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A review by zu_reviews
Ten by Gretchen McNeil
3.0
This was exactly what I expected... a bunch of teens on a murder island with a whodunit mystery. If you just wanted a quick YA murder thriller, this will do it. I wasn't really looking for a deep stimulating read and didn't get it. A lot of the characters felt two dimensional, but I did finish it in almost one sitting.
I also think the depiction of Minnie's mental health was borderline offensive. I'm not familiar with anxiety and bipolar personally, but reading it I just wondered how accurate her portrayal was. She was made to be really selfish irresponsible, and erratic...and it was all blamed on her bipolar. Meg was made out to be this white knight martyr savior, taking care of her despite her cruelty... Just felt really inauthentic to what bipolar actually is. (This isn't spoilery, you can see their dynamic within the first few pages.) I didn't really care for the protagonist, but then I wasn't reading it for that.
If you approach this as sort of B-rated thriller movie you'd find scrolling netflix, it delivers. It has the classic tropes and extreme characters for that soapy horror. I liken it to a popcorn read, more for entertainment via suspense and mystery than something that made me feel deeply for the characters and get engrossed in them. I came for the plot and the premise.
I also think the depiction of Minnie's mental health was borderline offensive. I'm not familiar with anxiety and bipolar personally, but reading it I just wondered how accurate her portrayal was. She was made to be really selfish irresponsible, and erratic...and it was all blamed on her bipolar. Meg was made out to be this white knight martyr savior, taking care of her despite her cruelty... Just felt really inauthentic to what bipolar actually is. (This isn't spoilery, you can see their dynamic within the first few pages.) I didn't really care for the protagonist, but then I wasn't reading it for that.
If you approach this as sort of B-rated thriller movie you'd find scrolling netflix, it delivers. It has the classic tropes and extreme characters for that soapy horror. I liken it to a popcorn read, more for entertainment via suspense and mystery than something that made me feel deeply for the characters and get engrossed in them. I came for the plot and the premise.