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sam_hartwig's review
3.0
Wow! What a bunch of cruel girls. A friend recommended this book to me a while ago, so I thought I should give it a go. Well after listening for only a short amount of time I realised what kind of book this is. Most people during their time at school have faced bullying or been a bully, I know I have! Years 8 & 9 at high school were some of the worst years of my life. So this book brought back some bad memories. I don't know why I kept reading, I think it's because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. It was a little like a train wreck where you can't look away. I also think it's because I wanted to see if the girls would realise what they've done and feel some sort of remorse for it. Unfortunately that never happened.
Listening to this it felt very much like the movie "Mean Girls" but 10 times worse mean pranks and no humor at all! The story is about a popular group of girls and one girl from the group is ostracized by the rest because of a rumor that was spread, even though we know the truth and it is horrible. Through the whole book the popular group are making the main character, Regina's life a living hell. Regina does get a bit back though, but after all of this I don't know if the girls really learnt a lesson in realising to take responsibility for there actions.
It's very hard to rate a book that you didn't particularly like the characters or like the story but I guess that's the whole point to this story to make you dislike the characters etc, so actually the author has done her job well. Because of this reason and also it was written so well, I decided to give it 3 stars because it deserves it but not 4 in my eyes. Even saying that I will definitely pick up and read any other books I find by Courtney Summers because I think she has a fantastic way of writing about something that feels so real and everyone can relate to.
Also on my blog
Listening to this it felt very much like the movie "Mean Girls" but 10 times worse mean pranks and no humor at all! The story is about a popular group of girls and one girl from the group is ostracized by the rest because of a rumor that was spread, even though we know the truth and it is horrible. Through the whole book the popular group are making the main character, Regina's life a living hell. Regina does get a bit back though, but after all of this I don't know if the girls really learnt a lesson in realising to take responsibility for there actions.
It's very hard to rate a book that you didn't particularly like the characters or like the story but I guess that's the whole point to this story to make you dislike the characters etc, so actually the author has done her job well. Because of this reason and also it was written so well, I decided to give it 3 stars because it deserves it but not 4 in my eyes. Even saying that I will definitely pick up and read any other books I find by Courtney Summers because I think she has a fantastic way of writing about something that feels so real and everyone can relate to.
Also on my blog
stuckinafictionaluniverse's review
3.0
3.5 stars.
I prefer Summers's debut novel, mostly because the topic in this book was a little too.. much? Almost too shocking for my taste, and that is saying a lot.
These girls (and let's not forget the boys) are more than mean. More than bitchy, popular highschoolers. They're awful, sadistic individuals. There's backstabbing, rumor-spreading, cyberbullying and real life bullying, rape and revenge. And somewhere along the lines I began to wonder when this would come to an end. It's such a long downward spiral, and everytime Regina seemed to have hit rock bottom, something even worse happened.
I love my dark and mature YA books, but there are so many difficult topics tackled in this one, it turned into a very tragic claustrophobic story and the only thing I felt for the narrator was sympathy, but no more. Unlike Cracked up to be I didn't have any strong feelings for the main character. Parker was just as bad as Regina, but she had more personality and was more than a perfect girl gone bad.
I still think Courtney Summers is a very talented author and her books should be read, acknowledged and talked about, especially in schools. But maybe I've read too many sad and lonely books lately, and this was an overdose.
Full review to come.
I prefer Summers's debut novel, mostly because the topic in this book was a little too.. much? Almost too shocking for my taste, and that is saying a lot.
These girls (and let's not forget the boys) are more than mean. More than bitchy, popular highschoolers. They're awful, sadistic individuals. There's backstabbing, rumor-spreading, cyberbullying and real life bullying, rape and revenge. And somewhere along the lines I began to wonder when this would come to an end. It's such a long downward spiral, and everytime Regina seemed to have hit rock bottom, something even worse happened.
I love my dark and mature YA books, but there are so many difficult topics tackled in this one, it turned into a very tragic claustrophobic story and the only thing I felt for the narrator was sympathy, but no more. Unlike Cracked up to be I didn't have any strong feelings for the main character. Parker was just as bad as Regina, but she had more personality and was more than a perfect girl gone bad.
I still think Courtney Summers is a very talented author and her books should be read, acknowledged and talked about, especially in schools. But maybe I've read too many sad and lonely books lately, and this was an overdose.
Full review to come.
hollyyym's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
abbyreads2's review
3.0
I'm shocked. So many things happened and the book felt short and long. I extremely liked the ending. It felt realistic. But the fact that those girls didn't get in any kinds of troubles was outrageous. They get to be such nightmares and go on with their lives never having to worry about it is completely unfair. Although life is unfair, I wanted them to get expelled or something. That part was disappointing. I don't have much to say besides that it was good. It would've been better if she had dealt with things differently but everyone is different. They deal with things different. In the end, she didn't really feel at peace. I can tell she's on her way there though.
Edit: This book was infuriating. She kept fighting back and that was a bit admirable but at times, it didn't feel like she was fighting back. It felt like she was stepping to their levels, bullying them back rather than being stronger than they were. And that bothered me. At times, she could've easily let it go or report them but chosed to rather start a physical fight or worsen the situation. I hate how the story failed to acknowledge the assaults (sexual and physical). There were no consequences and none of them paid for their actions. Donnie may have lost weight and looked terrible but for all the wrong reasons, he should've been locked up. Josh should've been locked up for his dealing and suspended for bullying. Anna should've been expelled and arrested. And kara really needed to see a therapy as well as get suspended/expelled and arrested. They all basically got away with it. And I'm still upset that no one acknowledged that she was raped or almost raped (not sure) by donnie. It pisses me off. Till the end. And another thing that pisses me off is HOW NO ADULTS INTERVENED WHILE ALL THIS SHIT WAS GOING ON???? What the fuck were they doing? Sleeping? Eating? I mean all this shit AND NO ADULTS. None of them got caught or anything (besides the incident with Regina's locker). That is one horrible school with horrible teachers and horrible parents. I fail to understand how not a single adult noticed all this was going on. So disappointed. The ending was okay but it would've been better if they had gotten at least something out of it. If they had to deal with the consequences of their actions.
Edit: This book was infuriating. She kept fighting back and that was a bit admirable but at times, it didn't feel like she was fighting back. It felt like she was stepping to their levels, bullying them back rather than being stronger than they were. And that bothered me. At times, she could've easily let it go or report them but chosed to rather start a physical fight or worsen the situation. I hate how the story failed to acknowledge the assaults (sexual and physical). There were no consequences and none of them paid for their actions. Donnie may have lost weight and looked terrible but for all the wrong reasons, he should've been locked up. Josh should've been locked up for his dealing and suspended for bullying. Anna should've been expelled and arrested. And kara really needed to see a therapy as well as get suspended/expelled and arrested. They all basically got away with it. And I'm still upset that no one acknowledged that she was raped or almost raped (not sure) by donnie. It pisses me off. Till the end. And another thing that pisses me off is HOW NO ADULTS INTERVENED WHILE ALL THIS SHIT WAS GOING ON???? What the fuck were they doing? Sleeping? Eating? I mean all this shit AND NO ADULTS. None of them got caught or anything (besides the incident with Regina's locker). That is one horrible school with horrible teachers and horrible parents. I fail to understand how not a single adult noticed all this was going on. So disappointed. The ending was okay but it would've been better if they had gotten at least something out of it. If they had to deal with the consequences of their actions.
b0hemian_graham's review
5.0
this novel was painful to read. it was nauseating, breathtaking, heartbreaking, and just all around miserable to read. it needs to be read. still trying to wrap my head around what I read. this shouldn't be banned because parents don't want to face that this goes on in real life. too many girls like Liz, Anna, Kara, Regina, etc.
aliza503602's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Minor: Rape
mehsi's review
3.0
I expected more of the book. It was ok. But I felt like the ending was just rushed, like oh we have to stop now, so lets just do this and that, and done. Like wait what? The girl went through hell and it is ends that easily? Sorry I am not believing it will end like this.
parpacifica's review
3.0
This could have been four stars. It really could have. But there was so much wrong. The revenge/retribution thing didn't sit well with me.
Look, I'm not Mother Theresa— I probably shouldn't even mention our names together in the same sentence, given how much I cuss. I am all for revenge and payback and going batshit fucking crazy.
But I am not okay with someone bullying their bully. You are hurt. I understand. You have every right to be. But will hurting that person make you any better than him/her? Maybe my ridiculous pacifist dad accidentally rubbed off on me, but I couldn't get over the violent ways Regina was tripping, hurting, getting back at the girls who hurt her, who hurt her because she hurt them, and she hurt them because they hurt her and DAMNIT IT IS A CYCLE. YOU DO NOT FEED VIOLENCE WITH VIOLENCE.
