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A review by onkenzisshelf
The Happiest Girl in the World: A Novel by Alena Dillon
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What I Liked:
- Reading this during the Olympics was perfect timing, especially with Simone Biles dropping out to focus on her health - this felt like the background information we didn't know we needed.
- I liked how this followed true events and real people - inspired by the events of Larry Nassar and the Karolyi Ranch were changed, but we got real names like Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, and Aly Raisman and how they dealt with abuse.
- I loved how much I hated the characters - I loved them when I was supposed to love them and hated them when I was supposed to hate them, but the emotion behind all of that was so real and so raw.
- I just love reading about this sport in general and all the hard, sometimes horrible work that goes into it.
What I Didn't Like/Wanted More Of:
- The writing style felt rushed and a little juvenile.
- I wanted more detail - this story felt very "tell" rather than "show"
You Should Read If You Like:
- Watching the gymnasts on the Olympics!
- Powerful femininity.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence