A review by baknata
Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth

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

4.0

This book was not what I was expecting, but did not disappoint overall. It had really good descriptive language, almost too good (it describes vomit a lot not a fan). The author does a great job of weaving the different stories together without making it feel choppy.
The narration style was interesting. I enjoyed the way the narrator spoke to the reader. However, when the narrator reveals at the end that all three girls made the same deal, I was kinda annoyed. I don't think it was necessary for that to be kept from the reader. I think it would've added a lot to the story and helped the reader connect with Harper and Merritt like they did with Audrey. Not to mention, the scene on the red carpet would have had a stronger impact if we had seen Harper going through similar experiences to Audrey. For the reader, Harper and Merritt don't seem very affected by the events, when at the end we see they had been. I don't think the twist added as much as it could've had we known sooner.
This isn't generally the genre I go for but I found myself thinking about this book and anxious to get back to it everytime I stepped away. It starts with a lot of different points of view, which was hard to follow (I was listening to the audiobook), but once it gets going its impossible to put down. As I neared the end I couldn't see how it could be wrapped up with how little of the book I had left. It did wrap up the loose ends, but I was left a little disappointed at the end. The end was good, there was just something missing that I couldn't put my finger on. I think it might've been a pacing thing. Overall, a thrilling read, would recommend.
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