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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had a looot of potential for me, until the conclusion felt rushed and less profound as I thought it would be.
I loved the idea of the book being written in the second person, I thought it made the story being told that much more meaningful and relatable. Alongside that, I found the struggles of the main character (who is meant to be yourself) really realistic and her evolution regarding her reaction to the internet and the impact it had on her perception of herself heartbreaking yet so perfectly described: the young exposure to porn without understanding why it feels so wrong to look at, the violence and easy access to content that portrays misogyny as the norm (this part in particular reminded me so much of True Crime content and how people feel almost proud to say certain explicit and exploitive content doesn’t faze them) and looking for a candid yet controlled version of yourself to fit in.
I loved the metaphor as well of the main character not ever feeling like herself while a hole made her feel incomplete… she could never show how she truly was, until she found herself and the hole closed within itself.
As I mentioned though, I thought the romance felt really shallow and like an easy way to finish such an interesting and complex upbringing of someone who fears intimacy and particularly sex with men after growing up believing she was just a body for man to consume and use for their sexual satisfaction. It almost felt like the superficial and, in my opinion, sometimes dangerous feeling that you’ll only find love if you love yourself. I know the author made it seem like the main love interest knew the main character deeply because he had no presence online, but I doubt his love alone (specially when he fucked the main character’s best friend?!? Out of jealousy and toxicity?!?) could have cured the trauma and insecurities the main character had built since she was only 9 years old.
I loved the idea of the book being written in the second person, I thought it made the story being told that much more meaningful and relatable. Alongside that, I found the struggles of the main character (who is meant to be yourself) really realistic and her evolution regarding her reaction to the internet and the impact it had on her perception of herself heartbreaking yet so perfectly described: the young exposure to porn without understanding why it feels so wrong to look at, the violence and easy access to content that portrays misogyny as the norm (this part in particular reminded me so much of True Crime content and how people feel almost proud to say certain explicit and exploitive content doesn’t faze them) and looking for a candid yet controlled version of yourself to fit in.
I loved the metaphor as well of the main character not ever feeling like herself while a hole made her feel incomplete… she could never show how she truly was, until she found herself and the hole closed within itself.
As I mentioned though, I thought the romance felt really shallow and like an easy way to finish such an interesting and complex upbringing of someone who fears intimacy and particularly sex with men after growing up believing she was just a body for man to consume and use for their sexual satisfaction. It almost felt like the superficial and, in my opinion, sometimes dangerous feeling that you’ll only find love if you love yourself. I know the author made it seem like the main love interest knew the main character deeply because he had no presence online, but I doubt his love alone (specially when he fucked the main character’s best friend?!? Out of jealousy and toxicity?!?) could have cured the trauma and insecurities the main character had built since she was only 9 years old.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book just hit different. I’ve never felt this way after reading a book, like it understood me in ways I don’t even understand myself. Will definitely be a re-read in the near future.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
This was a really interesting read. It was different to what I was expecting but I still found it worthwhile.
This book feels really intimate, parts of it was actually a bit triggering as someone who grew up as a young girl in Ireland at the cusp of the digital age. While the majority events themselves were unlike things I myself experienced, the feelings and thoughts expressed in this book is I definitely could. The feelings of being outcast, lonely, changing yourself to fit in to survive, the escape to the online world where you identity can be finetuned and tailored, all things I can relate to.
Another standout moment for me was how the impact of seeing pornography as a young girl has. The strange obsession to understand sex, the want to to experience it and link to your self image was so well done. Its uncomfortable, it made my skin crawl but its cutting that its a reality for a lot of young people. To some maybe it'll come across extremely bleak, its hard to comprehend someone thinking of themselves in such a negative light for so many years but to many others it mirrors the life they lived themselves.
I can't say that I "enjoyed" the reading experience because lots of these things were hard to read but I again would say that it was worthwhile. It portrays some difficult topics around growing up with the impact of the interenet in an earnest way.
My only critique is I feel like things wrapped up a bit hastily, I think the build up could've been a bit better towards the main character breaking out of her toxic cycle but overall I still have a positive view of the book.
This book feels really intimate, parts of it was actually a bit triggering as someone who grew up as a young girl in Ireland at the cusp of the digital age. While the majority events themselves were unlike things I myself experienced, the feelings and thoughts expressed in this book is I definitely could. The feelings of being outcast, lonely, changing yourself to fit in to survive, the escape to the online world where you identity can be finetuned and tailored, all things I can relate to.
Another standout moment for me was how the impact of seeing pornography as a young girl has. The strange obsession to understand sex, the want to to experience it and link to your self image was so well done. Its uncomfortable, it made my skin crawl but its cutting that its a reality for a lot of young people. To some maybe it'll come across extremely bleak, its hard to comprehend someone thinking of themselves in such a negative light for so many years but to many others it mirrors the life they lived themselves.
I can't say that I "enjoyed" the reading experience because lots of these things were hard to read but I again would say that it was worthwhile. It portrays some difficult topics around growing up with the impact of the interenet in an earnest way.
My only critique is I feel like things wrapped up a bit hastily, I think the build up could've been a bit better towards the main character breaking out of her toxic cycle but overall I still have a positive view of the book.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This hits hard as a millennial who has grown up on the internet.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I feel understood in a way I don't understand myself.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad