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omgbiscoffspread's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, Sexual assault, and Stalking
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
kitandink's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
also, hell of a plot twist
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Gore, Suicide, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Infidelity, Suicide, Biphobia, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, and Grief
Minor: Toxic friendship, Mass/school shootings, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Vomit
newyearsday'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
3.75
Graphic: Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual harassment, Violence, Sexual assault, and Blood
Moderate: Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, Self harm, Rape, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Misogyny
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
aimzthereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Murder, Mental illness, Infidelity, Grief, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Violence, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexism, Gore, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Drug use, and Blood
Moderate: Suicide, Car accident, Biphobia, Death of parent, Body shaming, Bullying, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
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
caregorman's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexism