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aus10england'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
4.5
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Blood
Minor: Gore and Suicidal thoughts
homebodynate's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Blood
sana98's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, and Blood
cassiopeian_star's review
- 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? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Violence, Rape, Addiction, Blood, Death, and Grief
lordslag'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
1.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Grief, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
ephemeral_remi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicide, Stalking, Alcohol, Abandonment, Rape, Drug use, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Vomit, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Gore, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
archaicrobin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was really hard to rate a book about a female pedophile preying on young boys in her 8th grade English class. Celeste is a guiltless pedophile looking for the perfect boy to use and abuse before moving on to the next. Told from Celeste’s perspective, this book is incredibly uncomfortable to read, disturbing, and very gross. Celeste describes in detail her exploits with these boys and her daydreams about the boys, and her sociopathic thinking of them as just tools to meet her needs.
While I did not enjoy reading this book, like many others I couldn’t put it down because I had to know how all this ended. Celeste must be based on the countless female pedophiles who were widespread in the media and the novel brings up the very relevant double standard that was pervasive at the time and in ways still is. It’s not abuse if it’s a hot woman committing the crime right? Tampa does not shy away from this or anything else, so don’t go into this without checking all content warnings!
While the content was disgusting the writing made you want to continue just to see how far this all goes. And I often thought this can’t get worse, she can’t possibly get worse, but she does!
I originally picked this up for its notorious reputation of being one of the most disturbing transgressive novels written by a female. I had to know if it was really that bad, and it was. Not for the faint of heart but if you can manage it, it’s worth the read.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
madisbookshelf's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
"Tampa" by Alissa Nutting centers around Celeste, a 26-year-old middle school teacher, and one of her 14-year-old students, Jack. The story is told through the point of view of Celeste as she tries and successfully grooms the young boy into a sexual relationship with her.
After completing this read, I can see why some people don't like it and find it to be extremely uncomfortable. However, I feel that this book is one that every adult should read, and for good reason. In our society, teenage boys are often looked at as overly sexual beings and because of this, their assaults and sexual abuse stories are heavily downplayed and are often disregarded as "Oh, he's a teenage boy. He definitely wanted it", especially when their abuser is a woman. In "Tampa", these societal themes are on full display for readers to witness firsthand. Through the inner monologue of Celeste and the trial at the end of the novel, readers are able to see how these stereotypes surrounding teen boys help predators gain leverage against them and enviably help them get away with the crime if it was ever brought to light. I also feel that this novel helps to bring attention to the lack of empathy often given to male victims in situations where they were taken advantage of by an older woman. Many characters in this story, male and female, took place in victim-blaming tactics that ultimately did nothing but encourage the victims to stay silent or in a way, take pride in the fact that they were assaulted by an attractive older woman.
I love Alissa for taking on the challenge of writing the story of such a horrid and disturbing woman and applaud her for bringing attention to a problem that occurs way too often in society.
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Grief, and Infidelity
thatbookmarkbabe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
But seriously, the look of disgust and shock permanently on my face throughout reading this probably aged me significantly.
Nutting did a great job keeping me turning the pages, and drew me into the villain’s mind expertly. Celeste’s complete lack of empathy and total predatory ways were shocking.
After finishing, it becomes clear that maybe the shock is necessary in a female perpetrator story as opposed to books like My Dark Vanessa, to make the point. It makes you think about how society/the justice system/media treat male victims and female assailants in constrast to their opposing-gendered counterparts.
I thought this was well done, and I could say so much more but it’s short, so go read it - if you can stomach it.
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Death of parent, and Drug use
Moderate: Alcohol and Blood
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
gknott's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Drug use and Excrement