474 reviews for:

Mysterious Skin

Scott Heim

4.16 AVERAGE


one of the most difficult reads of my life. wanted to read the book before watching the movie but i honestly don't think i can recommend the book. one of those things that's so disturbing but so well written that you're compelled to finish it. now i will read something much happier
challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A poignant book but unnecessarily graphic 

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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
thelivingdeadgirl's profile picture

thelivingdeadgirl's review

5.0
dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character

It took me a while to finish this book because of how terribly empty and depressed it made me, not to mention memories of my own similar childhood crept up to haunt me in comparison thanks to the book. I think being able to relate to this book affects your reading experience a lot. Heim did an amazing job writing this, so tragically beautiful and realistic, especially the way two victims deal with their trauma in two completely different ways. I’ll never forget this book, nor the feeling it gave me.

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"Why now?" Neil asked. "Why do you need this now? Why did you search me out?"

"I'm tired of it," I said. "I want to dream of something else for a change.


The need to dream of something new, after reckoning with the past is what this book leaves us with. Trauma will always be with us, but it doesn't have to consume us. We can move on, if we deal with the reality of it.

I think I just really love the ending of this novel, for reasons I can't really explain fully.

Ummm has anybody investigated Mr Heim’s basement
dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: N/A
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

If you watched the movie and had curiosity to read this book this is a fair warning that it is just as devastating. But maybe even more so because in the movie (which I haven't watched in a while so take this with a grain of salt) you see a lot of Neil McCormick's POV and all we really see is how aloof he is. He's nonchalant and does everything for his own pleasure. Outside of caring for his Mom and Wendy he's just kind of a jerky teenager. Until his big incident before he goes home for Christmas you don't see the depth of harm that his abuse really played on him. His tricking and the letter from Eric about Brian suddenly bring his memories and recollection of his abuse to a different light. It wasn't love it was him being taken advantage of. 
I feel like in the book you see so much more of Brian Lackey's point of view. I would say his point of view is the most present. And you can feel his confusion, pain, annoyance, and ultimately want for clarity of what happened to him on that night where he found himself in the crawl space with a bloody nose. I just want to give Brian Lackey the biggest hug ever...

I really appreciated seeing such distinct differences in these two as well. And seeing the POV of some of the important people in their lives. 
challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes