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A review by writingcaia
The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Amazing read.
A vicious, violent, enthralling, queer and full of representation YA thriller.
A bank heist, three friends with a messed up past and a weird but loving promiscuity between them. But, one is Nora, and all the girls she has been before.
Raised by a con artist mother that used her for her schemes, the girl who is Nora had no identity or too many, she was a bargain chip, she was bait, she was what her mother wanted her to be, what her mother trained her to be, and she was hurt, until her mother lost the con and fell in love with a monster, and she knew she had escape. Saved by her lessons and helped by her much older half sister survivor, she got away leaving a lost trail of blood.
But, now, five years later, her safety is at at risk because she was caught in a messed up bank robbery and she will finally have to confront her true self. Who is she after all?
I loved everything about it just wished maybe for a more rounded up finale, still what a fast paced, entertaining, filled with love and hurt, and all that people can do, evil and wrong, good and protective, this book was.
I can’t wait to see the movie because this definitely has the cinematic quality to it, just hope it brings forth the same level of depth in the characters, their struggle and their love.
A vicious, violent, enthralling, queer and full of representation YA thriller.
A bank heist, three friends with a messed up past and a weird but loving promiscuity between them. But, one is Nora, and all the girls she has been before.
Raised by a con artist mother that used her for her schemes, the girl who is Nora had no identity or too many, she was a bargain chip, she was bait, she was what her mother wanted her to be, what her mother trained her to be, and she was hurt, until her mother lost the con and fell in love with a monster, and she knew she had escape. Saved by her lessons and helped by her much older half sister survivor, she got away leaving a lost trail of blood.
But, now, five years later, her safety is at at risk because she was caught in a messed up bank robbery and she will finally have to confront her true self. Who is she after all?
I loved everything about it just wished maybe for a more rounded up finale, still what a fast paced, entertaining, filled with love and hurt, and all that people can do, evil and wrong, good and protective, this book was.
I can’t wait to see the movie because this definitely has the cinematic quality to it, just hope it brings forth the same level of depth in the characters, their struggle and their love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Rape and Pedophilia
Grooming, Manipulation, Victim Blaming, Hostage Situation
Representation:
Bisexual main characters
Love interest with endometriosis
WLW side character