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kiam's review
4.0
I think that young adult books are slowly becoming the most read on my shelf. This was an easy read with a good storyline and an incredibly important message. The combination of boarding school, friendship, privilege, grief and trauma made for an excelled to story line. Very good!
holsarmstrong's review
4.0
I am on a bit of a Cat Clarke binge at the moment, and this book didn't disappoint. Cat writes detailed characters and the plot line for her books is always unique and interesting. I really liked that I had mixed feelings about Harper the entire book. I liked her - I related to her, but I didn't agree with half the stuff she did or said. I hated to love her.
The only thing that didn't push this as five stars for me was the ending. I felt like the book made Kirsty look super creepy and obsessive the entire time and then bam, her reasons for her behaviour were brushed under the carpet. I just didn't like the ending at all - I wanted something more to happen like I kept waiting for Kirsty to make some weird revelation and end up in a psych ward or something.
The only thing that didn't push this as five stars for me was the ending. I felt like the book made Kirsty look super creepy and obsessive the entire time and then bam, her reasons for her behaviour were brushed under the carpet. I just didn't like the ending at all - I wanted something more to happen like I kept waiting for Kirsty to make some weird revelation and end up in a psych ward or something.
neenor's review
3.0
I like Cat Clarke because she broaches subjects in her novels that often go untouched (and can a get a hell yeah for a bisexual main character?! With the actual word "bisexual" being used!) A relatively quick read about some heavy topics.
3mmakatariina's review
4.0
I actually didn't expect much anything from the book and i hadn't heard much about the book nor the author. However, i really enjoyed it. I was actually hoping that i'd finish this tomorrow but it seems like i need to find a new one for just a couple of days.
I really enjoyed the setting, writing styles and (well some) characters. I couldn't understand who was supposed to be the unlikeable character - Harper or Kristy? Because at some points i was thinking what the helllllll???? and whyyy??? because their actions were really confusing and questionable.
I liked how real the friendship between the girls was. However, at some points, it seemed, that Harper just needed someone at all the time. When she wasn't talking with Rowan, Ama and Lily, she ran to Kristy. When she didn't want to talk Kristy anymore, then she ran back to the other girls. It just seemed that she was quite desperate and couldn't be alone.
As i haven't lost anyone close to me, i cannot comment how well the grief and depression was written, but it felt quite real.
I really enjoyed the setting, writing styles and (well some) characters. I couldn't understand who was supposed to be the unlikeable character - Harper or Kristy? Because at some points i was thinking what the helllllll???? and whyyy??? because their actions were really confusing and questionable.
I liked how real the friendship between the girls was. However, at some points, it seemed, that Harper just needed someone at all the time. When she wasn't talking with Rowan, Ama and Lily, she ran to Kristy. When she didn't want to talk Kristy anymore, then she ran back to the other girls. It just seemed that she was quite desperate and couldn't be alone.
As i haven't lost anyone close to me, i cannot comment how well the grief and depression was written, but it felt quite real.
k5t1e's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kba76's review
3.0
Our introduction to Harper comes at an evening meeting of her and her close-knit group of friends at boarding school. No Enid Blyton style midnight feasts here-it's illicit booze and sex talk all the way. It's all quite light-hearted, then she drops the bombshell that she thinks she was to blame for her twin sister's death.
Things are not quite so clear-cut, but the story takes its time to come out.
We focus on the close, almost stifling, friendship between the four girls and the way their relationships are affected by the arrival of a new girl, Kirsty.
Kirsty and Harper hit it off. They seem to have a lot in common. Unfortunately, Kirsty is not quite what she sets herself up to be.
The fluctuating dynamics between the girls did, to me, appear rather exaggerated but I think teen readers will find plenty to like about this. I certainly enjoyed the story, and was desperate to unravel the mysteries that were set up. My only real gripe was with the ending-are the girls really that stupid that they'd forgive Kirsty so quickly?
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read this.
Things are not quite so clear-cut, but the story takes its time to come out.
We focus on the close, almost stifling, friendship between the four girls and the way their relationships are affected by the arrival of a new girl, Kirsty.
Kirsty and Harper hit it off. They seem to have a lot in common. Unfortunately, Kirsty is not quite what she sets herself up to be.
The fluctuating dynamics between the girls did, to me, appear rather exaggerated but I think teen readers will find plenty to like about this. I certainly enjoyed the story, and was desperate to unravel the mysteries that were set up. My only real gripe was with the ending-are the girls really that stupid that they'd forgive Kirsty so quickly?
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read this.
softstarrynights's review
3.0
This was exactly what I needed to welcome me back into the arms of contemporary YA, after my previous disappointments. Girlhood is set in a girls boarding school, and revolves around a group of four friends in their final year of high school, leading up to the Christmas holidays, and it's a lot of fun. I really enjoyed this story of how the new girl, Kirsty, finds her feet thanks to Harper, and how this new friendship affects her old ones. The only one thing that disappointed me was the finale, I was spinning some WILD theories and in comparison it was a little bit of a let down. Other than that a great YA, and I'd love to read more from Cat Clarke.
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