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paragraphsandpages's review against another edition
2.0
I absolutely love that we're getting more and more f/f rep in YA, but I guess it can't all be in good books.
I feel like the concept of this book was very strong, and there were moments where this concept really rung clear, but most of the time I... was just kind of bored. For such a short book, it felt really long and repetitive, and it kind of just ambled along until the end. There wasn't a clear goal in mind, not really, because while they had a final destination (sort of?), that destination didn't actually promise any sort of hope, and only one character actually wanted to go there. It made the book feel like a string of events without a real purpose.
For two people on the run, the plot had very little tension and excitement. There were only a few moments where this became an issue, but most of the time it resolved itself fairly quickly. There were no high speed chases or immediate repercussions for any of their actions, they'd just see their latest crime on the news a few days later. At some point, everything just started to blur together because it was just them doing petty crimes because they were almost broke, complaining and suffering from being almost broke, and some 'sweet' moment between Trixie and Lux sprinkled in between.
I feel like this is a book that could have been saved by the characters or the romance, but I spent this book flip flopping between being frustrated and feeling indifferent. I honestly don't even know if Trixia actually even liked Lux because she'd complain about her a lot, and all the compliments and positive opinions she had of Lux felt superficial or skin-deep (which is odd seeing as they grew up together?) I dunno, but neither the characters or romance really worked for me.
All in all, this just wasn't the book for me, but maybe it's what someone else is looking for! I just would've liked something more, whether that be tension, action, excitement, whatever.
I feel like the concept of this book was very strong, and there were moments where this concept really rung clear, but most of the time I... was just kind of bored. For such a short book, it felt really long and repetitive, and it kind of just ambled along until the end. There wasn't a clear goal in mind, not really, because while they had a final destination (sort of?), that destination didn't actually promise any sort of hope, and only one character actually wanted to go there. It made the book feel like a string of events without a real purpose.
For two people on the run, the plot had very little tension and excitement. There were only a few moments where this became an issue, but most of the time it resolved itself fairly quickly. There were no high speed chases or immediate repercussions for any of their actions, they'd just see their latest crime on the news a few days later. At some point, everything just started to blur together because it was just them doing petty crimes because they were almost broke, complaining and suffering from being almost broke, and some 'sweet' moment between Trixie and Lux sprinkled in between.
I feel like this is a book that could have been saved by the characters or the romance, but I spent this book flip flopping between being frustrated and feeling indifferent. I honestly don't even know if Trixia actually even liked Lux because she'd complain about her a lot, and all the compliments and positive opinions she had of Lux felt superficial or skin-deep (which is odd seeing as they grew up together?) I dunno, but neither the characters or romance really worked for me.
All in all, this just wasn't the book for me, but maybe it's what someone else is looking for! I just would've liked something more, whether that be tension, action, excitement, whatever.
blue_reader's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I disliked the two main characters so much. They were spoiled brats and feels too stupid to be explained as 'they are teens'. The relationship is so toxic that it's funny this is a romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Vomit
sammireads7's review against another edition
4.0
I received an arc from a goodreads giveaway and I never expected it to be this good.
Characters: 3.5/5
Romance: 4.5/5
Plot: 5/5
Thriller Aspect: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
Okay so this books had pretty solid characters. There were just a few i wasn’t really a fan of. Also Trixie and Lux were such powerful characters, they are just elite characters. I also loved that it was queer. And Trixie just has a never trust a man vibe which you see from the first page.
The romance was just fun to see the relationship grow as the story goes on.
The plot was amazing. A lot of the time there is either a good plot or good characters. This book had both. It was just beautifully written.
The thriller aspect was really fun to see play put.
And the overall story was just fun to follow along. Also I love how there is a page that says content warning because not many books have that. If you want to get into thrillers I would recommend checking this book out. All in all it is a beautifully written fun story.
Characters: 3.5/5
Romance: 4.5/5
Plot: 5/5
Thriller Aspect: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
Okay so this books had pretty solid characters. There were just a few i wasn’t really a fan of. Also Trixie and Lux were such powerful characters, they are just elite characters. I also loved that it was queer. And Trixie just has a never trust a man vibe which you see from the first page.
The romance was just fun to see the relationship grow as the story goes on.
The plot was amazing. A lot of the time there is either a good plot or good characters. This book had both. It was just beautifully written.
The thriller aspect was really fun to see play put.
And the overall story was just fun to follow along. Also I love how there is a page that says content warning because not many books have that. If you want to get into thrillers I would recommend checking this book out. All in all it is a beautifully written fun story.
elle_oftheball's review against another edition
5.0
I read it in a day, but I’ll be thinking about it for weeks to come.
