Reviews

What Should Be Wild by Julia Fine

kiandrareadsbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

kristineeelise's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

arosesip's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

3.0

usetheforcekate's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

It was fine.

skittle32's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

keurimjanee's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

ozziemarie's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I was lost the whole time but the writing was good

whatshereads727's review

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

sineadw9's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

julesthebookdragon417's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Actual rating 3.5.

"What Should Be Wild" is a dark and deep fairytale. There's an incredible undercurrent of meaning to every word and image Fine uses, speaking to ideas of feminism and the divided self. Prepare yourself; this is not a quick read, and about halfway through it felt like moving through molasses to plow through. I still enjoyed the story and writing, but I was chugging up hill to keep going. That's a downside to such beautiful prose; it does flow and wind like the woods at the heart of the story, but I found that slowing me down as I took care not to trip over poignant words and phrases. And though early on Fine sets a dark edge to the story, thing get much darker very quickly about halfway through.

A gorgeous and involving read, but not something to take along to the beach. Save this one for a time when you want something you can simmer in, read deeply into, and that will make you reflect on life, the world, and the things we do to fit neatly into things the way we're told to.