Reviews with content warning for Transphobia - Tell Me I'm Worthless

This book was a lot to get through at times and definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.

It has a lot that it wants to say about the relationship between transphobia (specifically TERFs) and fascism, and especially how fascism can weaponise trauma to make even those hurt by it unwilling participants in spreading hate. It is very unsubtle about what it’s wanting to say through the story and the characters, but it at least seems self-aware of how blunt it is. But it could feel over-the-top and preachy at times.

I love the way the haunted house was as much a character in the story as the other two (human) main characters. The plot is very slow but the main characters’ internal monologues made it seem less slow/boring than it otherwise would have. The author did a really good job of portraying a sense of madness and losing grip on reality that made you question what is really going on. The ending was not as satisfying as I would have hoped, but overall I did like it.

Content Warnings

arkwen452's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

A few things that jump out to me when it comes to Tell Me I'm Worthless is the way the author spins the narrative bouncing from multiple points of view.

I find that the third person, multiple points of view essentially make it a little bit more confusing when going between, ila, Alice, Hannah and Jacob and even the House's point of view. I also need to say that Tell Me I'm Worthless is a very dark book and that readers should be prepared for all of the graphic details and metaphors and analogies that happened in the book.

There are a lots triggering elements/moments in the book but the main ones they should be aware of transphobia, sexual assault, harassment, racism, systemic racism, prejudices, misogyny, and the crooked, political and justice system. The author has a lot of nods to elements in the global society prejudices, but mainly focused on the elements that take place in London/England society.

I have read material from British authors before so I could follow along, but there were a few bits that were confusing. I also found that Tell Me I'm Worthless core was about the affects of society's toxic attitudes not only became one with the inhabitants of the house but also the house itself.

At times, I found I was being led by a backwards/forwards narrative due to a lot of double meanings present in the book.

With all of that said, strong themes when it came to the characters I got from Tell Me I'm Worthless was centered on identity, belonging, conformity, and self loathing. And the house of the story was this surcharged vessel that attracts the darker sides of people, seemed to encourage and enhance the evil in people's hearts.

There was a lot to deconstruct from this book and there were parts I just couldn't understand. I find that this may have been a good book for a book club discussion rather than a solo read, but that's my opinion.

Content Warnings

elizabethtrue's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

More...