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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Comparing this book to the writing of Gillian Flynn is just plain wrong. There was some intrigue for me on the description of the book. But it simply doesn't deliver. I was expecting more of a thriller/suspense book, and this was just blah.
When I first read this book, I was angry at the end. I wanted Dean to suffer (beyond his physical injuries). I thought his apology was disgustingly self-serving. He only wanted to apologize for falsely accusing Ani in the shooting, something his “fans” would understand. But of course he wasn’t going to apologize for the real pain he caused in gang-raping Ani. Knowing they had his audio admission and would be able to use it against him was good, but I really wanted to witness the take-down. I was so mad that I didn’t get to see him pay for what he did. But if we’re being realistic, an admission of guilt is far more than most sexual assault survivors get. Perhaps the author intended for the reader to be angry about the lack of justice at the end. It is, afterall, a more accurate reflection of the way things are. In the movie, Ani tells Dean, “You see, I was a victim too. Just nobody ever treated me like one.” Sadly true for so many. I applaud the author for her courage in writing the book (and the movie screen play). At the time I didn’t know it was based on a similar experience from the author’s own life. Ani isn’t the Luckiest Girl Alive but she is one of the strongest.
This was read because of a recommendation of one of my students. Kept me entertained! I’m looking forward to watching the Netflix movie.
I'm left feeling very unsure about whether or not I liked this book. It was a fairly easy, quick read. I often felt compelled to keep reading since I wanted to know more about all the things lingering in her past. It switched back and forth from present day to the past which helped keep things moving.
However, I found it EXTREMELY hard to like the main character. She was the perfect example of the opposite of everything a stable, happy healthy woman should be...from the way she viewed relationships (her treatment towards other women, her fiance, her family) to herself (little worth, always worried about what everyone else thought of herself, starving herself). It felt toxic reading about this character. A bad influence even I, a confident woman, did not want to surround myself with. For girls with any self-esteem issues I worry what they would take away from this book.
However, I found it EXTREMELY hard to like the main character. She was the perfect example of the opposite of everything a stable, happy healthy woman should be...from the way she viewed relationships (her treatment towards other women, her fiance, her family) to herself (little worth, always worried about what everyone else thought of herself, starving herself). It felt toxic reading about this character. A bad influence even I, a confident woman, did not want to surround myself with. For girls with any self-esteem issues I worry what they would take away from this book.
I wanted a quick "page-turner" for the beach. This was just so bad but since I'd bought it I finished it. Not recommended. It wasn't fun or interesting. The "surprise" was dumb. Every character was flat and horrible.
3.5 — made myself read it before watching the new movie on Netflix