Reviews

Girl Flesh by May Leitz

dantereadsalot's review

challenging dark emotional medium-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

4.5

This book was very dark and at times difficult to read. I found myself skimming pages due to the queasy feeling in my stomach. Overall the book was disturbing but in a very enjoyable way.

stephaniemm95's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

I liked this book enough but I didn't love it. 

At the end of the day I just found that none of the side characters were at all interesting and just shoved in there to move the plot along. The plot itself was fine but the first 100 pages barely anything happens. I wrongly thought there would be more horror. 

Caro and Angie's relationship is built on trauma and as much as I was rooting for them I couldn't help but think of how the hell they were going to have a functioning relationship after this without a loooot of therapy. 

The author is a good writer, that is undeniable. There were passages I found particularly poignant. I think if this had been fleshed out more it could have been even better. 

srmowrey's review

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

adorableautist's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

passacaglia's review

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

st3llz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

bionicwalker's review

i began this book and then fell into a depression and couldn't finish it

nervous's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

brnineworms's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

3.0

Too gratuitous and melodramatic for me. The shed scene in particular felt very writhing-on-the-stage-pulling-red-handkerchiefs-from-my-armpit. That said, I know this sort of thing can be cathartic; sometimes you need to indulge in a bit of woe.

The concept is decent. Internet celebrities are forced to reckon with the horrors of meatspace, and the pervasive terror of existing as a woman in a misogynistic world.

And the experience turns Angie into a man-hating lesbian. Good for her.

What happens to Wes makes a lot more sense if you interpret him not as a person but as a personification of heteronormativity. Angie isn’t killing her husband, she’s killing comphet; she’s killing her straight persona to set herself free.

I assume that was what Leitz was going for? That’s how I’ve chosen to read it, at least.

But I don’t like it, and I don’t know why. I can’t quite articulate it. There were lots of little issues that bugged me – pacing issues, backstory exposition interrupting the actual story, etc. – but I can’t pinpoint exactly where or why it falls apart for me.

I can see how Girl Flesh might resonate with other readers. I thought it was okay.

CONTENT WARNINGS:

stalking, kidnapping, drugging, alcoholism, disordered eating, self harm, suicidality, death (including animal death), violence (including gun violence, sexual assault, and torture), blood/gore/injury, vomit, misogyny, transphobia

dxisy13's review

dark emotional fast-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

4.75