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kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is one of the most unhinged novels I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading! I didn’t know going into it what it was going to be about but by the second chapter I was hooked. The narrator is extremely unreliable and actually quite possibly a lunatic. The plot is mind-boggling. The chapters are long and I hate that, but all in all, this is a fantastic read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Classism, Rape, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Infertility, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual assault
steepedpages's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- 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
1.5
This was a disappointment. I was hoping for something edgier, more intense or creepy, but the stakes never felt raised. The protagonist is incredibly unlikable, but doesn't seem to realize how awful she is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Stalking, and Infertility
Moderate: Sexual content
etovey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I wanted this to end differently. It felt very lackluster for such a great story. Maybe I am just used to mysteries and thrillers that have major twists, but this left me wanting something different at the end. Up until the last chapter I would have given it much better ratings. The last chapter was a bummer to me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking, Rape, and Infertility
goatsrsexy's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What a terrifying story. And having read Yellowface last month, it seems this is my summer of books about narcissistic authors.
I went into this book mostly blind, I had it on hold at the library but I keep things on hold for a really long time so who knows when I added it. The whole time I was reading I just felt this sense of dread, I was so so uncomfortable.
Some parts of it, especially the climax, felt a little bit rushed and unrealistic, but I did really enjoy the experience. I like seeing an unlikeable protagonist that is still a deep character with explanations for her actions, and this was done very well.
There's a fair amount of trauma dumping and descriptions of SA and grooming.
I went into this book mostly blind, I had it on hold at the library but I keep things on hold for a really long time so who knows when I added it. The whole time I was reading I just felt this sense of dread, I was so so uncomfortable.
Some parts of it, especially the climax, felt a little bit rushed and unrealistic, but I did really enjoy the experience. I like seeing an unlikeable protagonist that is still a deep character with explanations for her actions, and this was done very well.
There's a fair amount of trauma dumping and descriptions of SA and grooming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
elisabethmitchell's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, and Rape
greatlibraryofalexandra's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Unhiiiiiiiinnnnnged.
This book was great. Like a psychological, cerebral, millennial 'Misery.' A meditative "Ingrid Goes West" that had a condemning and satisfying ending (whereas that movie was terrible). I was absorbed in this book even when I was horrified. I understood where this was going to go on page 127 of the book, but it did not deter my enjoyment - and I was even sure I was wrong for a while. I loved the way it played with the perception of self that warps us, as children of the millennia half-obsessed with social media, and how it walked this clever line of being clearly unstable...but also almost convincing you it was a little justifiable, because Caleb...well, he was lying!
It also had a subtle way of accepting its unoriginality by facing it, relying on the repeated theme of "yes, but there are lots of books that focus on women stalking other women" - a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement of stories recycled, and twisted into something unique, and successful because we all keep going back to the same old thing, and the same old lesson learned. This was just really grody and fun to read and fun to live vicariously through. Am I ever going to behave like this? No, it's psychotic. Do I sometimes want to? Hmm.
There's a voyeur in all of us and Caitlin Barasch is calling us out.
TW: There's a rape scene in this book, but (oddly) I think it's...important. It explicitly discusses the difference between a bodily reaction and a verbal reaction, and the representation of the FMC's mental state over the incident while it is happening is done very very well done.
This book was great. Like a psychological, cerebral, millennial 'Misery.' A meditative "Ingrid Goes West" that had a condemning and satisfying ending (whereas that movie was terrible). I was absorbed in this book even when I was horrified. I understood where this was going to go on page 127 of the book, but it did not deter my enjoyment - and I was even sure I was wrong for a while. I loved the way it played with the perception of self that warps us, as children of the millennia half-obsessed with social media, and how it walked this clever line of being clearly unstable...but also almost convincing you it was a little justifiable, because Caleb...well, he was lying!
It also had a subtle way of accepting its unoriginality by facing it, relying on the repeated theme of "yes, but there are lots of books that focus on women stalking other women" - a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement of stories recycled, and twisted into something unique, and successful because we all keep going back to the same old thing, and the same old lesson learned. This was just really grody and fun to read and fun to live vicariously through. Am I ever going to behave like this? No, it's psychotic. Do I sometimes want to? Hmm.
There's a voyeur in all of us and Caitlin Barasch is calling us out.
TW: There's a rape scene in this book, but (oddly) I think it's...important. It explicitly discusses the difference between a bodily reaction and a verbal reaction, and the representation of the FMC's mental state over the incident while it is happening is done very very well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
thelastjaz's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Infertility, and Sexual assault
jessmarie945's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Toxic friendship, Cancer, Infertility, and Rape
lindsayerin's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Medical trauma
paulineerika's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book was described as "wry and bold," but unfortunately, I didn't really find it to be either. The novel seems undecided about whether it's a more lighthearted reflection on a (privileged) woman's insecurities or a darker look at obsession. I found myself wishing the author had picked one of those and leaned into it--it would have made for a far more interesting book. As it was, Naomi is deeply annoying and frustrating. Her best moments are when she's self-aware and talks about her flaws, but those are few and far between. There's also brief mentions of the trauma she's suffered in her past, which are then largely ignored in favor of her constant internal whining about her relationship with Caleb. The book ends up being too long and too drawn-out, to the point where I was reading just to finish it, without really caring about what happened. Rosemary's revenge twist at the end was quite good, but then the ending becomes a little cliche and wishy-washy. Either Naomi is a cold, ruthless writer or she's suddenly changed and become a better person. Much like the book, I wish there had been a clearer resolution.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape