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bubblesparklereader's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Murder, Eating disorder, Self harm, Vomit, Fatphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Bullying
Moderate: Car accident, Violence, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Death of parent, Alcohol, Death, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
probablyjenna's review against another edition
4.0
I think this was a wildly fun book - think Mean Girls meets murder mystery. I was glued to the page, eager to find out what exactly happened and who was guilty. The build up of suspense was excellent.
There is a bug twist toward the end, and while I guessed pieces of it, I was still pretty surprised at how things ended up. I also love how intentional the author was; once the final twist was revealed, I was able to think back to earlier parts of the book and see the thread that was leading up to those ending moments.
There is definitely an interesting conversation to have about mental illness and its portrayal in the book; I don’t want to get into it here so I can avoid spoilers, but would be happy to answer any questions (or discuss it if you’ve read the book.)
For me, this book was a major win. It was entertaining, fast paced, and has an important message about the impact of bullying. Would definitely recommend, especially if you’re trying to get out of a reading slump!
There is a bug twist toward the end, and while I guessed pieces of it, I was still pretty surprised at how things ended up. I also love how intentional the author was; once the final twist was revealed, I was able to think back to earlier parts of the book and see the thread that was leading up to those ending moments.
There is definitely an interesting conversation to have about mental illness and its portrayal in the book; I don’t want to get into it here so I can avoid spoilers, but would be happy to answer any questions (or discuss it if you’ve read the book.)
For me, this book was a major win. It was entertaining, fast paced, and has an important message about the impact of bullying. Would definitely recommend, especially if you’re trying to get out of a reading slump!
jilly_bean_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
palaciod's review
dark
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
mk_reads13's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dreamer626's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- 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
This book was at times hard to read because of the trigger warnings (the author listed them on the first page when you open the book) but so ADDICTING. I was absorbed in trying to find out the mystery surrounding the murder of Ella.
I wanted to punch many characters in this book. Please Please check the trigger warnings before you start!
I wanted to punch many characters in this book. Please Please check the trigger warnings before you start!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Fatphobia, and Eating disorder
amrsalehduat's review
5.0
Perfect Little Monsters is one of those books that manages to be incredibly intriguing even before the reader's eyes fall on the opening line. The title, the cover, and the premise all promise a story that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
Cindy R. X. He's debut, at its core, is a classic whodunit story. A murder occurs, and we are presented with a list of suspects, each with their own motive. This is where Perfect Little Monsters departs from the realm of the familiar and takes the reader on a thrilling journey that becomes more complicated with each page. I was genuinely struggling to predict what would happen next because, after being blindsided by the plot a couple of times—in a good way—I simply had to admit defeat and allow myself to drift with the narrative until I reached the last page. Not many stories can keep me guessing until the very end, so kudos to the author for pulling this off.
One thing I feel like I have to acknowledge is the way Cindy R. X. He tackles heavy and complex topics in this book, such as mental health, self-harm, and bullying. I appreciate how she didn’t shy away from these topics and decided to commit to them, giving them the respect and care they deserve. This also goes hand in hand with how three-dimensional the characters are. I don’t think the portrayal of such heavy topics would’ve been possible, or done justice, if the characters didn’t feel as real as they did.
Overall, Perfect Little Monsters is a wonderful debut by Cindy R. X. He. It’s a tale that will gladly challenge you to outsmart it because it knows that it will keep you guessing.
Cindy R. X. He's debut, at its core, is a classic whodunit story. A murder occurs, and we are presented with a list of suspects, each with their own motive. This is where Perfect Little Monsters departs from the realm of the familiar and takes the reader on a thrilling journey that becomes more complicated with each page. I was genuinely struggling to predict what would happen next because, after being blindsided by the plot a couple of times—in a good way—I simply had to admit defeat and allow myself to drift with the narrative until I reached the last page. Not many stories can keep me guessing until the very end, so kudos to the author for pulling this off.
One thing I feel like I have to acknowledge is the way Cindy R. X. He tackles heavy and complex topics in this book, such as mental health, self-harm, and bullying. I appreciate how she didn’t shy away from these topics and decided to commit to them, giving them the respect and care they deserve. This also goes hand in hand with how three-dimensional the characters are. I don’t think the portrayal of such heavy topics would’ve been possible, or done justice, if the characters didn’t feel as real as they did.
Overall, Perfect Little Monsters is a wonderful debut by Cindy R. X. He. It’s a tale that will gladly challenge you to outsmart it because it knows that it will keep you guessing.
heidikundin's review
4.0
Perfect Little Monsters is a twisty thriller that dives into the dark underworld of high school social hierarchies and the deep, dark secrets of teenagers. The story kicks off with the murder of the "queen bee" and reigning cheer captain, Ella Moore, at her own house party, turning all of the party guests into suspects. Each suspect adds an intriguing layer to the plot, compelling readers to question every character's motive.
Before I get any further, I do want to know that it's important to heed the author's note regarding the trigger warnings. This book tackles some intense themes like bullying, eating disorders, fatphobia, depictions of suicide, depression, and more. While these aspects are necessary to the progression of the plotline, they still pack an emotional punch, especially for empathetic readers like myself. However, while the thematic elements are strong and well done, the dialogue occasionally hits a forced and/or cliché note, and some minor plot inconsistencies can be a bit distracting.
That said, the story had me completely hooked until I hit the 75% mark and figured out the big twist. After that, everything started to quickly unravel for me. The last couple of chapters no longer took you along on a journey, and instead rapid-fired bits of information at the reader just to quickly wrap things up. Ending things on a rushed note was a letdown and it felt a bit disconnected from the rest of the story.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my review.
Before I get any further, I do want to know that it's important to heed the author's note regarding the trigger warnings. This book tackles some intense themes like bullying, eating disorders, fatphobia, depictions of suicide, depression, and more. While these aspects are necessary to the progression of the plotline, they still pack an emotional punch, especially for empathetic readers like myself. However, while the thematic elements are strong and well done, the dialogue occasionally hits a forced and/or cliché note, and some minor plot inconsistencies can be a bit distracting.
That said, the story had me completely hooked until I hit the 75% mark and figured out the big twist. After that, everything started to quickly unravel for me. The last couple of chapters no longer took you along on a journey, and instead rapid-fired bits of information at the reader just to quickly wrap things up. Ending things on a rushed note was a letdown and it felt a bit disconnected from the rest of the story.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my review.