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mdxxviii's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ashley_turch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Child death, Bullying, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Drug use, Murder, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol and Eating disorder
Minor: Death of parent
sydmartens's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book, I didn't know much about '90s california and the manson family, but it was well told. Definitely makes your skin crawl a bit but I'm looking forward to reading more by Cline.
lyakimov's review against another edition
2.0
I'm disturbed. I will never forgive this book for the emotional trauma it gave me.
luxxautumn98's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kivt's review against another edition
2.0
Really bad.
I picked this up because I read a review that raved about how well Cline encapsulates the experience of being a teenage girl, and the obsessive intensities of their friendships. She certainly did that. I generally avoid serial killer or cult books because they're often deeply misogynist, so I appreciated that Cline wrote a story about girlhood that eclipsed its cult murder setting. Russell is almost incidental to the story, nowhere near as important or compelling to the protagonist or to readers as Suzanne and the other women.
There are some worthwhile thematic things happening here, but it's mostly just dreary and almost impossibly poorly written. One of every three sentences is so painfully overworked that the book is nearly unreadable. The interludes with Evie as an adult are particularly painful.
I picked this up because I read a review that raved about how well Cline encapsulates the experience of being a teenage girl, and the obsessive intensities of their friendships. She certainly did that. I generally avoid serial killer or cult books because they're often deeply misogynist, so I appreciated that Cline wrote a story about girlhood that eclipsed its cult murder setting. Russell is almost incidental to the story, nowhere near as important or compelling to the protagonist or to readers as Suzanne and the other women.
There are some worthwhile thematic things happening here, but it's mostly just dreary and almost impossibly poorly written. One of every three sentences is so painfully overworked that the book is nearly unreadable. The interludes with Evie as an adult are particularly painful.
lizzycatslibrary's review against another edition
2.0
Everyone liked this boooooook... and I did not...
Wasn't a fan of the main character. Meh. Didn't get her obsession with Suzanne. Meh. It wasn't even really convincing to me why she was so obsessed with Suzanne. I almost felt like the main character thought she had a lot more to do with the events that occurred than she actually did. She was kind of there... and not even really there.
I'm going to agree with another reviewer who said 90% of the book nothing happened. Truth. Just... nope... not a fan.
OH also... adult Evie? Just as annoying. What was even the purpose of her being there? Meeehhhhhh
Wasn't a fan of the main character. Meh. Didn't get her obsession with Suzanne. Meh. It wasn't even really convincing to me why she was so obsessed with Suzanne. I almost felt like the main character thought she had a lot more to do with the events that occurred than she actually did. She was kind of there... and not even really there.
I'm going to agree with another reviewer who said 90% of the book nothing happened. Truth. Just... nope... not a fan.
OH also... adult Evie? Just as annoying. What was even the purpose of her being there? Meeehhhhhh
miranda_reyes's review against another edition
3.0
The plot was incredibly intriguing, very well-written with a number of intricately-strung sentences I found myself re-reading. The lovechild of a rebellious coming-of-age story and the Manson murders. Very strong for a debut novel. However, I found the climax disappointing.
mariahw00ds's review against another edition
2.0
Well written and intriguing. Kinda of off-putting and not my cup of tea.
alli_oopsie's review against another edition
dark
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
4.0