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mfrisk's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Books/movies you’d like if you enjoyed this book/the concepts of this book: Stepford Wives (book & movie), Love Witch (movie), The Virgin Suicides, Death Becomes Her (movie), Serial Mom (movie)
This book is marketed as a general fiction read and largely follows this formula but gradually slips into surrealism, magical realism, and domestic horror territory as layers are unraveled of the main character’s relationship.
Our main character grapples with wanting to use her perfect image as a tool of control and of empowerment but we come to realize how dangerous this can be and the reality of her loss of control.
Given where the book goes and the fact that we know that our main characters are largely unlikeable throughout this book it makes me wish that this was a true horror book. I think that could have allowed this book to go even further with the ending and especially with pushing to the limit the themes tackled - social media, influencer culture, trad wive/housewife culture, toxic masculinity, toxic family and friend relationships, and the pressure to have a perfect life.
I also think this either could have been done in a shorter novella format if a few chapters were removed to cut to the chase quicker or we could have had more chapters if we got perspectives of other women affected by what happens at the end of this book.
That being said, I thought this was a good read that definitely made me think about the rise of trad wife content online and even women influencers who are offering to give up the rights and freedoms earned by the women before them in order to cater to the religious right and to conservative values.
This book is marketed as a general fiction read and largely follows this formula but gradually slips into surrealism, magical realism, and domestic horror territory as layers are unraveled of the main character’s relationship.
Our main character grapples with wanting to use her perfect image as a tool of control and of empowerment but we come to realize how dangerous this can be and the reality of her loss of control.
Given where the book goes and the fact that we know that our main characters are largely unlikeable throughout this book it makes me wish that this was a true horror book. I think that could have allowed this book to go even further with the ending and especially with pushing to the limit the themes tackled - social media, influencer culture, trad wive/housewife culture, toxic masculinity, toxic family and friend relationships, and the pressure to have a perfect life.
I also think this either could have been done in a shorter novella format if a few chapters were removed to cut to the chase quicker or we could have had more chapters if we got perspectives of other women affected by what happens at the end of this book.
That being said, I thought this was a good read that definitely made me think about the rise of trad wife content online and even women influencers who are offering to give up the rights and freedoms earned by the women before them in order to cater to the religious right and to conservative values.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Animal death
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