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A review by stephanieluxton
Pink Neon by Megan Stockton
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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? No
4.0
Book 18 of the indie brawl.
This is a book I never would have picked up if I wasn't forced to by the brawl because this subject matter is not fun for me. However, it actually was a good book and in my top 5 so far for the brawl. That doesn't mean I'd recommend it to most people because it's an uncomfortable read.
This book is about Tansi, a prostitute who lives in a seedy area (as you'd expect) who's life changes upon meeting an artist who sees her as a real person instead of an object, and a woman who confesses that she's killed men.
I liked this book because a lot of it felt pretty realistic (except for the parts that weren't at all and I'll get to those). A few years ago I read Timea Nagy's memoir, Out of the Shadows about her experience being trafficked in Toronto and the lifestyle and relationships between the girls and the pimps felt pretty realistic (although more violent and dramatic in this fictional book than in the memoir). This book was stressful but I was invested in the characters. Our serial killer anti-hero was such an interesting character. I was rooting for Tansi the entire time. There was a genuine sense of danger throughout the story that I could appreciate.
My main complaint with books like this is that some character face injuries so traumatic and severe that I feel a real person would not possibly recover from them, nevermind be able to continue speaking. You'd pass out and when you woke up, you'd be in so much pain that you'd wish you were dead. Even if you made a physical recovery from some of these injuries (which you wouldn't), you would probably just need to check yourself right into therapy because you definitely wouldn't mentally recover. To me, it lowers the stakes when authors treat injuries too nonchalantly. I've had days where I've stubbed my toe and it's lead me to crumple to the ground and tear up, and that's not even that bad.
Anyways, my other beef with the story is that it ends really abruptly. There's worse ways to end a book but I had to go back and check that I wasn't missing pages because I wasn't quite satisfied. I have questions still. I also would have liked a but more backstory on Tansi.Why did she leave home to choose that lifestyle? Why wouldn't she leave that lifestyle once she realized just how much danger she was in? Especially after Alice dies. It seemed like her parents really wanted her back. It didn't seem like there was anything trapping her there. I also felt a little upset that Missy went after Elijah, who seemed like a genuinely good person. Missy is good at reading people so she should have known he was okay, unless she knew something we didn't, which would have been interesting but also very sad. I know Missy isn't supposed to be just the avenging angel sort, but I kind of liked that. I also really liked how she was a believable serial killer. Most of the time I wouldn't believe a woman could take down a huge man, but Missy is written pretty well. She's clever and more importantly, the men always underestimate her.
This is a book I never would have picked up if I wasn't forced to by the brawl because this subject matter is not fun for me. However, it actually was a good book and in my top 5 so far for the brawl. That doesn't mean I'd recommend it to most people because it's an uncomfortable read.
This book is about Tansi, a prostitute who lives in a seedy area (as you'd expect) who's life changes upon meeting an artist who sees her as a real person instead of an object, and a woman who confesses that she's killed men.
I liked this book because a lot of it felt pretty realistic (except for the parts that weren't at all and I'll get to those). A few years ago I read Timea Nagy's memoir, Out of the Shadows about her experience being trafficked in Toronto and the lifestyle and relationships between the girls and the pimps felt pretty realistic (although more violent and dramatic in this fictional book than in the memoir). This book was stressful but I was invested in the characters. Our serial killer anti-hero was such an interesting character. I was rooting for Tansi the entire time. There was a genuine sense of danger throughout the story that I could appreciate.
My main complaint with books like this is that some character face injuries so traumatic and severe that I feel a real person would not possibly recover from them, nevermind be able to continue speaking. You'd pass out and when you woke up, you'd be in so much pain that you'd wish you were dead. Even if you made a physical recovery from some of these injuries (which you wouldn't), you would probably just need to check yourself right into therapy because you definitely wouldn't mentally recover. To me, it lowers the stakes when authors treat injuries too nonchalantly. I've had days where I've stubbed my toe and it's lead me to crumple to the ground and tear up, and that's not even that bad.
Anyways, my other beef with the story is that it ends really abruptly. There's worse ways to end a book but I had to go back and check that I wasn't missing pages because I wasn't quite satisfied. I have questions still. I also would have liked a but more backstory on Tansi.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Vomit