I grew up as the person who was mostly everyone's friends, so I was never really bullied. I usually called the lonely kids to my table because why the hell not? Most of those "lonely" kids ended up being my friends for years. During my school years, if you were an asshole, someone would call you on it. So my experience was pretty sheltered.
But with that being said, a lot of circumstances in this book were too wishful and unrealistic.
Mean Girls wearing matching outfits? I'm sorry but if a bunch of girls wearing watching pink shirts and white miniskirts walked uniformly in the hall, they would be snap chatted and tweeted about so fast. No one would take them seriously.
Bully falls in love with bully? I don't even want to answer that question. Regina ruined Michael's life, and you're telling me he is willing to overlook the bullying, abuse, rumours and pariah status he got from them, for her suddenly because she finally realizes that she is a little bitch? Man, maybe he's the Mother Theresa reincarnate.
The book ended off on a somewhat good note but I can't help but think that Regina didn't change throughout the book. She just...kind of...stayed a bitch.
Look, I'm not Mother Theresa— I probably shouldn't even mention our names together in the same sentence, given how much I cuss. I am all for revenge and payback and going batshit fucking crazy.
But I am not okay with someone bullying their bully. You are hurt. I understand. You have every right to be. But will hurting that person make you any better than him/her? Maybe my ridiculous pacifist dad accidentally rubbed off on me, but I couldn't get over the violent ways Regina was tripping, hurting, getting back at the girls who hurt her, who hurt her because she hurt them, and she hurt them because they hurt her and DAMNIT IT IS A CYCLE. YOU DO NOT FEED VIOLENCE WITH VIOLENCE.
I grew up as the person who was mostly everyone's friends, so I was never really bullied. I usually called the lonely kids to my table because why the hell not? Most of those "lonely" kids ended up being my friends for years. During my school years, if you were an asshole, someone would call you on it. So my experience was pretty sheltered.
But with that being said, a lot of circumstances in this book were too wishful and unrealistic.
Mean Girls wearing matching outfits? I'm sorry but if a bunch of girls wearing watching pink shirts and white miniskirts walked uniformly in the hall, they would be snap chatted and tweeted about so fast. No one would take them seriously.
Bully falls in love with bully? I don't even want to answer that question. Regina ruined Michael's life, and you're telling me he is willing to overlook the bullying, abuse, rumours and pariah status he got from them, for her suddenly because she finally realizes that she is a little bitch? Man, maybe he's the Mother Theresa reincarnate.
The book ended off on a somewhat good note but I can't help but think that Regina didn't change throughout the book. She just...kind of...stayed a bitch.
stephxsu's review
5.0
SOME GIRLS ARE is another powerful tale that establishes Courtney Summers as one of the most talented YA authors writing today. With her trademark simple but powerful writing, Summers explores the deepest, darkest sides of humanity that most of us are unwilling to admit actually exist.
Summers’ writing skips past the B.S. and overly excessive descriptions that often plague literature and get right to the heart of the story: nearly inexpressible raw emotions. Her words are the opposite of rich, and yet she expresses in one short sentence what other writers might take two pages doing. The writing draws you into Regina’s story and refuses to let you go, even through the most horrifying scenes, the ones you want to look away from, but can’t. Summers proves that simplicity is likely the best way to go in packing a punch.
The mean girls in SOME GIRLS ARE are a cross between the eighties John Hughes high school flicks and the nineties horror movies: you have trouble believing such horrid people can exist, and yet you hardly question their terrifying bullying. The combination of Summers’ writing style and the enthralling plot keeps your eyes glued to the pages even as worse forms of bullying than you can imagine keep unfolding. The way things build, it’s almost impossible to imagine how anyone could construct a happy ending to this story, but the ending that Summers gives us is ultimately satisfying, a well-earned bittersweetness that was difficult to achieve, and thus perfect.
It’s interesting and surprising how well we connect and empathize with Regina, who is, after all, one of the mean girls. Even in her fall she continues to plot and think like her old self, and readers can never be certain whether she has learned from what has happened to her or not. Similarly, Regina’s budding friendship and—later—relationship with Michael is unusual for a YA romance, but hardly unsatisfying. There is something delightful to be said about the subtle and unexpected way their relationship develops, and push-and-pull of old, simmering resentment and hatred versus new empathy and love.
Courtney Summers’ second novel removes all traces of doubt one might have about her writing power after her phenomenal debut novel, CRACKED UP TO BE. SOME GIRLS ARE is every bit as good as her first, and perhaps even better in terms of moral complexity. Courtney Summers is now firmly one of my favorite authors, and I will be a zealous devotee to any and every book she writes from now on.
