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sklus's review against another edition
1.0
I did not finish this book. It was too slow and too heavy on cheerleading. The characters were just unrelatable. Maybe it's because I went to an all-girls, Catholic school with minimal drama, but the social status of the cheerleaders as "aloof goddesses unwilling to mingle with the masses" was just unrealistic and confusing. Coach also gives alcohol to underaged girls constantly and no one sees an issue with it. Even her husband is okay with the unhealthy relationships she builds with these girls. I don't DNF lightly, but the confusing writing and the unrealistic characters pushed me over the edge.
archivedgreisi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
feel like more could've been done with the ending - all that build up for an anti-climactic resolution. the characters also feel flat to me because they lack personality. while i appreciate addy being an unreliable narrator, there was a lot i thought was brushed over that would've been more interesting to delve into
lyakimov's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t exactly LOVE this book, but I did really enjoy it. This whole genre is one of my favorite types of books to read.
I enjoyed how the main character is kind of an unreliable narrator, and I thought the way that everything played out was pretty smart writing. The ending did not feel rushed, it felt like a natural end, except there was some loose threads that were still open (I think that was meant to happen so I’m excusing it).
I saw the whole Addy x Beth thing coming from 10000000 miles away. When they were having that conversation at the end of the book, I was like “damn I’m surprised that nothing has come up, this is the end of the book and it feels like something is missing” and then they went STRAIGHT to the reveal of them getting together. I KNEW that it was going to be there, it was so obvious. I knew it was just something that they were hiding the entire book.
I just thought this book was really interesting, and I really was so invested in Addy and Beth’s friendship, as well as the really complicated relationship between all the girls on the cheer squad. It was a really odd dynamic but super interesting to read.
I enjoyed how the main character is kind of an unreliable narrator, and I thought the way that everything played out was pretty smart writing. The ending did not feel rushed, it felt like a natural end, except there was some loose threads that were still open (I think that was meant to happen so I’m excusing it).
I saw the whole Addy x Beth thing coming from 10000000 miles away. When they were having that conversation at the end of the book, I was like “damn I’m surprised that nothing has come up, this is the end of the book and it feels like something is missing” and then they went STRAIGHT to the reveal of them getting together. I KNEW that it was going to be there, it was so obvious. I knew it was just something that they were hiding the entire book.
I just thought this book was really interesting, and I really was so invested in Addy and Beth’s friendship, as well as the really complicated relationship between all the girls on the cheer squad. It was a really odd dynamic but super interesting to read.
alliroo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
amandairene's review against another edition
2.0
This book started off strong, but the writing was so messy and too "try hard" that is became hard to read. If the author had used less confusing analogies, it would have been much better.
caitlinhume's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 . Stereotypical young adult fiction, enjoyable but not super entertaining or enthralling.
meredithgweiss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
The prose at the beginning was some of the best that I’ve read in a long time. It didn’t exactly carry over to the rest of the book but the characters are fascinating (in a way that serial killers are fascinating).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Bullying
Moderate: Physical abuse, Death, Toxic friendship, and Suicide attempt
nico_reads_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shirp's review against another edition
3.0
Read this for the writing, not the story. Abbott has a way of constructing beautiful sentences and giving a glimpse into the existential angst of teen girls (and women, and men), often with a good dose of wry humour, and always with surprising depth. I often stopped to mark a passage to use in my review, but I don't keep post-its by my bedside. So you'll just have to believe me. I didn't care too much for the plot, and some of the protagonist's musings seemed a little too mature for her age, but in any case all of that is just a ruse for the poetry inside. Cheerleader Noir is better than you might expect.
the_antler_queen12's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0