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phillyhufflepunk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Lisbon Girls deserved better, and although the story would have been 10x better from their perspectives, I still rate it 4 stars because by hearing the story from a bunch of clueless middle aged men, who were clueless teenaged boys, you see just how ignored these girls felt when they were practically SCREAMING for help.
Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Racism, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Classism, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, and Suicide
_tabby_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The concept of the book is about the tragedy of growing up as sheltered girls with no outlet for the suicidal thoughts. Although Cecilia's initial reason for suicide and her attempts remains unknown, its clear that this sheltered life and Mrs Lisbon were the major driving forces in the girls inability to seek help (although the book never stated this explicitly).
It's told through the POV of a group of boys in the town who were obsessed with the Lisbon girls so the narrative isn't entirely accurate to the thoughts and feelings of the girls themselves but they do state when they know the recollection isn't clear.
Although i think this narrative choice adds an interesting layer to the story as the narrator is simply obsessed, enamoured and in love with the girls. So rather than giving us deeper insight to the girls from a humane perspective: they simply tell the events, in a factual manner, as they happen and use a collection of multiple boys knowledge to decide what was the most plausible.
In terms of the book writing itself I found it a very easy read. Doesn't go into too much emotional detail for such a sensitive topic but perhaps that choice is for the best. It keeps the naivety and mystery of the Lisbon girls at the forefront.
Graphic: Child death, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Eating disorder, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic friendship
jessicaa_'s review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Child death, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Child abuse, Alcohol, and Alcoholism