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delinxw's review against another edition
reflective
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
2.5
Disappointing. The ending was dissappointing and I didn’t get the closure on the story I longed for. Maybe because it’s just not my type of writing style, but it feels like I’ve read these 300 pages to end up with 6 unfinished stories or so. It took me over a month to finish it, because I just couldn’t get through it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual content
Moderate: Classism, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, and Misogyny
morepeachyogurt's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
this book was really sweet! i think the author did a fairly good job at addressing the subject matter but could have been better. i loved all the characters so much!! i wish we got to see more of them though, i feel like a lot of personal issues from each character deserved more care and nuance. a lot of topics really weren’t elaborated on and the different characters didn’t all combine at the end like i would have wanted
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual content
jcrawford31's review
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Cursing, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
daralexandria's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
rhanasaurus's review
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Pedophilia
Minor: Sexism, Mental illness, and Racism
emileereadsbooks's review
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Thanks to Goodreads and St. Martins Press for this title I won in a giveaway.
This debut novel walks through a school year at an all girl's boarding school that starts off with a reminder of a sexual abuse scandal that happened there 25 years before. Each of the 9 chapters are perspectives from 9 different students at the school, and after the first few it felt like a lot of storylines to hold and keep track of. Not to mention all the characters and how they puzzle together. I felt like this book kept skimming the surface of something powerful and interesting, but then we would move to the next girl's POV and I was left wanting more of certain storylines.
This debut novel walks through a school year at an all girl's boarding school that starts off with a reminder of a sexual abuse scandal that happened there 25 years before. Each of the 9 chapters are perspectives from 9 different students at the school, and after the first few it felt like a lot of storylines to hold and keep track of. Not to mention all the characters and how they puzzle together. I felt like this book kept skimming the surface of something powerful and interesting, but then we would move to the next girl's POV and I was left wanting more of certain storylines.
This book also does something that is a bookish pet peeve of mine, it plays with time in a way that takes away from the plot. It would say for instance: in 30 years she would reflect and then she would understand why this impacted her so deeply. I feel like that is a cop out and a disservice to exploring the feelings of the character in the moment.
This book has been spoken of some as a mystery, and I would say if that's what you are coming to this book looking for, you will be disappointed. I think this book is a mystery in the way every book is a mystery, because you are waiting to find out where the plot goes. This should only be classified as a YA coming of age story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, and Mental illness
katie_ponderingthepages's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Set in an all girls boarding school outside of New York the new school term starts but as the girls and their families approach Atwater School they see signs everywhere with an image of the school saying ‘a rapist works here’.
I feel so utterly frustrated by this book, it could easily be amazing but due to too many characters with each chapter voicing another girls point of view the potentially powerful and empowering messages looses their hit. There are signs of the storyline exploring themes of sexual injustice, coming of age, sexual expectations of young women, racism, inequality and mental health difficulties, but due to such a disjointed narrative the book never gets the chance to fully invest in these themes.
I did however like Macy’s storyline. Her anxiety and obsessive behaviours to try and control her anxiety was actually brilliantly written. Just when I became invested in her the storyline flips to another character leaving me wanting more. I continued reading hoping to pick up again with Macy’s story but was left disappointed. I wish the author had focussed on two or three girls to narrate the year at Atwater School, I could have connected more.
I feel so utterly frustrated by this book, it could easily be amazing but due to too many characters with each chapter voicing another girls point of view the potentially powerful and empowering messages looses their hit. There are signs of the storyline exploring themes of sexual injustice, coming of age, sexual expectations of young women, racism, inequality and mental health difficulties, but due to such a disjointed narrative the book never gets the chance to fully invest in these themes.
I did however like Macy’s storyline. Her anxiety and obsessive behaviours to try and control her anxiety was actually brilliantly written. Just when I became invested in her the storyline flips to another character leaving me wanting more. I continued reading hoping to pick up again with Macy’s story but was left disappointed. I wish the author had focussed on two or three girls to narrate the year at Atwater School, I could have connected more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Eating disorder
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