Scan barcode
specificity's review
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I really liked the book but found the ending anticlimactic
I really liked the book but found the ending anticlimactic
3shinywindows's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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
4.0
This has been on my TBR for literal years and I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it. I loved the mystery elements of the plots, and the relationships between all the characters felt so real. The dialogue made me laugh out loud and some of the misunderstandings made me groan. I loved reading this book and can't wait to read more of Cat's books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
mrsereads's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Harper really struggles to deal with her past and surrounds herself with an amazing group of friends. A new girl starts at Duncraggan, who takes a shine to Harper and suddenly both their lives become more complex and both change more than they ever thought they would with both tense and loving moments. I always suspected something about Kirsty and expected a twist but not the twist we were given.
This is my first Cat Clarke novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a diverse range of characters, great character development and even the side characters got plenty of writing space.
I enjoyed learning all about Harper and found myself rooting for her throughout. I found myself eager to keep reading and look forward to finding myself some others. I highly recommend.
This is my first Cat Clarke novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a diverse range of characters, great character development and even the side characters got plenty of writing space.
I enjoyed learning all about Harper and found myself rooting for her throughout. I found myself eager to keep reading and look forward to finding myself some others. I highly recommend.
abigailthebookfairy's review
3.0
Trigger warnings in this book for ED and suicidal thoughts.
It was a fun and enjoyable book but I did find most of the characters annoying, problematic at times and naive.
It was a fun and enjoyable book but I did find most of the characters annoying, problematic at times and naive.
janaybrazier's review
3.0
I flew through this book. I read it in two sittings, literally reading half of it the first time in my reading chair/armchair and the second half in the bath. It was such an easy book to read and flowed so well. I really enjoyed the writing but for some reason I felt like there was something missing. I can't tell you what was missing, but it just felt that way to me. I've just realised how ridiculous that sounds but it's how I feel and that's the only way I can think to describe it. I also wasn't overly satisfied with the ending so I felt that brought it down a tad. But overall I liked it, I would still say people should read it if you like slightly psychological books with a thriller-type aspect.
kelseyoulater's review
3.0
Originally reviewed on thebasicbookbitch
Harper, the protagonist of Girlhood lost her twin sister to anorexia. Shortly after her twins death Harper heads to boarding school in an attempt to start fresh and get over her grief. She makes a great group of friends there but she feels like they don't fully understand her. It's now the start of the new school year and with that brings a new student, Kirsty.
Kirsty and Harper instantly strike a friendship, especially after Harper finds out that Kirsty has also been through the tragedy of losing a sister and she finally feels like she has found someone who really gets her, but as the story progresses it seems that Kirsty is not all she says she is. Her behaviour becomes borderline obsessive and certain parts of her life story don't add up.
Girlhood for me has all the makings of a great story, it's set in a boarding school in Scotland (LOVE) and Kirsty could've been a great antagonist, however this book pitches itself as a thriller, and whilst there are a few elements that allude to the sense of a thriller, nothing is really taken that far which made this feel a little flat. It seems like Girlhood gets a bit confused about what it's aim is plot wise halfway through and ends up being a story about toxic friendship with a bit of a mystery thrown in as an afterthought. All this confusion over what the book is trying to achieve is what let me down.
Another point that made Girlhood less enjoyable for me was the main character Harper. To be completely honest I found her quite unlikeable, and at times slightly unrealistic as a character. She made some really stupid decisions and was oblivious to certain things and it seemed to be this way just so the plot could progress in the way Cat wanted it to rather than having to write a more complex character.
Whilst this review does sound quite negative, I actually flew through this book and it had great representation in it of race and a mix of sexual preferences. It's not a bad book by any means which is why I gave it a 6, but I feel like it had so much potential that it did not reach.
Harper, the protagonist of Girlhood lost her twin sister to anorexia. Shortly after her twins death Harper heads to boarding school in an attempt to start fresh and get over her grief. She makes a great group of friends there but she feels like they don't fully understand her. It's now the start of the new school year and with that brings a new student, Kirsty.
Kirsty and Harper instantly strike a friendship, especially after Harper finds out that Kirsty has also been through the tragedy of losing a sister and she finally feels like she has found someone who really gets her, but as the story progresses it seems that Kirsty is not all she says she is. Her behaviour becomes borderline obsessive and certain parts of her life story don't add up.
Girlhood for me has all the makings of a great story, it's set in a boarding school in Scotland (LOVE) and Kirsty could've been a great antagonist, however this book pitches itself as a thriller, and whilst there are a few elements that allude to the sense of a thriller, nothing is really taken that far which made this feel a little flat. It seems like Girlhood gets a bit confused about what it's aim is plot wise halfway through and ends up being a story about toxic friendship with a bit of a mystery thrown in as an afterthought. All this confusion over what the book is trying to achieve is what let me down.
Another point that made Girlhood less enjoyable for me was the main character Harper. To be completely honest I found her quite unlikeable, and at times slightly unrealistic as a character. She made some really stupid decisions and was oblivious to certain things and it seemed to be this way just so the plot could progress in the way Cat wanted it to rather than having to write a more complex character.
Whilst this review does sound quite negative, I actually flew through this book and it had great representation in it of race and a mix of sexual preferences. It's not a bad book by any means which is why I gave it a 6, but I feel like it had so much potential that it did not reach.
sarayacoub's review
3.0
Great read for a young teenager. Interesting storyline - good that it touches on several sensitive issues
madeeznuts's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
emilybates's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? N/A
3.75