Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Sexual content
I wish I could say, “you have to read this book!” but I can’t. It’s also not one I feel like I have to dissuade you from reading. Personally, I didn’t think it was particularly good or bad; it was just okay.
Picture this: We’re at a prestigious 4-year boarding school in Connecticut. We’re following 9 girls as they start their academic year unlike any other as a rape allegation resurfaces against one of the male teachers and a student that attended the school 20 years earlier.
I appreciate the conversation this tried to have about how women are rarely believed when they speak out about their sexual assault and the lengths schools will go to save their prestigious names, even if it means letting a rapist teach at their schools.
Unfortunately, the way it was written took away from the impact.
In each section of the book, we’re following one of the nine girls, and the way the story was priced together made it feel like I was reading 9 short stories rather than one cohesive story. There were just so many characters in such a short amount of time that I couldn’t find myself really caring for any of them. I even found myself forgetting most of their names as I was reading the book, which makes me wonder if the characters weren’t interesting enough for me to remember. Or maybe I just have a horrible memory.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Picture this: We’re at a prestigious 4-year boarding school in Connecticut. We’re following 9 girls as they start their academic year unlike any other as a rape allegation resurfaces against one of the male teachers and a student that attended the school 20 years earlier.
I appreciate the conversation this tried to have about how women are rarely believed when they speak out about their sexual assault and the lengths schools will go to save their prestigious names, even if it means letting a rapist teach at their schools.
Unfortunately, the way it was written took away from the impact.
In each section of the book, we’re following one of the nine girls, and the way the story was priced together made it feel like I was reading 9 short stories rather than one cohesive story. There were just so many characters in such a short amount of time that I couldn’t find myself really caring for any of them. I even found myself forgetting most of their names as I was reading the book, which makes me wonder if the characters weren’t interesting enough for me to remember. Or maybe I just have a horrible memory.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
All Girls by Emily Layden (Advance Readers’ Edition)
This novel takes place over one school year at an elite all girls’ boarding high school in New England. Allegations of sexual misconduct at the school (which took place years prior) have recently come to light, and that story plays in the background as the students navigate their own friendships and romantic relationships. Each chapter features a different student narrator.
This book was very good, but it falls short of great. It’s well-written and the characters are real and captivating. The main problem is that there are too many of them, and it’s not easy to keep track. I was able to do so by flipping back and forth in the print copy, but it might be pretty difficult to follow over audio.
As soon as I fell in love with a character or became invested in a storyline, we’ve moved on, so I wish we had more time with these characters or revisited them after their initial chapters.
I did really appreciate that we’re seeing everything that’s happening through the eyes of teenagers – any glimpses we get of the grownups are either through conversations with the students or in emails and news articles at the ends of certain chapters. The world created is specific to these young women.
It would be easy to read the back of this book or a plot summary and think this is a thriller or a mystery. It’s absolutely not. There are hints of a mystery, but overall it’s a character study of a diverse group of young women who are coming-of-age and trying to understand their own agency.
I won this copy in a Goodreads giveaway! Thanks Goodreads!
Content Warnings: sexual violence, minimization of sexual violence, self-harm, victim-blaming, skin picking, mental illness, cheating, racial microaggressions, underage drinking and drug use.
This novel takes place over one school year at an elite all girls’ boarding high school in New England. Allegations of sexual misconduct at the school (which took place years prior) have recently come to light, and that story plays in the background as the students navigate their own friendships and romantic relationships. Each chapter features a different student narrator.
This book was very good, but it falls short of great. It’s well-written and the characters are real and captivating. The main problem is that there are too many of them, and it’s not easy to keep track. I was able to do so by flipping back and forth in the print copy, but it might be pretty difficult to follow over audio.
As soon as I fell in love with a character or became invested in a storyline, we’ve moved on, so I wish we had more time with these characters or revisited them after their initial chapters.
I did really appreciate that we’re seeing everything that’s happening through the eyes of teenagers – any glimpses we get of the grownups are either through conversations with the students or in emails and news articles at the ends of certain chapters. The world created is specific to these young women.
It would be easy to read the back of this book or a plot summary and think this is a thriller or a mystery. It’s absolutely not. There are hints of a mystery, but overall it’s a character study of a diverse group of young women who are coming-of-age and trying to understand their own agency.
I won this copy in a Goodreads giveaway! Thanks Goodreads!
Content Warnings: sexual violence, minimization of sexual violence, self-harm, victim-blaming, skin picking, mental illness, cheating, racial microaggressions, underage drinking and drug use.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No