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herperfume's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
bella_cavicchi's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Eating disorder and Pregnancy
pastlifetragedy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, and Stalking
abicaro17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
david_slack110507's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I think having Ruth's story be something completely detached from the Ted Bundy-inspired serial killer plotline of Pamela's story made Ruth's ending all the more effective as it showcased what could happen at any moment, especially when your life is beginning to get better, but I also just really liked Ruth's story due to its focus on the acceptance of who you are and freeing yourself from the judgement of others as shown in Ruth's discovery of her sexuality when she meets and eventually falls in love with Tina. However, as much as I like Ruth's story, I think I was more invested in Pamela's search for justice against the man that had wronged her sorority house, as not only was it what the premise of the book but also because it just intrigued me more seeing the situation unfold and how that can be compared in many similar and different ways to now.
Both storylines help present the theme of needing to put women's stories and experiences to the forefront of situations like the one in this book and its aforementioned inspiration rather than putting all the attention and sadly oftentimes subsequent idolisation on the perpetrator of horrible and sickening crimes. Keeping the perpetrator's name hidden under the nickname 'The Defendant' not only avoided giving power to the serial killer that it was based on but also allowed for it to be unilateral in not giving power to all those who have committed terrible acts of violence and violation and instead keeping the women in the spotlight when they are so often ignored even when they are front and centre like with Pamela as a witness or The Defendant's female attorney being the smartest on his team.
I feel like this is just a really important book to read that has many important messages just beyond the criminal and legal aspects mentioned in this review and in the book, such as social issues like the way that lesbians and queer people were seen around that time, the lack of faith in women and their stories/beliefs, and I also liked how it commented on the seemingly necessary need to characterise every man that avoided the legal system due to said lack of faith in women and/or their privilege as being 'smart', essentially acting as an excuse to cover up the incompetence in the police and justice systems for letting it go on for so long.
Overall, this raises many important questions and focuses on many necessary themes that should be discussed in more detail as well as striking a careful balance between not making it too explicit without making it seem watered down to make it easier to digest. It does not shy away from the explicit nature of the case but is not defined by having it as part of the plot.
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Cursing, Eating disorder, Gore, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Medical content, and Dementia
stilestastic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Outing, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Eating disorder, Gore, and Dementia
sailormegan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
We see the strengths and intelligence of these women and not just as victims or letting authorities brush them aside. We see Bundy displayed as the despicable, gross, human he always was and not this distinguished, attractive, made-a-wrong-decision man that the media and Judge made him out to be.
These women really are brought to life in a way that was never done at the time of the trial.
I don’t typically notice or care when an author chooses a POV but Jessica’s use of first-person was the correct one. I was living the life of a woman who was dragging herself from a hole and into a beautiful new life only to have it taken from her too soon. I was in that sorority house witnessing the defendant run out the front door, standing by what I saw without a doubt no matter who challenged and questioned me. My heart clenched, my blood boiled. I had nightmares….
Anyways…. I hope I got it across that this was truly a fab book. Maybe I over-hyped it. But if you ever looked at this book and thought you’d like to read it, here’s your sign to just do it! Don’t come at me if you hate it because I will not listen 🤣 jk… ?
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Pedophilia
honeybeewitched87's review
- 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
3.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
imstephtacular's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Dementia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Vomit, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Stalking, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
augustinedreams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail