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annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Misogyny, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief, Emotional abuse, Biphobia, Gun violence, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Death of parent, Addiction, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Stalking, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Car accident, and Pedophilia
froggydanny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Infidelity, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Blood and Cursing
Minor: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Grief, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse
spacexgay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Sexism, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Death, and Gore
Minor: Child abuse
lara_reads_stuff's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, and Violence
sweetbean's review
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, and Stalking
Minor: Alcohol, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape
jenmaysiereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Now this is how you write a solid “good for her” queer revenge story. Everyone else take some notes!
‘They Never Learn’ is a dark and devious character study about a successful professor who murders abusive men—and I fucking loved it. More than that, the story follows two women at a prestigious university, one student and the other a professor, and how they are united in their desire to bring justice.
Carly and Scarlett’s stories are very distinct from one another but seeing their narratives converge was ultimately very, very satisfying.
This book is so quick to read. The chapters are short and every scene layers on the intrigue in a way that makes it almost irresistible to inhale in one sitting. The prose itself is, while not lush, expertly constructed. Every sentence feels purposeful and meaningful. At no point did the story meander or take any narrative detours or dawdled. Everything in the book is there for a reason and the story delivers on everything it sets up. Making this book one of the most solidly written, edited and structured books I’ve picked up in a long while.
All the characters in this book are fucked up in some way and it makes the story so compelling. Scarlett is a pathological serial killer and yet she is capable of love, of empathy and loyalty. Through the characters, Fargo explores the dichotomy between good and evil. The author provides commentary on how society is perfectly content to excuse men’s immorality—letting men who have sexually abused women get away with it because he is “a promising young man”. However, when women make their own form of vigilante justice, they become monstrous and hateful.
I liked that the author embraced the monstrosity in women like Scarlett and Carly. I liked that they were allowed to revel in that darkness, that violence and still be seen as worthy of love and empathy. This messaging was especially important given that the story centres around queer women whose most profound relationships came from other woman who understand and loved them for their darkness.
All of this made me adore this book, especially coming off the back of the Killing Eve finale in which Eve and Villanelle’s queerness and darkness was deemed abhorrent and something to be exorcised from them by the writers. Getting to read a book that actively pushed against the narrative that women cannot embrace their violence and still be loveable was really important to me.
Layne Fargo is an author I’ll be picking up more from in the future. Scarlett, in particular, is my unhinged fav.
READ. THIS. BOOK.
Graphic: Sexism, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Drug abuse
Minor: Child abuse
jdurney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Death, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Rape and Child abuse
l_will8889's review
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
brittanybx's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Rape, Sexual harassment, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Suicide
readundancies's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
But I did pick it up, and it was totally worth it.
Hands down the best adult thriller I've read this year.
I loved that Scarlett was a seasoned serial killer. It’s a perspective I’ve not yet come across in my brief serial killer fascination and the predatory nature of Scarlett‘s chapters was just perfection. It was so fluid and natural and creepy and I was here for it. There was also something incredibly human about Scarlett and her serial killer tendencies that we get the pleasure of reading about, and it was beautiful.
When I got to the plot twist within the first half of the novel, I had a literal jaw drop moment. I didn’t see it coming, and I *LOVE* that so much. Fargo got me good.
I will say that the main reason I couldn't give this anymore than 4.25 stars was because the second half of the story is a lot more romanticized than the first with respect to Scarlett's perspective. I would’ve preferred less romance to be honest, or even none at all, because the story lost its punch once the romance became a focus.
But it was still a wild ride, and I really enjoyed it, so I'll definitely be checking out Fargo's future work, and their previous novel, Temper.
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Blood