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puddleshoes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- 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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual violence, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Abortion
courtneyfalling's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
This was really tense and at times emotionally hard to read but it had a beautiful combination of a twisty plot and real, heartwarming character development and found family. Plus pretty solid Own Voices queer and chronic illness rep! The main reason I'm ranking it as 4.5 and not 5 stars is that it pulls the last act "oh no, I can't lose my moral righteousness by killing someone, even for the safety of myself and my loved ones." Which at that point I entirely didn't believe was true of Nora and it felt kind of like a lazy save. It would've been so easy to avoid too with some other reason for Nora not shooting Duane!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Blood, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Abortion, Chronic illness, Bullying, and Misogyny
Minor: Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
junefish's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Gun violence, Death, Murder, Vomit, and Sexual assault
Minor: Abortion, Misogyny, and Body shaming
readundancies's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Welcome to my first 5-star read of 2021!
To start, this story did not begin as expected and I am here for it - we are dropped head first into this plot line like goddamned paratroopers and my what a wind we ride as we descend.
I don't want to reveal too much, but within the first 50 pages give or take we encounter a torrid F/F love affair, a soap opera truth bomb moment, a tenuous and straining relationship with an ex/friend, a dark grifter/con artist backstory, and the haunted undertones of some real twisted evilness hiding at the edge of each unturned page. It only builds from there.
From a writing standpoint, the story doesn’t breathe - it’s very fluid as it builds and it doesn’t give you any time to catch your breath in its delivery, so you suffocate under the expanding feelings crafted in the characters themselves. Nora's delivery is blunt yet vague in the beginning, and with every chapter that progresses we get to see more of the tortured person behind the multiple masks she's worn throughout her life. She’s unequivocally calculating with her internal monologue; she keeps her cards close and her smiles even closer and it is brilliant to watch the story of her past unfold alongside the present. The way the plot furled into itself; we got the slow simmer of a backstory building up in the smoke of the rapidly evolving tire fire that was the hostage situation/bank robbery gone wrong. It was suspenseful and unsettling as it allowed both the present and the past to converge at the climax.
And by the end, we see that this book is really about survival, and all of the dark and damaging aspects of existence that shape how we live our lives and the choices we're forced to make in a crisis.
I genuinely think this is everything I’ve ever wanted in a YA thriller. I managed to force myself to stop last night in finishing off the last third of this novel because I wanted the experience to last as long as possible.
And I can't wait to pick up a copy to add to my personal library, because this is one of those novels that deserves to be re-read over and over again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Abortion
oblivisal's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.0
3.5/5 stars.
TW: Mental illness, murder, abuse, sexual abuse + assault
etc.
I heard good things about this from boston reads over on youtube. Granted they hadn’t finished the book yet but had definitely sold me on it.
Nora; Rebecca, Samantha, Katie, Haley and Ashley.
Nora has had the life that anyone would love to read, to learn and to gossip about, but would never want to live for themselves. Her entire life was five different roller coasters that didn’t come down until the sixth mile mark.
Nora is gay (bisexual), strong, and furious but she is most importantly, herself. Throughout the entire book Nora struggles with who she is, what her identity is and if she’ll ever find who she is destined to be.
Although there are many other things to mention about this book like her mother, Abby, her stepdad Raymond, her girlfriend Iris, her sister Lee and her-ex boyfriend turned best friend Wes, it doesn’t truly need to be mentioned. Why? Because this is a book about a girl that did not have a normal life, a childhood or even an identity. It is about abuse (i.e. physical, mental + sexual abuse) mental illness, conning, murder, mystery and everything that can come with the life of being a con-artist. Of being raises by one and as one.
!!TW!!: I definitely recommend this book but just be wary of all the trigger warnings. Make sure to do your research beforehand. There is no on page sexual abuse, assault or molestation but it can still be triggering.
Is this really just a three in a half star read? I haven’t written a review like this in awhile so that’s gotta say something about the book.
TW: Mental illness, murder, abuse, sexual abuse + assault
etc.
I heard good things about this from boston reads over on youtube. Granted they hadn’t finished the book yet but had definitely sold me on it.
Nora; Rebecca, Samantha, Katie, Haley and Ashley.
Nora has had the life that anyone would love to read, to learn and to gossip about, but would never want to live for themselves. Her entire life was five different roller coasters that didn’t come down until the sixth mile mark.
Nora is gay (bisexual), strong, and furious but she is most importantly, herself. Throughout the entire book Nora struggles with who she is, what her identity is and if she’ll ever find who she is destined to be.
Although there are many other things to mention about this book like her mother, Abby, her stepdad Raymond, her girlfriend Iris, her sister Lee and her-ex boyfriend turned best friend Wes, it doesn’t truly need to be mentioned. Why? Because this is a book about a girl that did not have a normal life, a childhood or even an identity. It is about abuse (i.e. physical, mental + sexual abuse) mental illness, conning, murder, mystery and everything that can come with the life of being a con-artist. Of being raises by one and as one.
!!TW!!: I definitely recommend this book but just be wary of all the trigger warnings. Make sure to do your research beforehand. There is no on page sexual abuse, assault or molestation but it can still be triggering.
Is this really just a three in a half star read? I haven’t written a review like this in awhile so that’s gotta say something about the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Cursing, Child death, Child abuse, and Blood
plumpaperbacks's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
I read Sharpe’s novel Far From You last year and loved it, so I was excited to read her newest release. The Girls I’ve Been is a fast-paced thriller with a sapphic couple front and center. I absolutely loved it. I was intrigued from the very first page, and sped through it because I desperately wanted to know what happened next. I was kept on my toes the entire time I read, and never knew what to expect.
