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angel_kiiss's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Compared to her other works, this one starts slow. It lacks the magical realism that usually accompanies Block’s writing, but there is still something captivating about the characters she creates.
It’s such a shocking story in the end, but the life of Catt is so grotesquely relatable that you can’t help but feel sad. I did tear up in the end.
Almost a murder mystery and so very compelling.
It’s such a shocking story in the end, but the life of Catt is so grotesquely relatable that you can’t help but feel sad. I did tear up in the end.
Almost a murder mystery and so very compelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Fatphobia, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual violence, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Violence, Vomit, and Stalking
baxstarjonmarie's review against another edition
5.0
I've read several of Francesca Lia Block's books, but this wasn't exactly what I was expecting. This book was much more horror and much less magic than I am accustomed to with her work, and I will say honestly that I pretty much hated the ending. And yet, I absolutely loved the book.
Like all of Block's novels, the main character was inside my head... or I was inside hers. She was so well-written, so real, I had a hard time putting the book down. (I had to stop reading with only half a chapter left because I was getting carsick trying to devour the ending winding down a mountain road in the backseat, seriously.)
Intriguing, emotional, mysterious, heartwrenching and beautiful, like pretty much everything Block creates. Loved it. Can't wait to read the next book of hers I have queued up on my Kindle!
Like all of Block's novels, the main character was inside my head... or I was inside hers. She was so well-written, so real, I had a hard time putting the book down. (I had to stop reading with only half a chapter left because I was getting carsick trying to devour the ending winding down a mountain road in the backseat, seriously.)
Intriguing, emotional, mysterious, heartwrenching and beautiful, like pretty much everything Block creates. Loved it. Can't wait to read the next book of hers I have queued up on my Kindle!
heypretty52's review
4.0
*3.5 Stars* (rounding up for Block's writing alone)
I'm torn on how to review this. I absolutely adore the first third. As always, Block's writing shines as she introduces us to characters and gives us a tone for the book. But the last third of the book sinks. Why build such a flawed and emotional main character only to rip her to shreds? And the twist/conclusion is clever yet unfulfilling considering where we are in the narrative. I appreciated the artfulness of the erotic scenes, but they contributed little to Catt's development. All in all, I believe Block's gifts lie in many types of stories but perhaps not erotic murder mysteries.
I'm torn on how to review this. I absolutely adore the first third. As always, Block's writing shines as she introduces us to characters and gives us a tone for the book. But the last third of the book sinks. Why build such a flawed and emotional main character only to rip her to shreds? And the twist/conclusion is clever yet unfulfilling considering where we are in the narrative. I appreciated the artfulness of the erotic scenes, but they contributed little to Catt's development. All in all, I believe Block's gifts lie in many types of stories but perhaps not erotic murder mysteries.
weeta's review against another edition
2.0
intolerable characters, weird sex (unfortunately, weird awkward not weird hot), and a thirtysomething recovering alcoholic structuring her entire life around trying to procreate with bodybuilder, peewee baseball coaches, and dude in band. also something about a murder mystery? this book confuses and disappoints me. I'm going to curl up in a ball and re-read weetzie bat.
superdilettante's review
3.0
I'm more worried about FLB's psyche than ever. The main character, Catt comes upon her estranged best friend about to be murdered and dismembered by Catt's ex-husband's brother (a hot guy Catt has already slept with in her attempt to forget her ex, yes), and she screams and throws her phone to save her best friend.
So the hot guy (named Cyan, FLB has so many characters she's running out of names) ties up Catt and injects her with some sort of paralytic drug, and wheels her around in a wheelchair showing off his museum of obscenity that he's installed in a brokedown old motel (the titular location, yes). The last thing he shows her is the freezer full of body parts he's saved in an attempt to create "the perfect woman." And all Catt can think (more than once!) is "I guess I wasn't hot enough for him to want to hack into pieces." Then he takes her heart, because it's the only good part of her. Good thing he didn't take her brain, then his creation would have been ruined.
So ok, if you like the FLB of yesteryear but it didn't have enough cocks and juices for you, maybe you'll like this. But for me....no.
So the hot guy (named Cyan, FLB has so many characters she's running out of names) ties up Catt and injects her with some sort of paralytic drug, and wheels her around in a wheelchair showing off his museum of obscenity that he's installed in a brokedown old motel (the titular location, yes). The last thing he shows her is the freezer full of body parts he's saved in an attempt to create "the perfect woman." And all Catt can think (more than once!) is "I guess I wasn't hot enough for him to want to hack into pieces." Then he takes her heart, because it's the only good part of her. Good thing he didn't take her brain, then his creation would have been ruined.
So ok, if you like the FLB of yesteryear but it didn't have enough cocks and juices for you, maybe you'll like this. But for me....no.
kathyc's review
4.0
One of those books that won't be for everyone, but I couldn't put it down. Full review to come.
geriatricgretch's review
4.0
You know, Francesca Lia Block was one of my favorite authors when I was in middle school and high school. A part of me would like to believe that Weetzie Bat/Dangerous Angels/I Was a Teenage Fairy/Girl Goddess #9 are actually perfect books. But they're probably not. They're probably like this one, which has a really engaging story but needs editing. Lots of editing.
I'm also struggling with whether her characters are actually poorly developed or just unlikeable. The latter would be fine and in the case of this book, it's even kind of the point. But she has many main characters in this book do something for absolutely no reason, even illogical reasons. But then again, I think part of this book is the unreliable narrator and so maybe it's the whole point anyway.
I don't know. I'm having a lot of feelings so I guess I'm changing this from three to four stars. If you haven't read and liked Block before though, I don't know if you're gonna be into this. There *is* a lot of sex though?
I'm also struggling with whether her characters are actually poorly developed or just unlikeable. The latter would be fine and in the case of this book, it's even kind of the point. But she has many main characters in this book do something for absolutely no reason, even illogical reasons. But then again, I think part of this book is the unreliable narrator and so maybe it's the whole point anyway.
I don't know. I'm having a lot of feelings so I guess I'm changing this from three to four stars. If you haven't read and liked Block before though, I don't know if you're gonna be into this. There *is* a lot of sex though?
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