Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

Girlhood by Melissa Febos

8 reviews

mckennamarsh06's review

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

A book that starts out slow and depressing, until it suddenly builds to rich, incredibly articulate writing. Febos mines the depths of despair for rich insights into femininity and life as a whole. If you’re brave enough to stick through the darkness, it’s well worth it. Her essays detail everything from her relationship to her mother to her childhood, to the development of her writing career and an exploration of her relationship to her self worth. Febos redefines not only what it means to be “slut,” but what it means to be a woman, and a free one at that 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking

Moderate: Drug use, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, and Body shaming

snowiceblackfruit77's review

challenging emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, Stalking, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Addiction, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Eating disorder, and Self harm

eed8's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Drug abuse, Stalking, Drug use, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Sexism

savvylit's review

emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

"These, once again, were events - not assaults, not victimizations, but not what I would call healthy sexual experimentation. That is, experiences that separated rather than integrated. I want to say that they were not 'normal' experiences, but, unfortunately, I think that one of the reasons we have no language to distinguish them is that such experiences are quite normal."

In Girlhood, Febos articulates the physical and emotional tolls of developing womanhood. The discomfort of getting used to the male gaze, the double standards of heterosexuality, the pressure to be polite and accommodating, the inherent fear of male violence, the purity myth, unenthusiastic consent, and so much more.

While many of the subjects discussed in Girlhood aren't necessarily groundbreaking by themselves, it's the way that Febos approaches them that is so unique and insightful. Febos blends personal anecdotes with experiences from other women and with analyses of cultural touchstones. For instance, in her essay about what it means to be defined as a 'slut', Febos analyzes the implications of the film Easy A.

Febos gives an eloquent voice to the hurt caused by pervasive & nebulous forms of sexual harassment, manipulation, and empty consent. Reading these essays felt like discovering a gift that I have always wanted - always needed - to read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Bullying, Body shaming, Addiction, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

anniefwrites's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Wow. You know a book is good when you want to go back and reread it right away. Melissa Febos's essay collection attributes microscopic attention to her past and finds common threads that weave together internalized misogyny, lack of agency, and stifled exploration of identity and sexuality. She has such a distinct voice and uses such inventive imagery to welcome the reader into her exhibition of vulnerability. For lack of a better word, this book is full of truth-bombs. I highlighted so much, and it's making me reflect on my own experiences as a girl growing up in a patriarchal society. An excellent read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Eating disorder

selincck's review

emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Sexism

cindymarieo's review

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

clarabooksit's review

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

These essays pack a punch: some are difficult to read, some are hopeful, and all are thoughtful and thought-provoking. (Definitely heed the content warnings and let me know if you’d like further info on them.)

Febos’ writing is vulnerable and engaging. She has a gift for making a personal story a shared experience with the reader—it’s not just words on paper but an invitation to understanding. I particularly loved her discussions around consent, which made me reshape my thinking on the subject. Likewise, what she has to say about feeling unsafe in all sorts of circumstances really resonated with me.

Overall, this book made me feel seen, I loved it, and you should read it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Stalking

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts