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bookishlou's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! I didn't see that ending coming. So many twists and turns, that kept me on the edge of my seat for the end of the book.
The first half is very slow. Dana is a slow character to enjoy. I'm glad I perceived with this one
The first half is very slow. Dana is a slow character to enjoy. I'm glad I perceived with this one
karapaes's review against another edition
3.0
This book was full of surprises that I never saw coming and I enjoyed almost every single one of them! I loved the bond Dana and Amanda formed, and loved watching it fall apart only to have a mutual respect show through in the end. I was extremely happy with how Jason ended but disappointed in the way Carl was able to come out on top. However, I do think it showed an extremely important reality that there will always be another abuser or harasser. The only issue I had was that Dana didn't know who her rapist was until years later even though it was someone that she was so familiar with. I just found it very difficult to believe due to the way in which the rape was described and they way she came to realize who her rapist truly was. Besides that, I really enjoyed the story and the characters throughout and will definitely recommend this thought-provoking read.
songoficeandvia's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Last Woman Standing by Amy Gentry
320 pgs
4 Stars
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I liked the protagonist and became invested in her story. Dana Diaz is an aspiring stand-up comedian. During one of her shows she befriends Amanda Dorn, a computer programmer. They both have been harassed and assaulted by certain men and Amanda convinces Dana that they should go after each other’s assailants.
The story was engaging and the overall story was interesting. My only issue was that I felt it was a little busy. A lot was happening and the story was a little all over the place. I feel some parts could have been left out, or at least written in a way for it to flow better.
I enjoyed the feminism component of the story and the fact that both MCs are women in male dominated fields. The ending was a little unexpected, but in a good way.
As I mentioned, I enjoyed this story overall and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers.
Last Woman Standing by Amy Gentry
320 pgs
4 Stars
Overall, I did enjoy this book. I liked the protagonist and became invested in her story. Dana Diaz is an aspiring stand-up comedian. During one of her shows she befriends Amanda Dorn, a computer programmer. They both have been harassed and assaulted by certain men and Amanda convinces Dana that they should go after each other’s assailants.
The story was engaging and the overall story was interesting. My only issue was that I felt it was a little busy. A lot was happening and the story was a little all over the place. I feel some parts could have been left out, or at least written in a way for it to flow better.
I enjoyed the feminism component of the story and the fact that both MCs are women in male dominated fields. The ending was a little unexpected, but in a good way.
As I mentioned, I enjoyed this story overall and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers.
rebecca_isreading's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for an advance e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
This Strangers on a Train style story took the Me Too movement and gave it a vigilante spin as two women seek vengeanceon the men that have hurt them. It was a quickly paced story that didn't always go as I expected it to, but note that it might be a bit triggering as there's a fair bit of detail and page space given to the experiences that Dana and the other women in her life have had with assault and harrassment.
This Strangers on a Train style story took the Me Too movement and gave it a vigilante spin as two women seek vengeanceon the men that have hurt them. It was a quickly paced story that didn't always go as I expected it to, but note that it might be a bit triggering as there's a fair bit of detail and page space given to the experiences that Dana and the other women in her life have had with assault and harrassment.
hogwarts95's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sadiereadthat's review against another edition
3.0
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
This books was okay. As easy enough ready, sometimes heavy, sometimes light. It isn't going to be my most memorable book of the year.
A comedian in Austin, TX, Dana, inadvertently ends up making a sort of revenge pact with a woman she has just met. It causes Dana to learn somethings about herself and about the person she has trusted most in the world. With twists and turns that all women face, we end up where you would never guess from the start.
This books was okay. As easy enough ready, sometimes heavy, sometimes light. It isn't going to be my most memorable book of the year.
A comedian in Austin, TX, Dana, inadvertently ends up making a sort of revenge pact with a woman she has just met. It causes Dana to learn somethings about herself and about the person she has trusted most in the world. With twists and turns that all women face, we end up where you would never guess from the start.
chickenx1000's review against another edition
3.0
The #MeToo "popcorn thriller" take on Strangers on a Train.
Very entertaining, breakneck paced suspense.
The daring premise (taking on a 'crime classic' with a POC protagonist... really shouldn't be that contentious but alas) is well executed, and with sufficient originality to make it it's own. Dana is a good protagonist and I admire the way the author was able to keep the suspense going until rather far in the book.
Another reviewer noted that the book seems to say a lot about life as a comic/comedian but not show us much. I would agree; oddly enough, Dana's job could have been replaced by any male-dominated field that has a small enough community that most of the participants in a given area would interact. Dana could have been a blacksmith and the story would have worked nearly as well. The few glimpses we get at her stand up routines are more for plot than truly funny. To be fair, writing comedy is very hard and stage comedy is completely different skill to novel writing. But I must say that id it's going to be a central point of the plot, it should show more.
All in all a very entertaining, quick, light read that nonetheless tackles important themes. Would be great on the screen!
Very entertaining, breakneck paced suspense.
The daring premise (taking on a 'crime classic' with a POC protagonist... really shouldn't be that contentious but alas) is well executed, and with sufficient originality to make it it's own. Dana is a good protagonist and I admire the way the author was able to keep the suspense going until rather far in the book.
Another reviewer noted that the book seems to say a lot about life as a comic/comedian but not show us much. I would agree; oddly enough, Dana's job could have been replaced by any male-dominated field that has a small enough community that most of the participants in a given area would interact. Dana could have been a blacksmith and the story would have worked nearly as well. The few glimpses we get at her stand up routines are more for plot than truly funny. To be fair, writing comedy is very hard and stage comedy is completely different skill to novel writing. But I must say that id it's going to be a central point of the plot, it should show more.
All in all a very entertaining, quick, light read that nonetheless tackles important themes. Would be great on the screen!
amothersmusings1's review against another edition
3.0
Having not read “Good As Gone” by author Amy Gentry, yet being highly recommended, I was therefore highly excited and intrigued to be trying her latest novel “Last Woman Standing”.
Dana Diaz, (nicknamed Double D for her name and ‘appearance’) can’t get over the humiliation she suffered at the hands of a man she believed would help her career. After an open mic session as a stand up comic, she drowns her sorrows at a bar and ends up talking to Amanda, a stranger who also has a story to tell. During the evening as the friendship develops, Amanda proposes a plan....the women should take revenge on each other’s behalf. However, when the stalking and vengeance becomes a thrill, one act of revenge soon leads to another. But although it’s an addictive game, only one can survive. Who will be be the ‘last woman standing’?
I have to admit that I did struggle initially with the story. I did find it rather ‘American’ with the dialogue and I sadly didn’t quite ‘get’ the comedy act early on in the book and therefore it did drag somewhat. Admittedly though, the story does kick off towards the second half of the book and it was this that kept my attention, along with a tense and uneasy feeling of foreboding.
I’m not sure I took to the main character Dana, she was still quite evasive with her emotions, even after declaring her innermost secrets but I did think Amanda was very enigmatic and she was the one that intrigued me the most. Being narrated in the first person by Dana it was interesting to hear her thoughts before, during and after her comedy sets, just proving those on stage, do suffer from nerves, unresponsive audiences and having to deal with hecklers. I thought the author covered Dana’s time at the mic very well and due to the descriptive nature of the writing, I actually felt I was in the room with Dana listening to her act.
“Last Woman Standing” was a nice quick read, that once got going was very nicely paced and addictive. With a nod to the movie “Strangers on a Train” and the current #MeToo movement in its storyline, this was an exceedingly timely and topical novel that was written well and covered abuse and harassment by men in power sympathetically. Using a unique premise with a stand up comic as the main protagonist and women taking vengeance and retribution on their abusive men, this story was an empowering read and I can imagine that this stylish psychological thriller with go down very well with a female audience.
Amy Gentry is a smart and very intelligent writer that kept this reader guessing till the end and I would happily read more by her in the future.
3.5 stars
Dana Diaz, (nicknamed Double D for her name and ‘appearance’) can’t get over the humiliation she suffered at the hands of a man she believed would help her career. After an open mic session as a stand up comic, she drowns her sorrows at a bar and ends up talking to Amanda, a stranger who also has a story to tell. During the evening as the friendship develops, Amanda proposes a plan....the women should take revenge on each other’s behalf. However, when the stalking and vengeance becomes a thrill, one act of revenge soon leads to another. But although it’s an addictive game, only one can survive. Who will be be the ‘last woman standing’?
I have to admit that I did struggle initially with the story. I did find it rather ‘American’ with the dialogue and I sadly didn’t quite ‘get’ the comedy act early on in the book and therefore it did drag somewhat. Admittedly though, the story does kick off towards the second half of the book and it was this that kept my attention, along with a tense and uneasy feeling of foreboding.
I’m not sure I took to the main character Dana, she was still quite evasive with her emotions, even after declaring her innermost secrets but I did think Amanda was very enigmatic and she was the one that intrigued me the most. Being narrated in the first person by Dana it was interesting to hear her thoughts before, during and after her comedy sets, just proving those on stage, do suffer from nerves, unresponsive audiences and having to deal with hecklers. I thought the author covered Dana’s time at the mic very well and due to the descriptive nature of the writing, I actually felt I was in the room with Dana listening to her act.
“Last Woman Standing” was a nice quick read, that once got going was very nicely paced and addictive. With a nod to the movie “Strangers on a Train” and the current #MeToo movement in its storyline, this was an exceedingly timely and topical novel that was written well and covered abuse and harassment by men in power sympathetically. Using a unique premise with a stand up comic as the main protagonist and women taking vengeance and retribution on their abusive men, this story was an empowering read and I can imagine that this stylish psychological thriller with go down very well with a female audience.
Amy Gentry is a smart and very intelligent writer that kept this reader guessing till the end and I would happily read more by her in the future.
3.5 stars
wesleigh's review against another edition
2.0
DNF. Started off really interesting but then the characters started making really dumb decisions and I got secondhand embarrassment and had to stop.
quirkycynic's review against another edition
3.0
The only thing I can say is that I really wish the author had set this in any setting other than the stand-up comedy world, so that I'd have to be spared pages and pages of cringeworthy jokes by someone who is literally (as a plain statement of objective fact) not a comedian. The book was pretty good otherwise, with a really good ramp-up of tension throughout, a terrific twist, and very satisfying integration of topicality that rounded off some of the labored writing in places. The metoo movement and suspense fiction are a match made in heaven, obviously, and this is a good example of it, but it's not an instant classic.