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enkiiii's review against another edition
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
uhhh what a book.
Celeste Price is the hot teacher Alissa Nutting has plucked from the fantasies of straight men, given a life outside of pornography and led to a spectacular demise. And well, it turns out that woman is a psychopath, and her antisocial behavior is encouraged by some aspects of our culture. And also, while this fact is frequently glossed over in porn, isn’t it kinda fucked up that she’s having sex with children?
I wouldn’t call this book a good social commentary on sexual violence and consent. Rather, it’s more concerned with femininity. Celeste’s story exposes the contradictions that arise from the way women’s personhood and sexual autonomy are negated under patriarchy. How can a woman be both a placid sexual object and a predator? Perfect and a monster?
The premise wears thin really fast though, and the novel doesn’t have any compelling characters or a very good plot to make up for it. Celeste’s single minded obsession with teenage boys as well as the preservation of her own youth is all there is to her disordered personality. And the handling of the subject of sexual violence against minors was too callous in my opinion. Celeste’s desires are intense to the point of making her act compulsively which is a classic defense used to justify rape culture. I wish the author fully committed to the satire instead of leaning into psychological thriller territory, because that aspect of Tampa was executed less successfully.
So yeah this is not my favorite novel with a depraved protagonist. Lolita is a better psychological thriller and Boy Parts did the same kind of gender commentary and both are a better read than Tampa.
So yeah this is not my favorite novel with a depraved protagonist. Lolita is a better psychological thriller and Boy Parts did the same kind of gender commentary and both are a better read than Tampa.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, and Sexism
evdark's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-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
3.5
The writing was gripping, and the reason the book was written was important, but the author absolutely failed to deliver the message she set out to achieve. It is based on a true story of a teacher that had sex with her 14-year-old pupil in 2005. Nutting wants to make a point that young men are never seen as victims of sexual assault, and it is too easy to forgive the woman in the situation. Which is exactly how I felt after reading the book. Having just read Lolita, the standard might be set a little high. Psychologically, I can tell this author wanted to be provocative and maybe even erotic but did not truly understand the mindset she was trying to convey in the female pedophile and ended up taking a very male stance to this. Stalking. Obsession with semen. Souvenirs and pornography. It didn't feel authentic to a female pedaphile and this author was just winging it. It was well-written but poorly crafted, and it made me feel icky after reading it even though I have no problem with any of the graphic sex, I had a problem with almost everything else. It did the worst thing a book can do. It wasted my time. The ending was downright awful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Death, Sexual violence, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Gaslighting
lana_dg95's review
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
abstractedal3x's review
It was disgusting, I get that is the point of the book though. It’s written really well and I think that’s why I cannot continue, this is the only book I can’t get myself to finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Stalking, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
ephemeral_remi's review
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Huge Trigger warnings for: Pedophilia, sexual assault, sexual content, sex with minors, child abuse
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
plagueraven's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
leic01's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Pedophilia
madisbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Growing up I loved watching and learning about true crime. So much so that I am now perusing a psychology degree in the hopes of one day becoming a criminal psychologist. So when I first heard about this book on TikTok, I knew I needed to read it immediately.
"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.
"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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Grief, and Infidelity
verynicebook's review
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexual content