7.6k reviews for:

American Psycho

Bret Easton Ellis

3.59 AVERAGE

vittuliina's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

broookecoveney's review against another edition

4.0

dark tense

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder

lucyheard_'s review against another edition

1.0

dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

marshallt001's review against another edition

5.0

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One part of me loved this. The other part of me wanted to burn it.

This is one of the few books I've read, which is so great and complex and weird, but I also would never want another human to read.

A defence of nihilism? A critique of consumerism? A reflection of our culture? Nothing more than an extended, drawn-out description of endless violence and horror?

Maybe, maybe not.

Disturbing? Absolutely.

lovisaclaesson's review against another edition

5.0

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

cognitivecrow's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional medium-paced

moiragibson's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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It's a challenging book...

sometimes the challenge is reading through a detailed description of every single piece each character in the scene is wearing... sometimes the challenge is reading through a brutal description of a character's torture and murder

... Is it a well-written book? Yes, I'd say so. Is it enjoyable to read? ...For me, that answer is "no" enough times throughout the story to take away from it. I don't regret reading it, but wow can it be brutal. The dialogue is often quite entertaining - at times it feels like you're reading a pointless argument between high school boys when these are supposed to be grown business-men, but it's funny and definitely  highlights how shallow the characters are. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Stalking, Car accident, Gaslighting, Dysphoria

Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Incest, Excrement, Antisemitism, Dementia, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury

mklwyn's review against another edition

3.0

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I started out liking the book. It was entertaining to be immersed in such a superficial, commercial world. Clearly none of the characters are supposed to be likable or relatable, and yet the world was being built in such a way that made me want to keep reading.

Nothing really happened until like ~200 pages in, which is halfway. This is where I started losing interest. It took the author too long to say what he was trying to say. Felt like it could have been much more succinct, but I guess the point was to be long and meandering, because that is the character. He is self-centered and psychotic and not well, mentally. I want to give this book a lower rating, but there really is nothing wrong with the writing. The dialogue is funny and real. The setting is cool and immersive. I definitely was not as disturbed as I should have been, but maybe that's because I skipped through the second portion generously.

After reading about the author's inspiration for the book, I liked it more. Not a lot more, but more. I'm at a point where I guess I can relate? Feeling like a consumer and not a creator, feeling vapid and uncaring about the world around me. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, though. It wasn't a fun read, even though it was pretty quick at first.

kayleighkalagher's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 8%

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It was so heinous and honestly wasn’t very demonizing of his actions as it should’ve been. Super dense and just so unenjoyable lol. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Classism

abergw's review against another edition

2.25

dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes