underdeveloped. Just vaguely mentioned here and there without building any emotional connection to make you care about the character.
Leaving this aside, nothing else makes sense. The way the girls handle money, the way no one finds them and everyone just helps them. I bet police ain't that stupid, especially when you drive the same car, withdraw money from your card (the dad could just report and cancel his card ffs), and share what you've been doing with every fucking stranger.
Overall, I found this book dumb, boring and overly unrealistic.
I didn't have big expectations about this book but it still manages to disappoint me. The summary promises this interesting thriller with a young couple running away from the law and we got NONE of that.
From the summary, I expected the girls to be together or something like that. Even with Trix's words at the beginning I thought they have something going on. Turns out it's actually one girl who heavily (to the point of being kinda delusional) crushes on her best friend, while her best is oblivious and friendzones her all the time. Through most of their journey this pattern repeats until at some point turns out that "I've always loved you, Trix". Bitch where???? The romance in this book feels so unreal and forced I almost wish it was just a straight couple.
At the beginning, I was hoping we'd get to see some of the camping experience because that sounded like such a big deal. And you know, things getting messy in the woods, sounds very nice. But we didn't even go there and yes, I'm mad about that.
For Lux I kinda understand. It was made clear that she doesn't like her father and that taking care of her brother is a burden, so her running away makes sense (I never understood why she's like that tho). But for Trix, from the beginning, it's shown how much she cares about her mother and how her mother is the most important person and she can't leave this town because her mom doesn't know how to take care of herself. And after all that Trix just leaves, runs away, dumping all that responsibility on someone else??? No, girl. Just no.
The trauma that Trix has was a nice touch but underdeveloped. Just vaguely mentioned here and there without building any emotional connection to make you care about the character.
Leaving this aside, nothing else makes sense. The way the girls handle money, the way no one finds them and everyone just helps them. I bet police ain't that stupid, especially when you drive the same car, withdraw money from your card (the dad could just report and cancel his card ffs), and share what you've been doing with every fucking stranger.
Overall, I found this book dumb, boring and overly unrealistic.
gemwilder's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
gingerbread_void's review
5.0
This was the Thelma and Louis story my lesbian heart has always needed! I almost cried I wad filled with so much joy.
I wanted to devour this book all in one sitting but I made myself take my time and enjoy every page. I loved everything about Rubin's writing! Her characters, her setting, just EVERYTHING about this was perfect and filled me with joy. I can not wait to get this as a physical book and show it off and never shut up about it!
I wanted to devour this book all in one sitting but I made myself take my time and enjoy every page. I loved everything about Rubin's writing! Her characters, her setting, just EVERYTHING about this was perfect and filled me with joy. I can not wait to get this as a physical book and show it off and never shut up about it!
lezreadalot's review against another edition
3.0
All I know is, I'd still be me, and I'd still want to love every part of someone just like Lux.
3.5 stars. I'm trying to figure out if I'd have liked this more or less if I'd ever seen/knew more than the bare basics about the movie Thelma and Louise. Would I have gotten more out of it, to see all the parallels? Or would all the similarities have frustrated me?
I don't know. But I did enjoy this. Mostly? It's the story of two girls who end up on the run after what was supposed to be a weekend getaway turns bloody. This is an extremely anxiety-inducing book, especially from the perspective of an adult who's just so worried and scared for these girls, and so angry about all the ugliness and hate that surrounds them. They make a lot of bad decisions, but it's all very realistic; they're scared teenagers, and they're panicking, and they don't have any experience with things like this. It's still very nerve-wracking, seeing it all play out, and that anxiety wasn't exactly enjoyable, as a reader?
But that's a bit of the point. This isn't meant to be an easy read. Trixie and Lux's story is a condemnation of rape culture and misogyny; a close-lensed look at the suffering and PTSD that can come with being a queer teenage girl. Trixie and Lux aren't always likeable, but there's something very cathartic about their rage, and the way they refuse to be cowed. I really loved their burgeoning romance; everything about Trixie's feelings and insecurities and the way it was described felt so authentic and real and my heart just hurt for them. Another thing I especially liked was Rubin's writing and craftsmanship; she really succeeded in creating the perfect atmosphere and characters.
I'm not quite satisfied with this though. At times it was a bit... essentialist? In its commentary and discussion? And idk, it's very possible to write a story about rape culture and the violence that men inflict upon women and the ways it's ingrained in the fabric of society without going there. IDK. I also didn't love the whole "hog" thing, though there are story reasons for it, and I understand. It was used a lot, and started to border on fatphobic, when she used it on random side characters. And the ending didn't feel very satisfying to me. It either needed to end some time before or after that moment, for me to really feel a sense of completion. (There were also a bunch of typos, but I'm assuming that's just an arc issue.)
Definitely a compelling read, one that shouldn't be approached lightly.
Content warnings:
Spoiler
past csa, attempted rape, rape culture, murder, death, homophobia, misogyny, panic attacks and anxiety.☆ Review copy provided via NetGalley.
thatlizhunter's review
2.0
initial thoughts -
what's the point of an entire road trip escape from crime if you're not really even trying to escape? I'm confused
what's the point of an entire road trip escape from crime if you're not really even trying to escape? I'm confused