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A review by jennaraetions
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is one of my favorite books I've read in so long, and yet I don't feel like I can give it five stars, even though I give almost every book 5 stars.
It took me a bit to get into, and I'm not sure why. This is, at its core, a book about true crime and feminism, which is kind of my wheelhouse. But once I got into it, I was definitely hooked, until about halfway through.
I do sometimes struggle with staying focused during books (thanks adhd) but at a certain point, I hit a spot where I struggled to keep track of the two different story lines. The book covers Ruth, her struggles with herself, her family, and her sexuality, and her life with Tina, until...the end of her story at the hands of "The Defendant", while simultaneously telling the story of Pamela, who witnessed The Defendant after he attacked her sorority, and her navigating that, and befriending Tina. Pamela's story is told bouncing between the 70s and now, alongside Ruth's story. Always bouncing back and forth. Sometimes, the stories overlap so much, with the same characters, places, etc, that it was hard to keep track of who was where and when.
That being said, this book is beautifully written, an amazing premise that absolutely needs to be screamed from the rooftops, and though I've always hated the way press turns serial killers into media rock stars, the perspective of the victims will forever change how I watch or read true crime. While there were a few times I felt a little lost, having to stop and think and get my bearings on which storyline I was in and what they were currently doing, it was absolutely worth it.
Towards the end, there were some details that I feel like I didn't get the answers it seemed like we should have gotten (Tina getting the items from Rebecca seemed a little open ended, as well as the conversation with Carl that just kind of seemed to end abruptly) but it's possible I missed some details towards the end.
All in all, if you are a feminist, interested in true crime, lgbtqia+ or an ally, this is absolutely a book you NEED to read. I may even read it again somewhere down the line.
I'd quote all of the amazing quotes from this book about the way women are/were treated, but there are so many. So many. Absolutely great metaphors and putting the absolute nonsense of the policework and mysogeny of the time (and now) at the forefront, and fully discussing that The Defendant was not an amazing, charismatic genius, but rather a "run of the mill incel," and I'm so here for it.
It took me a bit to get into, and I'm not sure why. This is, at its core, a book about true crime and feminism, which is kind of my wheelhouse. But once I got into it, I was definitely hooked, until about halfway through.
I do sometimes struggle with staying focused during books (thanks adhd) but at a certain point, I hit a spot where I struggled to keep track of the two different story lines. The book covers Ruth, her struggles with herself, her family, and her sexuality, and her life with Tina, until...the end of her story at the hands of "The Defendant", while simultaneously telling the story of Pamela, who witnessed The Defendant after he attacked her sorority, and her navigating that, and befriending Tina. Pamela's story is told bouncing between the 70s and now, alongside Ruth's story. Always bouncing back and forth. Sometimes, the stories overlap so much, with the same characters, places, etc, that it was hard to keep track of who was where and when.
That being said, this book is beautifully written, an amazing premise that absolutely needs to be screamed from the rooftops, and though I've always hated the way press turns serial killers into media rock stars, the perspective of the victims will forever change how I watch or read true crime. While there were a few times I felt a little lost, having to stop and think and get my bearings on which storyline I was in and what they were currently doing, it was absolutely worth it.
Towards the end, there were some details that I feel like I didn't get the answers it seemed like we should have gotten (Tina getting the items from Rebecca seemed a little open ended, as well as the conversation with Carl that just kind of seemed to end abruptly) but it's possible I missed some details towards the end.
All in all, if you are a feminist, interested in true crime, lgbtqia+ or an ally, this is absolutely a book you NEED to read. I may even read it again somewhere down the line.
I'd quote all of the amazing quotes from this book about the way women are/were treated, but there are so many. So many. Absolutely great metaphors and putting the absolute nonsense of the policework and mysogeny of the time (and now) at the forefront, and fully discussing that The Defendant was not an amazing, charismatic genius, but rather a "run of the mill incel," and I'm so here for it.