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hollyxbear's review against another edition
3.0
This book was good but it was hard to read. The darkness and sadness really made this a difficult read.
lunababybat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
I think if I read this as a teen, it would have been 5 stars. It's a very heat wrenching story. Almost the epitome of "hurt people hurt people." It's sad, painful, and hard to stomach sometimes. But I am glad for the tiny amount of hope left at the end. I'm also thankful the trule awful scenes weren't graphic. Sometimes, you can convey abuse situations without all the details.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide
shadylane_00's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kalliste's review against another edition
3.0
Wow, I didn't really know what to think coming into this book.
This is the story of Leah and Lainey. Leah was the popular, pretty girl that everyone wanted to be friends with and then one day she chooses plain Lainey to be her best friend forever.
Lainey is so excited to be accepted but finds out there is a price to pay and endures the secret meetings with Leah in the Doll Closet.
I really liked that all of the chapters were lessons for friendship and a situation that Leah and Laine had been in together and whether she (or Leah) had passed the test.
I can't really decide whether I liked Leah or not. I know you're meant to try and see the inside but all I see is Laine's point of view and how Leah taunts her.
Overall this was a better read than I expected and I couldn't put it down in the end.
This is the story of Leah and Lainey. Leah was the popular, pretty girl that everyone wanted to be friends with and then one day she chooses plain Lainey to be her best friend forever.
Lainey is so excited to be accepted but finds out there is a price to pay and endures the secret meetings with Leah in the Doll Closet.
I really liked that all of the chapters were lessons for friendship and a situation that Leah and Laine had been in together and whether she (or Leah) had passed the test.
I can't really decide whether I liked Leah or not. I know you're meant to try and see the inside but all I see is Laine's point of view and how Leah taunts her.
Overall this was a better read than I expected and I couldn't put it down in the end.
4saradouglas's review against another edition
4.0
This is a surprisingly quick and easy read considering the topic. Knowles knows how to keep the interest going nonstop throughout the book, even after Leah moves to a different school. We find out near the end of the book that Leah was sexually abused which is why she "did the same" to her friend, the main character Laine. Very interesting book about pain, anger, and guilt. It's rare to find a book about a girl physically abusing another girl, especially a friend.
aliciasirois's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! I was really surprised with how honest the author was about a topic that is not talked about as in-depth and in the way it was discussed in this book!
ajay913's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Bullying, Suicide, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
Minor: Physical abuse, Outing, and Self harm
jaide_monroe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
Heavy. So, so, so, so, so heavy.
Leah and Lainey are childhood best friends. Leah takes Lainey into a closet and they “practice” playing husband and wife. It’s only normal, right?
Eventually, the girls drift apart from each other, only occasionally crashing together in different stages of childhood, until one day, the momentum builds up too high and leaves Leah dead (not a spoiler, I promise).
You know what happens in this book, you know the bad ending, and yet you keep reading until the devastating climax. Both girls are left irreparably damaged by both the direct and indirect actions of a predator. And you can’t help but wonder how the girls would’ve ended up if the adults who knew stepped up and protected them.
Leah and Lainey are childhood best friends. Leah takes Lainey into a closet and they “practice” playing husband and wife. It’s only normal, right?
Eventually, the girls drift apart from each other, only occasionally crashing together in different stages of childhood, until one day, the momentum builds up too high and leaves Leah dead (not a spoiler, I promise).
You know what happens in this book, you know the bad ending, and yet you keep reading until the devastating climax. Both girls are left irreparably damaged by both the direct and indirect actions of a predator. And you can’t help but wonder how the girls would’ve ended up if the adults who knew stepped up and protected them.
mischief_in_the_library's review against another edition
4.0
Two good things about this book: the characters were very realistic, and mostly, I thought, fleshed out and 3D. And the plot and outcomes were realistic while simultaneously not being overly depressing. Despite he content, I never felt that fog of depression hanging over me like I've had with books in the past.
I particularly liked the idea of lessons. Definitely a good read.
I particularly liked the idea of lessons. Definitely a good read.