Nora was a complex yet realistic and relatable protagonist. I loved her, Iris, and Wesley. Their friendship was amazing, as was Nora and Iris’ romance. Also, major props to Iris for being so resilient and clever while on her period, because I could never. These two are the most badass girls I’ve seen outside of a fantasy book, hands down. The fact that they’re dating makes it even better. *chefs kiss*
The story features two timelines: one in present day where the three teens end up hostages in an armed bank robbery, and one exploring Nora’s past as she grew up frequently moving and helping her mother with various cons. The former takes place over about twelve hours, with a few chapters at the end of the book detailing what occurred in the following weeks. Both were intriguing, and they were managed well, balanced perfectly. Neither one ever seemed to overpower the other.
I don’t read many thrillers, but Sharpe’s are among the best I’ve read and this one is undoubtedly my favorite. I’ll definitely be reading more from her in the future, and trying other authors as well. My interest in the genre has certainly been renewed.
Representation:
Nora was a complex yet realistic and relatable protagonist. I loved her, Iris, and Wesley. Their friendship was amazing, as was Nora and Iris’ romance. Also, major props to Iris for being so resilient and clever while on her period, because I could never. These two are the most badass girls I’ve seen outside of a fantasy book, hands down. The fact that they’re dating makes it even better. *chefs kiss*
The story features two timelines: one in present day where the three teens end up hostages in an armed bank robbery, and one exploring Nora’s past as she grew up frequently moving and helping her mother with various cons. The former takes place over about twelve hours, with a few chapters at the end of the book detailing what occurred in the following weeks. Both were intriguing, and they were managed well, balanced perfectly. Neither one ever seemed to overpower the other.
I don’t read many thrillers, but Sharpe’s are among the best I’ve read and this one is undoubtedly my favorite. I’ll definitely be reading more from her in the future, and trying other authors as well. My interest in the genre has certainly been renewed.
Representation:
- bisexual protagonist
- sapphic love interest with endometriosis
- sapphic romance (f/f)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Confinement, Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Chronic illness, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Abortion and Car accident
outcrye's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The plot was...okay, for me, there were a few suspenseful moments, but I felt that the strength of the book lay with its characters and relationships, and the underlying plotline kind of took away from that. I suspect that if the overall arc of the stepdad had ended in the past and there was more focus on the current situation and the skills she learned coming to use as her peers gradually saw her with new eyes, I would've found the book more solid.
That arc set up a satisfyingly badass final scene withher abusive mom , though.
The thing I love most about this book is how Nora, the main character, lived so many lives with the intent to fool but still managed to make real, meaningful relationships in the present. None of those connections are perfect, because Nora sure isn't, but throughout the book, I could see how the past shaped her and how her current relationships developed as she did in order to process it.
In my opinion, The Girls I've Been is primarily a story about trauma, recovering from abuse, and letting go of the toxic habits one would get from having experienced said abuse. To see this victim love and be loved in whole, healthy ways despite all that baggage is interesting as well as heartening.
The only specific criticism I have is about Nora's relationship with Wes, her best friend. All of her other relationships felt very fleshed out and real to me, despite her past and present being so vastly different from mine, and probably most readers'. I would include Wes in this too, but to a lesser degree when compared to the other characters.
All throughout, we are told that Wes and Nora love each other deeply (explicitly platonic, despite Wes also being an ex-boyfriend) and this love is rooted in their shared childhood trauma. I don't doubt the existence of this love. But what I can't understand is why they connected in the first place, what caused that initial draw—how was young, reclusive Nora, fresh out of an abusive situation, able to open up to this stranger, thus beginning their lifelong friendship?
In contrast with her other connections (her sister, her mom, her girlfriend), we don't see how they meet nor do we have key scenes in their relationship that wasn'trelated to Wes' abusive father . The effect to me is that I felt told about their closeness and even though I loved that and wanted to believe in it wholeheartedly, it just couldn't sink in as much as the other relationships.
In my opinion, the story placed Wes on the same level as the other key figures in her life but held back for whatever reason... perhaps because, again, there were so many things grappling for the reader's attention.
That arc set up a satisfyingly badass final scene with
The thing I love most about this book is how Nora, the main character, lived so many lives with the intent to fool but still managed to make real, meaningful relationships in the present. None of those connections are perfect, because Nora sure isn't, but throughout the book, I could see how the past shaped her and how her current relationships developed as she did in order to process it.
In my opinion, The Girls I've Been is primarily a story about trauma, recovering from abuse, and letting go of the toxic habits one would get from having experienced said abuse. To see this victim love and be loved in whole, healthy ways despite all that baggage is interesting as well as heartening.
The only specific criticism I have is about Nora's relationship with Wes, her best friend. All of her other relationships felt very fleshed out and real to me, despite her past and present being so vastly different from mine, and probably most readers'. I would include Wes in this too, but to a lesser degree when compared to the other characters.
All throughout, we are told that Wes and Nora love each other deeply (explicitly platonic, despite Wes also being an ex-boyfriend) and this love is rooted in their shared childhood trauma. I don't doubt the existence of this love. But what I can't understand is why they connected in the first place, what caused that initial draw—how was young, reclusive Nora, fresh out of an abusive situation, able to open up to this stranger, thus beginning their lifelong friendship?
In contrast with her other connections (her sister, her mom, her girlfriend), we don't see how they meet nor do we have key scenes in their relationship that wasn't
In my opinion, the story placed Wes on the same level as the other key figures in her life but held back for whatever reason... perhaps because, again, there were so many things grappling for the reader's attention.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Drug use, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit
Minor: Abortion, Cursing, Gore, Murder, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
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