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mybestfriendsarefictional's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Clueless meets Mean Girls meets a really bad trip, I could not put this down. Compulsive, claustrophobic, compelling and downright bizarre. I loved it.
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal death, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Drug use, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Gore, Confinement, Classism, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault
natyourusual_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body shaming, Torture, Confinement, and Death
Minor: Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, Vomit, and Misogyny
stomachpains's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Kidnapping, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Body horror, Gore, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
kijatai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really liked the narrator, Sophie Amoss. I felt like I was in the head of the main character when she was narrating and I could easily picture all the different characters by the voices she used. Her voice is also soothing.
As for the story itself, I loved it. What I actually enjoyed about it was the psychology of the main character and the depiction of creative block and the depression that can be linked to it. I’m an artist and I could relate to some things she said. How we can feel like an impostor sometimes and feel blocked or not good enough and then craving a connection to others to get out of our self-made isolation but also not wanting to.
I liked how all Sam’s emotions : fear, uncertainty, desires… were represented. Without spoiling anything, I interpreted the rituals depicted (please check content warnings) in the book more as a representation of creativity and desire. And I thought it was really interesting.
It has strong dark academia vibes. Which I’m a sucker for. I like also exploring the mentality and struggles behind cults and this book definitely and intimately explores that. It has mean girl vibes and it was nice to see how the author explores the meaning of sisterhood, girlhood, love and desires.
The relationship between Ava and Sam was what kept me hooked. I hoped for more to be honest but I won’t spoil too much. I guess that their relationship is… complex.
I’m definitely gonna get a physical copy, re-read it and annotate the hell out of it.
Graphic: Blood, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Gore, Mental illness, Cursing, Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Alcohol, Classism, Confinement, Death, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Bullying, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
izypup's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Kidnapping, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Grief, Violence, Misogyny, Stalking, Drug use, Cursing, Alcohol, Murder, Blood, Body horror, and Gore
Minor: Animal death, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Vomit, Classism, Confinement, and Car accident
lyssylyssy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Body horror, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, and Confinement
scmiller's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Drug use, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Classism, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Self harm
Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Blood, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Body horror, Self harm, Alcohol, Car accident, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Murder, Abandonment, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Stalking, Torture, and Kidnapping
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Infidelity, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Drug abuse, and Alcohol
jo_lzr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Firstly, there were some quotes and scenes in this book that I really did enjoy, whether they were poetic or completely insane.
Honestly, I could just describe this book as creepy, crazy and sad (and a bit horny).
Also, I enjoyed the author's sarcasm for the pretentiousness of some people in the art world. I think that it was done in a very smart way.
On the other hand, there were some parts in the story where I couldn't understand what was happening, but I understand that this is the author's purpose.
Overall, this was an interesting read hence why I am giving it 3 stars.
Graphic: Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death, Murder, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Classism, Cursing, and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape
lifeonasofa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Violence, Murder, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Gaslighting, Death, Sexual content, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic relationship
justmys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I had to keep reminding myself that it was set in a university and not a high school campus, that the characters were grown adults and not wildly troubled teenagers. Everything just felt a little off, which was mayve intentional but left me unable to click with the story or writing.
But, I'm also conflicted as I listened to the audio book version and found myself having to play it at double speed so as not to fall asleep from boredom with the way it was read. So, I'm unsure if I may have enjoyed the book more had I read a physical copy.
Either way, an interesting book and premise, scary and challenging but not for me.
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Gore, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Classism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Bullying, Confinement, and Cursing