A review by vicious
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I can't stop thinking about this book. It has left an indelible impression on me.

I listened to it via audiobook which may have been to my advantage as I never felt bogged down by the writing style (it's also very much my style anyway, so it's plausible reading it physically would have been fine). The narrators were incredible.

It's true that Pamela is a bit insufferable in the beginning; there were times where she could be grating, but I think that's the mark of a dynamic character. Over time, she really grew on me, and I think that's partly because she herself went through significant growth. I eventually began eagerly looking forward to her chapters.

Ruth could also be equally as insufferable; again, this isn't a flaw of the book. Quite the opposite. Characters with distinct flaws are, in my opinion, easier to adore. 

I love that the book never called the killer anything but "the defendant," robbing him of a name and the fictional fame tied to him. Yes, he is reminiscent of Bundy, but that's not what matters. The book is about the victims, both those who died and those who survived. And it's about the mark left on the survivors for the remainder of their lives. It's a bittersweet tale. Not happy, certainly sad, but definitive and concise. It's not supposed to be a happy tale, but neither does it need to be a tragedy.
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