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cait_henry56's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.75
This book is like the feminine Fight Club, which I mean as both a compliment and an insult. It reminds me of a line from Lucy Corin that paraphrased claimed that men explode outward to kill others while women explode inward, killing themselves. The book is full of angst, transporting the reader back to being 15 and hating everything about yourself and the world around you. This was so close to a five star read for me, but the book meandered for too long between time jumps and slathering page after page with vague foreshadowing. It also doesn't have much warmth or hearth, but them again, what tale of feminine rage does?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Bullying, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent
Multiple adult/minor relationships.archiveofrasa's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really like this sort of vignette-style writing, though I'm not sure why. I've chosen this style for one of my own works so I guess it really appeals to me lol
the writing was really nice, someone described it as an elegant tragedy which I fully agree on. I don't think it was necessarily purple prose because everything had a reason to be in the story, even if I personally couldn't understand them. the way the narrator, Olivia, spoke about things and weaves her own beliefs and discoveries into their own little vignette said a lot about her as a character. however, I feel like there was a barrier preventing me from truly connecting with her, but considering the way she was written, I feel like that was maybe intentional.
her relationship with Serena really drew me in. once she was properly introduced was when I started properly reading, even though I will say that I didn't like her much (she sure was interesting. Temple tells and follows it up with a lot of shows which I really appreciate). Janet and Laurel were also really interesting and I wish we got to know a little more about them, but again I think the distance was the point.
I don't know how to feel about the vignettes about her parents; I loved them and how they were fed into the narrative but I also didn't enjoy them. they made me feel quite heavy, but considering her parents are literally divorced and arguably abusive, yeah. a lot of people also said this sort of queerbaited a bit and I do see the bisexual undertones of Olivia (hey hi I'm bi) but to me, it came off as that uncertainty girls have in relation to other girls when they're fully acknowledging the possibility of being attracted to them (while not necessarily sure that they are) if that makes any fucking sense lmao
I did in fact change the rating, I like this more now that I've sat on it. still will reread this when I'm older.
the writing was really nice, someone described it as an elegant tragedy which I fully agree on. I don't think it was necessarily purple prose because everything had a reason to be in the story, even if I personally couldn't understand them. the way the narrator, Olivia, spoke about things and weaves her own beliefs and discoveries into their own little vignette said a lot about her as a character. however, I feel like there was a barrier preventing me from truly connecting with her, but considering the way she was written, I feel like that was maybe intentional.
her relationship with Serena really drew me in. once she was properly introduced was when I started properly reading, even though I will say that I didn't like her much (she sure was interesting. Temple tells and follows it up with a lot of shows which I really appreciate). Janet and Laurel were also really interesting and I wish we got to know a little more about them, but again I think the distance was the point.
I don't know how to feel about the vignettes about her parents; I loved them and how they were fed into the narrative but I also didn't enjoy them. they made me feel quite heavy, but considering her parents are literally divorced and arguably abusive, yeah. a lot of people also said this sort of queerbaited a bit and I do see the bisexual undertones of Olivia (hey hi I'm bi) but to me, it came off as that uncertainty girls have in relation to other girls when they're fully acknowledging the possibility of being attracted to them (while not necessarily sure that they are) if that makes any fucking sense lmao
I did in fact change the rating, I like this more now that I've sat on it. still will reread this when I'm older.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicide
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Panic attacks/disorders
a bit of fatphobia unsanitary actscaslovestea's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual content, Addiction, and Death
Minor: Alcoholism
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