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jupitermond's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This book is terribly written. I'm not referring to the content here, but to the style of it all. With a better editor, this book could have been okay at least. I can't even begin to get upset at the plot, because it's all just so superficial. You can't even begin to start caring about the characters. There is simply not enough to hold onto to either love nor hate them. They've got character traits, sure, but they're not characters. We are being told so much through the narration that could (and should!) have been shown. It's quite impressive that a book can be 400 pages long and have so little to say.
The acknowledgements claim that the author is trying to show a multicultural Britain: she is doing this by having one (1) mixed Black character and one (1) mixed character of Indian descent. Their origins are adressed exactly once each, in a manner so half-hearted that it would have been better if the author hadn't bothered at all. Instead, you are left with glimpses in what could have been interesting stories, but the moment passes within half a page.
The only redeeming feature is that the bare bones are good, which is also the most galling of it all. I had hoped it would end up with something to say, which is the sole reason I finished it, but no.
tl;dr: the author was trying to write Regency Mean Girls without understanding what made Mean Girls good and fun.
The acknowledgements claim that the author is trying to show a multicultural Britain: she is doing this by having one (1) mixed Black character and one (1) mixed character of Indian descent. Their origins are adressed exactly once each, in a manner so half-hearted that it would have been better if the author hadn't bothered at all. Instead, you are left with glimpses in what could have been interesting stories, but the moment passes within half a page.
The only redeeming feature is that the bare bones are good, which is also the most galling of it all. I had hoped it would end up with something to say, which is the sole reason I finished it, but no.
tl;dr: the author was trying to write Regency Mean Girls without understanding what made Mean Girls good and fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death of parent and Rape
Minor: Racism
kyeruhh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
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
4.0
This was not at all what I was expecting but I really enjoyed it nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Racism
rachelagain's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Racism, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Grief
ajahde's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was very slow in the beginning but picked up and became much more interesting about halfway through
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Racism
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-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
3.0
Inspired by Mean Girls, this regency story has all the casual cruelty and grappling for social currency that one would expect. The references are complete with a chapter that begins, "Get in, Georgiana. We're going shopping." Frances Campbell is our Queen Bee, and protagonist Georgiana is eager to become her latest sycophant, wanting an injection of reckless fun into her boring summer. The book showcases characters with a complete disregard for social norms whereas most regency romps only manage tepid or pointed departures from what is socially acceptable. Envision illicit drugs of all types, nude frolicking, and a complete lack of chaperones. The story takes a look at how a certain level of class and money excuses all else. The constraints on the behavior of middle and lower-class persons are mere suggestions for the elite, easy to ignore when the consequences are so ephemeral. This is another way it sets itself apart from historical fiction that emphasizes social pressures on aristocrats.
The story has a quick, biting wit akin to Georgiana's own subversive, barbed remarks. Several funny asides made me laugh aloud. Also, letter banter is the BEST banter, and this one delivers in that category 100%. I was unconvinced of the central romance plot til the correspondence started up halfway through, and then I suddenly found myself on board. It was that high quality.
While reading, my stress level was high, even though I knew all the bad decisions and situations were building up to a lesson to be learned. It comes at a steep price for many characters involved. The emphasis on needing to be cool or seem above everyone else made me cringe, with side helpings of peer pressure and harassment, bullying and exclusionary tactics. Add in quick judgments and nasty put-downs to make oneself feel superior. It offers a deep view of the root causes of the characters' behaviors. For example, our protagonist Georgiana is spinning out in bitter rebellion after being abandoned by cold, distant parents. She seeks affection and belonging at any cost.
There are several content warnings of note for this story: sexual assault on-page and other incidents that occur off-page with physical and psychological harm explored, gaslighting and victim-blaming following claims of assault, racism and slavery, homophobia/lesbophobia, domestic abuse, toxic relationships, a lot of alcohol and other substance abuse, and parental neglect. The author takes a worthy stand on the proper response to assault claims and offers a glimpse into a diverse regency world hampered by prejudice but not whitewashed or offering queer characters as mere sidekicks. It's an interesting book that manages to be difficult to read at some points, uproariously funny at others, sometimes reflective and other times barreling forward. It was a compelling read, and I am curious to see what the author does next.
The story has a quick, biting wit akin to Georgiana's own subversive, barbed remarks. Several funny asides made me laugh aloud. Also, letter banter is the BEST banter, and this one delivers in that category 100%. I was unconvinced of the central romance plot til the correspondence started up halfway through, and then I suddenly found myself on board. It was that high quality.
While reading, my stress level was high, even though I knew all the bad decisions and situations were building up to a lesson to be learned. It comes at a steep price for many characters involved. The emphasis on needing to be cool or seem above everyone else made me cringe, with side helpings of peer pressure and harassment, bullying and exclusionary tactics. Add in quick judgments and nasty put-downs to make oneself feel superior. It offers a deep view of the root causes of the characters' behaviors. For example, our protagonist Georgiana is spinning out in bitter rebellion after being abandoned by cold, distant parents. She seeks affection and belonging at any cost.
There are several content warnings of note for this story: sexual assault on-page and other incidents that occur off-page with physical and psychological harm explored, gaslighting and victim-blaming following claims of assault, racism and slavery, homophobia/lesbophobia, domestic abuse, toxic relationships, a lot of alcohol and other substance abuse, and parental neglect. The author takes a worthy stand on the proper response to assault claims and offers a glimpse into a diverse regency world hampered by prejudice but not whitewashed or offering queer characters as mere sidekicks. It's an interesting book that manages to be difficult to read at some points, uproariously funny at others, sometimes reflective and other times barreling forward. It was a compelling read, and I am curious to see what the author does next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Classism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia
Minor: Colonisation, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Slavery, and Animal cruelty
theinkedpath's review against another edition
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
ES:
Me hubiera gustado que me encantase, pero no ha sido así.
EN:
I feel very disappointed. I was struggling to finish it.
Me hubiera gustado que me encantase, pero no ha sido así.
EN:
I feel very disappointed. I was struggling to finish it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, and Toxic friendship
notwelllread's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
*Update: I haven't stopped thinking about this book since I finished it. When that happens, I take it as a good sign. I'm increasing my rating from a 3.75 to a 4.5. Although I think some aspects of the novel could have been worked on and fleshed out more, I am 100 percent captivated by Lex Croucher's writing.*
Reputation is like a love child between Mean Girls and a Jane Austen novel. Toxic friendships and rebellious youths mirror our own experiences at that age, and answers the question no asked but still happy to receive, how would Mean Girls play out if set in the Regency Era?
With a cast of characters, so deeply nasty and no redeeming qualities, I was sure this book wasn't for me. Normally I love reading morally gray characters (they're my favs!), but either its a testament to Lex Croucher's writing or an unfortunate side effect of it being her very first novel, the mean, petty, and bratty characters were hard to swallow. Its not until the last 100 pages where I felt some relief from the toxicity of Georgianna's "friendships".
Ultimately, it was Lex's writing and those last few pages that saved this book for me. I do wish that Frances and her swath of equally unlikable friends had more of a lesson to learn, still what little that was learned helped bring about a satisfying conclusion to a frustrating, yet delightful read.
Reputation is like a love child between Mean Girls and a Jane Austen novel. Toxic friendships and rebellious youths mirror our own experiences at that age, and answers the question no asked but still happy to receive, how would Mean Girls play out if set in the Regency Era?
With a cast of characters, so deeply nasty and no redeeming qualities, I was sure this book wasn't for me. Normally I love reading morally gray characters (they're my favs!), but either its a testament to Lex Croucher's writing or an unfortunate side effect of it being her very first novel, the mean, petty, and bratty characters were hard to swallow. Its not until the last 100 pages where I felt some relief from the toxicity of Georgianna's "friendships".
Ultimately, it was Lex's writing and those last few pages that saved this book for me. I do wish that Frances and her swath of equally unlikable friends had more of a lesson to learn, still what little that was learned helped bring about a satisfying conclusion to a frustrating, yet delightful read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Drug use, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Racism
tc_booksandmore's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Drug use
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Rape, and Cursing
Minor: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Racism
jmbibliophile's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
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
4.0
Get in Georgiana. We’re going shopping.”
Reputation is the hilarious and dramatic marriage of Jane Austen and Mean Girls. Georgiana Ellers has found herself in a new town, living with her middle-class Aunt and Uncle. At a party, she meets wealthy and mischievous Frances Campbell, and gets her ticket into the elite in-crowd. Enamored with a sense of belonging and importance, Georgina falls into a new scene: full of drinking, drugs, debauchery, and the drama of upper-class society. However, Georgiana soon discovers that she’s in over her head. Is this high society life worth the price?
This book is a wild ride. Georgiana is a quirky, sheltered bookworm who just wants to fit in. She admires the life of Frances and her friends, but she eventually realizes their lives aren’t as glamourous as they seem. Her friends struggle with racism, sexual assault, and having to hide their sexual identities. As a reader, it was obvious that these people were acting out in order to forget their struggles, knowing they could get away with it because of their money and social stature. Georgiana, however, takes time to see that. This is so relatable to me, as someone who wanted to fit in with the “cool kids” at school, so you are willing to do things you know aren’t right. I loved Georgiana’s character growth through this story, along with her hilarious quips. Frances? The perfect mean girl. Oh man, Lex does a great job of putting the reader in a love-hate relationship with this character. Sometimes I wanted to give her a hug, other times I wanted to pull her hair out.
My only complaint about this book, and it’s a big one, is that I strongly believe it was categorized incorrectly. This book is excellent for what it is, but it is absolutely NOT a rom-com. Is there some romance in it? Yes. Is it the main plot of the story? No. I would consider this book to be a historical drama, with romance and comedic elements. Please do not go into this book thinking you’re getting a romantic comedy, because not I only will I think you’ll be disappointed, you’ll also be ill-prepared for the traumatic topics that are explored in this book.
CWs: attempted sexual assault, implied sexual assault, alcohol poisoning, discussion of family loss, drugging, slut-shaming, homophobia, racism, domestic violence
(Note: I was provided an advanced copy of Reputation by the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)
Reputation is the hilarious and dramatic marriage of Jane Austen and Mean Girls. Georgiana Ellers has found herself in a new town, living with her middle-class Aunt and Uncle. At a party, she meets wealthy and mischievous Frances Campbell, and gets her ticket into the elite in-crowd. Enamored with a sense of belonging and importance, Georgina falls into a new scene: full of drinking, drugs, debauchery, and the drama of upper-class society. However, Georgiana soon discovers that she’s in over her head. Is this high society life worth the price?
This book is a wild ride. Georgiana is a quirky, sheltered bookworm who just wants to fit in. She admires the life of Frances and her friends, but she eventually realizes their lives aren’t as glamourous as they seem. Her friends struggle with racism, sexual assault, and having to hide their sexual identities. As a reader, it was obvious that these people were acting out in order to forget their struggles, knowing they could get away with it because of their money and social stature. Georgiana, however, takes time to see that. This is so relatable to me, as someone who wanted to fit in with the “cool kids” at school, so you are willing to do things you know aren’t right. I loved Georgiana’s character growth through this story, along with her hilarious quips. Frances? The perfect mean girl. Oh man, Lex does a great job of putting the reader in a love-hate relationship with this character. Sometimes I wanted to give her a hug, other times I wanted to pull her hair out.
My only complaint about this book, and it’s a big one, is that I strongly believe it was categorized incorrectly. This book is excellent for what it is, but it is absolutely NOT a rom-com. Is there some romance in it? Yes. Is it the main plot of the story? No. I would consider this book to be a historical drama, with romance and comedic elements. Please do not go into this book thinking you’re getting a romantic comedy, because not I only will I think you’ll be disappointed, you’ll also be ill-prepared for the traumatic topics that are explored in this book.
CWs: attempted sexual assault, implied sexual assault, alcohol poisoning, discussion of family loss, drugging, slut-shaming, homophobia, racism, domestic violence
(Note: I was provided an advanced copy of Reputation by the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Drug use, and Alcohol
Moderate: Blood and Homophobia
Minor: Classism, Death, and Death of parent
emily_mh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I had so much fun with this one! It was such a good retelling of Mean Girls, super entertaining, and with writing as witty and concise as Austen’s. I also loved the romance between Georgiana and Thomas! My only issues were that Georgiana’s conflict with her parents and the climax action felt a little undeveloped.
As a side note, I listened to the audiobook read by Bessie Carter, who did an incredible job bringing the story to life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Cursing, Rape, Death, and Child death
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Animal death, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Ableism, Homophobia, Vomit, Sexism, Slavery, Grief, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Body shaming, Blood, Excrement, and Medical content
Loss of a loved one (including brother), sick parent, chronic migraines (in a minor character), toxic parents