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dreamer626's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wanted to punch many characters in this book. Please Please check the trigger warnings before you start!
Graphic: Bullying, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
bookishlittlebird's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
organizedxchaos's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Violence, Vomit, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Fire/Fire injury
alaris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I did enjoy it, it's a decent first book, but it's oddly hollow. I might read more from this author but probably not anything else featuring teen characters.
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death of parent
kfajack27's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
sahoek's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Mental illness and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Ableism, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
grunkle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Eating disorder and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Ableism and Adult/minor relationship
allie_treacherousreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Bullying and Death
reading_under_covers's review
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Wow, this book was fucked up! We are given two rotating perspectives (third person POV of Hannah - flashbacks & present-day first-person POV of Dawn Foster). Hannah endured bullying because of her weight when she tried out for the cheerleading squad by Ella, Naomi, and Lucy - a popular girls' clique reminiscent of Mean Girls. Dawn transfers schools in her senior year of high school, and ends up living with her Aunt Maddy, then running into Ella, Naomi, and Lucy too. She makes a new friend Raquel, who is autistic and also bullied by the three popular girls.
The day after a party at Ella's house, Ella is found dead by her boyfriend, and then Dawn is immediately a suspect as the "new girl". Dawn and Raquel begin their own investigation to see who had a motive to kill Ella, and the friend group's secrets begin to unravel.
I feel uncomfortable that this, like many other psychological thrillers, posit mental illness as this evil, uncontrollable, villainous part of you? Was I a bit surprised at the twists? Sure, absolutely, and I recognize it made for an enticing story. I just wonder if the mental health representation (beyond the autistic rep) could have been navigated a bit differently.
Overall, I think Cindy RX He knows how to write a compelling, engaging story, and I will read more of Cindy's work in the future. I read this in one sitting, so it definitely kept me at the edge of my seat and I was absolutely entertained, but I still am a bit exhausted by this trope of "the bad guy was mentally ill!" that is often used in this genre.
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Suicide attempt