Everything about Trouble Girls feels both wondrous and harrowing, almost like a particularly hard nightmare to wake up from. Trixie and Lux are both charmingly dislikeable, and the book felt like one long ride in the best way.
Everything about Trouble Girls feels both wondrous and harrowing, almost like a particularly hard nightmare to wake up from. Trixie and Lux are both charmingly dislikeable, and the book felt like one long ride in the best way.
hitbooksnotgirlz's review against another edition
4.0
Trixie & Lux were impossible not to fall in love with and root for. I wanted them to come out on top so, so badly. While I enjoyed every aspect of their journey, the ending of the novel was quite disappointing to me.
kthornette's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ⭐️ rounded
“I press my lips to her ear and whisper, ‘let’s go light some shit on fire.’”
On the surface, this story was made for me: beautiful cover, alluring title, girl power, road trip gone wrong.
Trixie and Lux’s relationship was so beautifully complex and complicated. From the start, you could tell how much they care about each other and love each other, friends or more. I wish we had more details on why they liked/loved each other. They were very different and complemented each other and I loved how their relationship wasn’t just happy moments but they dealt with tough and deep situations. I felt as if they were really dependant on each other; Lux on Trixie more than vice versa. I do think Lux was a bit immature and naive given her backstory and how she acted on the trip. Trixie acted like her mom at some point ... which I guess makes sense given Lux’s attitude.
That being said,
“I press my lips to her ear and whisper, ‘let’s go light some shit on fire.’”
On the surface, this story was made for me: beautiful cover, alluring title, girl power, road trip gone wrong.
Trixie and Lux’s relationship was so beautifully complex and complicated. From the start, you could tell how much they care about each other and love each other, friends or more. I wish we had more details on why they liked/loved each other. They were very different and complemented each other and I loved how their relationship wasn’t just happy moments but they dealt with tough and deep situations. I felt as if they were really dependant on each other; Lux on Trixie more than vice versa. I do think Lux was a bit immature and naive given her backstory and how she acted on the trip. Trixie acted like her mom at some point ... which I guess makes sense given Lux’s attitude.
That being said,
Spoiler
I think it would’ve been more interesting if they girls took a detour on their road trip. Instead of going who knows where, they could’ve gone to the #MeToo marches they unintentionally started. It would’ve strengthened that theme even more.questsandcrimes's review against another edition
3.0
Lux and Trixie are going on their first weekend trip together. They both need a break from the stressful everyday. But everything goes horribly wrong after one violent night, and their lives are altered forever. Now, the face of a #MeToo movement they didn’t want to be in, the girls try to stay ahead of the cops and the media. The girls only have each other and the new love they’re discovering.
I have such mixed feelings on Trouble Girls. I love a road trip book, a road trip book plus crime
I have such mixed feelings on Trouble Girls. I love a road trip book, a road trip book plus crime
hsinjulit's review against another edition
1.0
Buddy read with Gabriella! I encourage you to check out her 4-star review instead.
This book is well-written and I did like the social commentary-ness of Trouble Girls, but I don’t know... maybe Thelma & Louise just isn’t meant to be retold in YA in almost its entirety.
Trixie Denton (~17) and Lux Leesburg (~17) go on a weekend getaway but accidentally get entangled with a crime. Now, they are on the run and the road trip stretches into days and weeks.
I… am not sure what I just read.
I appreciate the points this book is making, including the main theme of sexual assault and some mentions of racism, homophobia, etc., but other than that, the somewhat unnecessary descriptions included to build the scenes made me very uncomfortable. Especially some insults other characters throw around. They felt somewhat gratuitous even though, at the same time, I understand why they were included.
The book is full of panic attacks and anxious energy, and yet, I never really felt enough connection to the main characters to care for them. I liked that the romance subplot is full of chemistry, but other than that, Trixie and Lux just move from town to town, meeting a lot of random people on their way. And I didn’t feel like I know them at all, even when it is told in Trixie’s first-person point of view.
Had the story been told from Lux’s POV, we might have been able to learn more about the both of them. Alas, I spent most of the time waiting for the ending of the story and when I reached it, I was disappointed. Like the movie, which I have not seen, it is somewhat open-ended. I love a good open ending, but in Trouble Girls, I finished the book wondering why I road-tripped with them for almost 300 pages.
I should reiterate that Rubin wrote the story well, but I personally couldn’t get into it. Perhaps, if you are a Thelma & Louise fan, you will love this YA retelling.
Content warnings: murder, panic attack, dementia, sexual assault (including rape), blood, homophobia, smoking (underage), brief suicidal thoughts, mention of overdose, homophobia, misogyny, mention of teen pregnancy, mention of trans rejection, mention of racism
I received a digital review copy from Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is well-written and I did like the social commentary-ness of Trouble Girls, but I don’t know... maybe Thelma & Louise just isn’t meant to be retold in YA in almost its entirety.
Trixie Denton (~17) and Lux Leesburg (~17) go on a weekend getaway but accidentally get entangled with a crime. Now, they are on the run and the road trip stretches into days and weeks.
I… am not sure what I just read.
I appreciate the points this book is making, including the main theme of sexual assault and some mentions of racism, homophobia, etc., but other than that, the somewhat unnecessary descriptions included to build the scenes made me very uncomfortable. Especially some insults other characters throw around. They felt somewhat gratuitous even though, at the same time, I understand why they were included.
The book is full of panic attacks and anxious energy, and yet, I never really felt enough connection to the main characters to care for them. I liked that the romance subplot is full of chemistry, but other than that, Trixie and Lux just move from town to town, meeting a lot of random people on their way. And I didn’t feel like I know them at all, even when it is told in Trixie’s first-person point of view.
Had the story been told from Lux’s POV, we might have been able to learn more about the both of them. Alas, I spent most of the time waiting for the ending of the story and when I reached it, I was disappointed. Like the movie, which I have not seen, it is somewhat open-ended. I love a good open ending, but in Trouble Girls, I finished the book wondering why I road-tripped with them for almost 300 pages.
I should reiterate that Rubin wrote the story well, but I personally couldn’t get into it. Perhaps, if you are a Thelma & Louise fan, you will love this YA retelling.
Content warnings: murder, panic attack, dementia, sexual assault (including rape), blood, homophobia, smoking (underage), brief suicidal thoughts, mention of overdose, homophobia, misogyny, mention of teen pregnancy, mention of trans rejection, mention of racism
I received a digital review copy from Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
thelaynierose's review against another edition
4.0
What a stunning, sucker punch of a novel. It was a devastatingly beautiful love letter to angry girls and queer girls everywhere. This book filled a niche for me that I didn't know I was missing: the angry girls, the messy girls, the girls who make actual mistakes with incredibly high stakes in the contemporary world, and this book provided that for me. It was thrilling to read and you latched onto the characters right away and were with them every mile of their journey. I also loved the discussions of feminism and activism laced throughout the novel. It was very interesting to see how Trixie and Lux's actions grew beyond themselves and started a movement, even when they were more removed from the movement than the activists at the college who were leading the charge were. I also just adored the poetry of Trixie and Lux's love for each other. I can't wait for this book to come out so I can share it with my friends. I'll definitely be recommending this to the older end of the YA age range, just because of the trigger warnings that will need to go along with it. (like for real please check the trigger warnings before you read.) Overall, a fantastic read that I couldn't put down.
lookingforamandaa's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Trouble Girls is pitched as a sapphic retelling of Thelma and Louise. I never saw the original film, but I definitely want to now. I have to start this review by saying that this story starts off with an attempted rape. There’s also some violence, murder, and so much degrading hate speak toward women that we see through the characters.
We follow Trixie and Lux who are on the run after Trixie stabbed a college man who was trying to rape Lux. They’re fleeing because they know what will happen if they go to the police. Lux comes right out and says that she’ll be questioned about why she was in a bar, what she was wearing, about how she was dancing with the person that tried to rape her. This book really obviously points out the flaws and issues that todays’s world has with believing the victim when someone tries to report being raped or sexually assaulted. There’s also a lot of anger. We only get Trixie’s point of view, so I can’t say how Lux was feeling, but Trixie was angry. I could absolutely understand her anger, but at times I couldn’t sympathize with it because the voices the girls made just kept making things worse and worse. I couldn’t help but think they should have just turned themselves in.
Overall, I wanted to like this book more than I did. I liked the romance between the girls. I liked their adventures while traveling, but I didn’t like many of the choices they made.
We follow Trixie and Lux who are on the run after Trixie stabbed a college man who was trying to rape Lux. They’re fleeing because they know what will happen if they go to the police. Lux comes right out and says that she’ll be questioned about why she was in a bar, what she was wearing, about how she was dancing with the person that tried to rape her. This book really obviously points out the flaws and issues that todays’s world has with believing the victim when someone tries to report being raped or sexually assaulted. There’s also a lot of anger. We only get Trixie’s point of view, so I can’t say how Lux was feeling, but Trixie was angry. I could absolutely understand her anger, but at times I couldn’t sympathize with it because the voices the girls made just kept making things worse and worse. I couldn’t help but think they should have just turned themselves in.
Overall, I wanted to like this book more than I did. I liked the romance between the girls. I liked their adventures while traveling, but I didn’t like many of the choices they made.