Reviews - Mysterious Skin | The StoryGraph

472 reviews for:

Mysterious Skin

Scott Heim

4.16 AVERAGE

gehnehsis's review

4.25

dark emotional tense medium-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

cowherd60's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

snakecase's review against another edition

2.25

dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

supersilly247's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional sad 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: Complicated

13oclockreads's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

“Mysterious Skin” was a dark and disturbing read, not only because of the graphic subject matter conveyed within the text, but also because of the character’s reactions to the events going on around them. Scott Heim masterfully builds up the plot, particularly when it comes to Brady’s obsession with aliens and Neil’s realization of the full extent of the damage that has been done to him in his youth. Furthermore, the subtlety through which he hints at certain side plots and other events (for example, Avalyn and her scar) adds an extra layer to the text. While some may find the ending to be abrupt, I think it was pretty reminiscent of real life and there’s something to be said that while life goes on around them, Brady and Neil will forever have to reconcile with the shared trauma that happened to them as children.

Content Warnings