Reviews

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

krippe5's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

issianne's review against another edition

4.0

Man. I finished this book a while ago, and I still can't stop thinking about it. I know it's beloved, but man that beginning took forever. Seriously, I was wondering if the novel would ever start. But then it did, and then I was so intrigued with how this group of kids would get away with killing one of their own. The characters are all so hateable and confusing and shallow/deep that by the end of the book, I cried because I felt like I knew them all. And I felt like I had been in Richard's shoes. I'm still completely unsure about this book, and it would probably take me a reread (which won't be a while because I also felt like it took years off my life) to fully understand how I feel about it. So...good job, Donna Tartt?

ebarrett3's review against another edition

2.0

I found this difficult to get in to and put it away at the halfway point, not sure if I really cared to finish it. I'm still not quite sure of the point and what readers are supposed to be left feeling. What was Richard's POV supposed to be saying? Where in the future is he writing from and why? None of those questions are answered. He's kind of a flat character in all this. It wasn't a bad book by any means. Tartt is very good at prose...but the plot left me feeling confused and blank more than anything.

ramramyum's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• 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? Yes

4.0

_clelia's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

sashosho's review against another edition

I stopped somewhere in the middle. Couldn’t finish. Can’t tell if it’s bad timing for me to read this book or the story is not good. I had high expectations for that book… Maybe later I’ll come back to it. So for now: no rating.

ltball's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Alcoholism, Death, and Drug use

Moderate: Homophobia, Incest, Classism, and Misogyny

dnietoperafan's review against another edition

5.0

This book was a birthday present from someone who has (in my opinion) very good taste in books. I must say, my opinion was unmatched. Tart’s novel brings the best aspects of dark academia, murder mystery, and young adult angst together. This book hooked me from the beginning, and then kept tossing and turning me. I never quite understood where it was going, and I loved that. Unexpectedness became an expected feeling whilst reading this.

The characters were all brutally well constructed. I really thought I knew them all personally. And as much as I don’t understand people in general, the characters’ actions made sense in a confusing type of way. The only way I can describe it is walking through fog, but knowing exactly where you’re going. It was so fun.

I would definitely recommend this novel to all the dark academia lovers. Expect turns and mysteries to be solved. If you love smart yet moody characters, pick this book up ASAP!!

rhodamae's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

4.0

sadpeoplefunmemes's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5