A review by chardavidson
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

I’ve heard a lot about how this is similar to The Secret History. It is, I guess, but only if you just read descriptions of both of these books and didn’t actually read them. This book is way more lighthearted, fun, full of pop culture references. It reminded me of a Community episode that went a little deeper than normal. I loved it! I was kept at the edge of my seat the whole time. It was such a mystery, and also a great coming of age novel that had an ending I really vibed with. Yay all around!