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fallandfox's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Vomit, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Dysphoria
mmwi'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
Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
l4r4777's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Self harm, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
writtenontheflyleaves's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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🎀 The plot: Abby and Gretchen are best friends, but after a night at their friend’s lake house goes wrong, Gretchen starts acting differently. Strange and terrible things start happening, and Abby is forced to one terrible conclusion...
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This book far exceeded all of my expectations. Set against the backdrop of the 1980s and Satanic Panic, this is a story about best friendship and the bonds we forge when we’re young teenagers looking for our place in the world. Everything about this novel, from the setting to the characters to the scary and spooky elements, was brilliantly rendered, and I was so impressed with the quality of the prose. I definitely would have accepted less evocative writing for this plot and these characters!
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One thing I loved about it that you don’t always see in stories like this is that Abby really is forced to the supernatural conclusion. She exhausts every rational explanation, and you feel her rising panic and frustration at her own naivety. I also was moved by the central message of how powerful teenage friendships are, how much of ourselves we give to them.
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This book to me was a really great example of how fantastical themes can elevate a narrative about very real everyday things - growing up, self image, class anxiety, friendship. I loved it!
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🔦 Read it if you love all things 80s and adore a spooky or thrilling tale but not a horror - the scary elements are quite brief and manageable here, it’s really more of an emotional story. If you love narratives about best friendship this is for you - this shit made me cry!!!
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🚫 Avoid it if you don’t like any scary material at all, and definitely check the TWs before reading if you’re unsure. Particularly if you’ve suffered with an eating disorder tread carefully/ avoid altogether. Also, this is a very faithful portrait of life in a privileged American high school the 80s, prejudices and all - there are ableist slurs throughout, as well as sexism and violence.
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🎁 Bonus rec! If you enjoyed this, listen to the episodes of the You’re Wrong About podcast about exorcism and Satanic Panic - they provide a lot of fascinating context!
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
cp_frey's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
However, this story was doable because, I think, it was supposed to be reminiscent of an 80s slasher film... and boy did it deliver! There are a few gnarly scenes with some gory imagery, and, the worst for me personally, cruelty towards a dog - so just FYI. But the references to the 80s pop culture was so fun. Quite immersive!
My only downfall was that Abby, although a great friend, was a little annoying. I don't particularly love following characters who are high schoolers though, so that's on me. I also may be in the minority here but perhaps some of the "almost" deaths should have been "absolute" deaths. It would have added more shock to certain scenes. But it wouldn't have necessarily worked out with the ending. Which leads me to my last disappointment...
I didn't care for the drawn out ending (meaning - following them WAY beyond the exorcism). I didn't need to know how they went on with their lives. It felt a little too cheesy and unnecessary - some things are better left unsaid.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Vomit