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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
Read this one in book form. Kept getting suspicious of various characters, only to know there wasn't a specific thing to be suspicious about with them ..... Overall definitely a page turner, and a hopeful book. Not as twisty as I expected, I guess.
While I liked this story...I really didn't like the main character. And the events in the book make you feel guilty about that as you learn more about her history. But I still didn't like her. I think if she there were a few more likable moments, I could have given the book 4 stars.
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Trigger warnings for mentions and depictions of sexual assault, drug use, slurs
I loved this book, I really did. I thought the quality of the writing itself was extraordinary, even though I spent most of the book hating the narrator (though not her former, high school self). I don't think the comparison to Gone Girl is an appropriate one, and I think it sets up the wrong expectations for this book. TifAni FaNelli is no Amy Dunne, but she is an expertly drawn character in her own right, despite her stupid name.
I knocked off a star for two reasons: the near-constant invocation of chichi brand names got to be too much for me, as well as how important being thin and rich and pretty was (though she had good reason to value these superficial things); and the second, and more important reason, is that I often found the writing to be inadvertently opaque. Like the writer glosses over these big moments, and I never understood why. I found myself having to go back to re-read paragraphs to make sure I didn't miss anything -- and I hadn't. It was just written that way. On the whole, the writing was gorgeous, but these blips in transparency were frustrating.
All in all, I say: Read this book.
I knocked off a star for two reasons: the near-constant invocation of chichi brand names got to be too much for me, as well as how important being thin and rich and pretty was (though she had good reason to value these superficial things); and the second, and more important reason, is that I often found the writing to be inadvertently opaque. Like the writer glosses over these big moments, and I never understood why. I found myself having to go back to re-read paragraphs to make sure I didn't miss anything -- and I hadn't. It was just written that way. On the whole, the writing was gorgeous, but these blips in transparency were frustrating.
All in all, I say: Read this book.
3.5 stars. Perfect beach read. Smutty, but I couldn't put it down. Writing was better than expected.
The book was a page turner because of all the horrible things that kept unfolding, but the ending left me a bit underwhelmed and wanting a bit more.
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
This story was gripping from start to finish. The twists caught me off guard in the best way, and the tension never let up. The themes were heavy but handled with just the right intensity;it never felt overdone, but it didn’t hold back either. Trigger warnings apply: the book dealt with assault, bullying, eating disorders, and gun violence. The ending gave me goosebumps, and overall, I really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Rape, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Gaslighting
Minor: Suicide, Abortion