Summers’ writing skips past the B.S. and overly excessive descriptions that often plague literature and get right to the heart of the story: nearly inexpressible raw emotions. Her words are the opposite of rich, and yet she expresses in one short sentence what other writers might take two pages doing. The writing draws you into Regina’s story and refuses to let you go, even through the most horrifying scenes, the ones you want to look away from, but can’t. Summers proves that simplicity is likely the best way to go in packing a punch.
The mean girls in SOME GIRLS ARE are a cross between the eighties John Hughes high school flicks and the nineties horror movies: you have trouble believing such horrid people can exist, and yet you hardly question their terrifying bullying. The combination of Summers’ writing style and the enthralling plot keeps your eyes glued to the pages even as worse forms of bullying than you can imagine keep unfolding. The way things build, it’s almost impossible to imagine how anyone could construct a happy ending to this story, but the ending that Summers gives us is ultimately satisfying, a well-earned bittersweetness that was difficult to achieve, and thus perfect.
It’s interesting and surprising how well we connect and empathize with Regina, who is, after all, one of the mean girls. Even in her fall she continues to plot and think like her old self, and readers can never be certain whether she has learned from what has happened to her or not. Similarly, Regina’s budding friendship and—later—relationship with Michael is unusual for a YA romance, but hardly unsatisfying. There is something delightful to be said about the subtle and unexpected way their relationship develops, and push-and-pull of old, simmering resentment and hatred versus new empathy and love.
Courtney Summers’ second novel removes all traces of doubt one might have about her writing power after her phenomenal debut novel, CRACKED UP TO BE. SOME GIRLS ARE is every bit as good as her first, and perhaps even better in terms of moral complexity. Courtney Summers is now firmly one of my favorite authors, and I will be a zealous devotee to any and every book she writes from now on.
laurenkara's review
3.0
Trigger Warnings: Everything?? Sexual assault (on page), suicide mentions, eating disorders, drug & alcohol abuse/use, mental illness, death threats, violence, bullying, fat shaming, there was some MI shaming that was challenged,
I honestly have no idea what to rate this book. It was extremely draining.
On one hand I 100% understand what it was trying to convey. Bullying is a SERIOUS issue that not enough people take seriously (and yes, sometimes that includes teachers because mine did not care even when I reported my bullying). I feel like Courtney Summers did an excellent job at portraying how cruel high school and its students can be. HOWEVER, I think it relied too heavily on the "not all girls" trope.
I get that a lot of the messages in this book weren't positive, but I think that's the point. We need to remember the darker aspects. Just because we don't want to see it, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Some people's realities are this book and they deserve their stories told. I would have liked to have seen a bit more education though especially in regards of how to properly handle a bullying situation and/or mental illness. Whilst extremely jarring to read I think the sexual abuse was handled respectful although there was one scene that felt like it was a bit done for shock value.
Also in terms of the actual writing the ending was so rushed? I understand and appreciate that it wasn't sunshine and roses, but it just felt so incredibly abrupt. There was also a serious case of absent parents, but maybe that was supposed to represent the disconnect between parents and their children.
Anyway, I think this can definitely be an eye opening read especially for people who had positive school experiences. If you can handle the subject matter I'd still suggest giving it a read.
I honestly have no idea what to rate this book. It was extremely draining.
On one hand I 100% understand what it was trying to convey. Bullying is a SERIOUS issue that not enough people take seriously (and yes, sometimes that includes teachers because mine did not care even when I reported my bullying). I feel like Courtney Summers did an excellent job at portraying how cruel high school and its students can be. HOWEVER, I think it relied too heavily on the "not all girls" trope.
I get that a lot of the messages in this book weren't positive, but I think that's the point. We need to remember the darker aspects. Just because we don't want to see it, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Some people's realities are this book and they deserve their stories told. I would have liked to have seen a bit more education though especially in regards of how to properly handle a bullying situation and/or mental illness. Whilst extremely jarring to read I think the sexual abuse was handled respectful although there was one scene that felt like it was a bit done for shock value.
Also in terms of the actual writing the ending was so rushed? I understand and appreciate that it wasn't sunshine and roses, but it just felt so incredibly abrupt. There was also a serious case of absent parents, but maybe that was supposed to represent the disconnect between parents and their children.
Anyway, I think this can definitely be an eye opening read especially for people who had positive school experiences. If you can handle the subject matter I'd still suggest giving it a read.