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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
Free ARC from NetGalley. This sounded like my type of book. I’m a sucker for private school/college friends drama, but this….was not really that. It made me uncomfortable the whole time.
Rose and Marta are roommates and Sami and Lloyd are roommates. They are pretty much forced to be friends because they’re the four scholarship kids at this ritzy private boarding school.
Mean girls Genevieve and Sylvia rule the school. Gen’s bf, Max, takes Lloyd under his wing, which allows all four a little protection. Lots of nothing happens — I started skimming heavily around 30%. The mean girls are mean and the poor kids are poor. It was a little too disturbing hearing of some of the mean things that happened.
Blah blah blah……
The *thing* that’s been hinted at since the first chapter finally happens. Genevieve falls off the grand staircase. People who were around m say Marta pushed her but Marta says she slapped her. Marta runs away, making her look super suspicious. The other three find her in the clock tower room and DECIDE TO HIDE HER UP THERE for SIX MONTHS.
SIX. MONTHS.
that’s how long until Marta turns 18 and won’t have to do what her horrible dad says. He killed her mom (maybe?) and abused Marta. Now that Genevieve has fallen she knows she’s going to be taken back home, so she opts to LIVE IN THE CLOCK TOWER. For SIX MONTHS.
more blah blah blah like three weeks before her birthday she agrees to let Dr Reza take her to the hospital. When Dr R leaves, Marta wakes and panics and kills herself. I mean, c’mon. She was three weeks from freedom. And Genevieve lives and is returning to school so no big deal. AND her awful dad died after a second stroke so she doesn’t even have to worry about him anymore.
I super heavily skimmed the very last part but there was something about a court case accusing Rose of killing Marta? But Sylvia’s mom represents Rose and everything is ok because mean girl Sylvia loves Rose. I’m not sure what happens to Max and Genevieve? Or Lloyd? Sami gets engaged. Yay. The end.
Rose and Marta are roommates and Sami and Lloyd are roommates. They are pretty much forced to be friends because they’re the four scholarship kids at this ritzy private boarding school.
Mean girls Genevieve and Sylvia rule the school. Gen’s bf, Max, takes Lloyd under his wing, which allows all four a little protection. Lots of nothing happens — I started skimming heavily around 30%. The mean girls are mean and the poor kids are poor. It was a little too disturbing hearing of some of the mean things that happened.
Blah blah blah……
The *thing* that’s been hinted at since the first chapter finally happens. Genevieve falls off the grand staircase. People who were around m say Marta pushed her but Marta says she slapped her. Marta runs away, making her look super suspicious. The other three find her in the clock tower room and DECIDE TO HIDE HER UP THERE for SIX MONTHS.
SIX. MONTHS.
that’s how long until Marta turns 18 and won’t have to do what her horrible dad says. He killed her mom (maybe?) and abused Marta. Now that Genevieve has fallen she knows she’s going to be taken back home, so she opts to LIVE IN THE CLOCK TOWER. For SIX MONTHS.
more blah blah blah like three weeks before her birthday she agrees to let Dr Reza take her to the hospital. When Dr R leaves, Marta wakes and panics and kills herself. I mean, c’mon. She was three weeks from freedom. And Genevieve lives and is returning to school so no big deal. AND her awful dad died after a second stroke so she doesn’t even have to worry about him anymore.
I super heavily skimmed the very last part but there was something about a court case accusing Rose of killing Marta? But Sylvia’s mom represents Rose and everything is ok because mean girl Sylvia loves Rose. I’m not sure what happens to Max and Genevieve? Or Lloyd? Sami gets engaged. Yay. The end.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
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
Adding more and more explicit trauma to 16/17 year old characters doesn't help nor bring anything to the plot of this story. Felt like 'trauma porn' where half these instances were very much not needed or even explored in purposeful way.
This is a key example of a book that should require trigger warnings and should be advertised accordingly.
This is a key example of a book that should require trigger warnings and should be advertised accordingly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
sad
slow-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
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced