cass_saun's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
that_bitch_logan's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
Fantastic book.
Autistic rep! Bisexual rep! Lesbian rep! Angry girl rep! Obsessed.
Mildly ambiguous ending, which I’m not usually a fan of, but I enjoyed this books ending a lot!
Autistic rep! Bisexual rep! Lesbian rep! Angry girl rep! Obsessed.
Mildly ambiguous ending, which I’m not usually a fan of, but I enjoyed this books ending a lot!
Spoiler
I was so fucking sad about Salem holy shit. I did NOT expect that to happen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
nele_vds's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-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
4.5
brightbelladonna22's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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
3.0
I'm having such conflicting opinions over The Society For Soulless Girls, because:
-as an English lit geek who was more than a little like Alice Wolfe in college, it checks every single one of my boxes
-female rage is SUCH a huge topic right now and the way that Laura Steven wove it into every fiber of the book, including our Jekyll and Hyde twist, is brilliant
-the setting is gorgeously done and evocative. Absolutely remarkable dark academia and one of the finest that I've read in the genre
-did I mention the Jekyll and Hyde twist is brilliant? It's brilliant
-the secret society that gives the book its name is incredible, and I love how layered it is (spoiler: there are actually two societies and they're BOTH more than meets the eye). Honestly, the twists and turns and parallels in this book are stunning and should have had me gasping out loud while I was reading it
BUT...
-I really struggled to connect with the writing, particularly Lottie's voice. There were many times that I put the book down and was reluctant to pick it back up, which is a shame because, thematically, it has a lot going for it. I think it's because Lottie and Alice blended into each other a lot, except for when Lottie was annoyingly sunshiney
-The romance felt very, very rushed at the end. I did get hints of sapphic desire throughout, but I didn't really root for either of them together. I actually liked Hafsah, an autistic side character (love the rep! Would read an entire Hafsah-centered story) with Alice better?
However, I think I was definitely a victim of my own expectations (and age!). I feel like if I'd read this in my angsty teenage years, I would have DEVOURED it, and so I do think it's really worthwhile. And, aso: I know I shouldn't judge a book by its cover but...look at it!! Both versions--the dark navy butterflies on one my Goodreads page and the girl holding a burgundy book on my NetGalley version--are literally stunning. Even though I didn't love it like I wanted to, I think many people will and I want to see that cover everywhere.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Delacorte, and Laura Steven for providing me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
-as an English lit geek who was more than a little like Alice Wolfe in college, it checks every single one of my boxes
-female rage is SUCH a huge topic right now and the way that Laura Steven wove it into every fiber of the book, including our Jekyll and Hyde twist, is brilliant
-the setting is gorgeously done and evocative. Absolutely remarkable dark academia and one of the finest that I've read in the genre
-did I mention the Jekyll and Hyde twist is brilliant? It's brilliant
-the secret society that gives the book its name is incredible, and I love how layered it is (spoiler: there are actually two societies and they're BOTH more than meets the eye). Honestly, the twists and turns and parallels in this book are stunning and should have had me gasping out loud while I was reading it
BUT...
-I really struggled to connect with the writing, particularly Lottie's voice. There were many times that I put the book down and was reluctant to pick it back up, which is a shame because, thematically, it has a lot going for it. I think it's because Lottie and Alice blended into each other a lot, except for when Lottie was annoyingly sunshiney
-The romance felt very, very rushed at the end. I did get hints of sapphic desire throughout, but I didn't really root for either of them together. I actually liked Hafsah, an autistic side character (love the rep! Would read an entire Hafsah-centered story) with Alice better?
However, I think I was definitely a victim of my own expectations (and age!). I feel like if I'd read this in my angsty teenage years, I would have DEVOURED it, and so I do think it's really worthwhile. And, aso: I know I shouldn't judge a book by its cover but...look at it!! Both versions--the dark navy butterflies on one my Goodreads page and the girl holding a burgundy book on my NetGalley version--are literally stunning. Even though I didn't love it like I wanted to, I think many people will and I want to see that cover everywhere.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Delacorte, and Laura Steven for providing me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
ainsleym's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a good time!!! It isn’t the most tightly plotted story and the characters don’t really feel like they had lives before going to this school but I still enjoyed following them. I wish there had been fewer plot elements so that the story could go deeper into those instead of doing a lot of things on a more basic level. This also isn’t really a Jekyll and Hyde retelling so much as it uses some elements and themes from that story. I still had a great time reading this and there’s even a lighthouse (that only shows up in one chapter and isn’t scary, but it’s still a lighthouse so I’m happy).
dezthereader's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
lisashelves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Animal death
bibliovino's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-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
A sapphic romance with teeth!
Dark and mesmerizing, this story of female anger and empowerment will have you laughing, crying and railing against the oppressor. I can’t get over how powerful it is and how beautifully it is told.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.
Dark and mesmerizing, this story of female anger and empowerment will have you laughing, crying and railing against the oppressor. I can’t get over how powerful it is and how beautifully it is told.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.
beatriz_pinto's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is a simple, quick read. The characters are quirky, the story interesting and the way everything develops very accessible.
madiswanreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0