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3mmaloulou's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tessa_stephens's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I want to start my review by saying that this book is not attempting to retell the story of Ted Bundy or the lives of his victims, it is inspired by those events and the larger culture surrounding serial killers. Knoll uses this inspiration to reframe the narrative about the inherent misogyny present in these cases. With that out of the way, this book is absolutely incredible at what it sets out to do.
The split-perspective of Pamela and Ruth was perfect, giving focus to Pamela while never forgetting to check back in with Ruth. Knowing from the begging how Ruth's story will end, there is a sense of dread that comes with nearing the end of the book.
I personally love the lack of acknowledgement for Ted Bundy, especially with the absence of an author's note to acknowledge him further. The book doesn't need it as it is not about details of the case but the wider connotations of the case.
I'm about to become such a nuisance about this book as I recommend it to everyone in my life so if you're debating whether or not to pick it up, I would say absolutely.
The split-perspective of Pamela and Ruth was perfect, giving focus to Pamela while never forgetting to check back in with Ruth. Knowing from the begging how Ruth's story will end, there is a sense of dread that comes with nearing the end of the book.
I personally love the lack of acknowledgement for Ted Bundy, especially with the absence of an author's note to acknowledge him further. The book doesn't need it as it is not about details of the case but the wider connotations of the case.
I'm about to become such a nuisance about this book as I recommend it to everyone in my life so if you're debating whether or not to pick it up, I would say absolutely.
chiaaraa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
noveltease's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kpopbabo's review against another edition
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.5
carsonelainee's review against another edition
5.0
Bright Young Women is one of those books that I think is going to live with me for a while. It was so smart and there’s just so much to think about. I finished it last night and haven’t stopped thinking about it. I’ve already recommended it to so many people.
This definitely isn’t a book I would have read without my book club having chosen it for our book this month. I’m such a wimp when it comes to scary stuff. This book isn’t even traditionally “scary,” it’s not even classified as a thriller, I’m just a wimp and it freaked me out. And boy am I glad I don’t live in the sorority house anymore…
There are so many things to talk about with Bright Young Women because it is such a brilliant book. I’m not going to be able to succinctly quantify every single thought I had.
I just can’t get over how smart this book is. I want to know how Jessica Knoll researched this and what her writing process was like. I’ve already been reading up on the case since I finished the book because I wanted to know what was hard fact and what was embellished for the sake of fiction. there aren’t a whole lot of articles out about this book and what I would give to pick Jessica Knoll’s brain.
While this is a book about what Ted Bundy did, this is not a book about Ted Bundy. He is never once mentioned by name and I really liked that. It gave more power to the women and it really showed what he was. A nobody who got inflated by the media and parasocial relationships. it was done similarly to how Shakespeare was treated in Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell and I loved it.
This book is horrifying simply because of its reality.
Currently, I have it at a 4-star, but I think it could be moved up to a 5-star after some thought.
This definitely isn’t a book I would have read without my book club having chosen it for our book this month. I’m such a wimp when it comes to scary stuff. This book isn’t even traditionally “scary,” it’s not even classified as a thriller, I’m just a wimp and it freaked me out. And boy am I glad I don’t live in the sorority house anymore…
There are so many things to talk about with Bright Young Women because it is such a brilliant book. I’m not going to be able to succinctly quantify every single thought I had.
I just can’t get over how smart this book is. I want to know how Jessica Knoll researched this and what her writing process was like. I’ve already been reading up on the case since I finished the book because I wanted to know what was hard fact and what was embellished for the sake of fiction. there aren’t a whole lot of articles out about this book and what I would give to pick Jessica Knoll’s brain.
While this is a book about what Ted Bundy did, this is not a book about Ted Bundy. He is never once mentioned by name and I really liked that. It gave more power to the women and it really showed what he was. A nobody who got inflated by the media and parasocial relationships. it was done similarly to how Shakespeare was treated in Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell and I loved it.
This book is horrifying simply because of its reality.
Currently, I have it at a 4-star, but I think it could be moved up to a 5-star after some thought.
daria_g's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
What a riverting account of the young bright women: sisters, friends, mothers, lovers, survivors and those whose life was cut short. I loved the concept of this book and how it was told. I am saddened that it took the world half a century to hear this side of the story. But I'm grateful to Jessica Knoll for telling it now and so compellingly.
jettaparadis's review against another edition
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
4.0
The way the bonds between women are written, both within the sorority and otherwise is the reason I could not put this book down. It felt refreshing to not read about the deaf dent being cunning or smart. Men, and everyone, should read this
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Rape, and Body horror
strawbkatie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i think this book is likely to stay with me for a long time for many reasons
first of all, i’m not big on books that don’t really have a plot but this just had me hooked the whole way through. were the characters annoying (pretty much every single one?) yes. did i love them all? also yes. i’m still not sure i quite understood the dynamic between ruth and tina and i wish that had been explored a little more in the writing but i can’t complain! i really love the way that this book blends fiction and non fiction together, especially with the social commentary on “true crime”, i thought that was a really beautiful chapter to read from the perspective of someone who’s actually involved in the “crime” story. all in all i would recommend this to anyone who despises the way that criminals are portrayed and spoken about in society, i hope you find it as satisfying as i did :)
first of all, i’m not big on books that don’t really have a plot but this just had me hooked the whole way through. were the characters annoying (pretty much every single one?) yes. did i love them all? also yes. i’m still not sure i quite understood the dynamic between ruth and tina and i wish that had been explored a little more in the writing but i can’t complain! i really love the way that this book blends fiction and non fiction together, especially with the social commentary on “true crime”, i thought that was a really beautiful chapter to read from the perspective of someone who’s actually involved in the “crime” story. all in all i would recommend this to anyone who despises the way that criminals are portrayed and spoken about in society, i hope you find it as satisfying as i did :)