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

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 I loved this book so much!

Oftentimes when I read negative reviews of books that I loved, I can often see where the reviewer is coming from and Plain Bad Heroines is no exception. A lot of people's main gripe is that this novel is slow. And it is. It's incredibly slow. But it is also strongly character-driven and I love that in books. As I was reading Plain Bad Heroines, I felt like I understood every character's fear and motivation. Danforth brings her characters to life and I felt everything our heroines did. When they were stressed, so was I. When they were scared, so was I. This connection to the heroines is what made this book work.

I also loved how atmospheric this book is. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's scary, but it's definitely spooky. Danforth did an incredible job of keeping the tension throughout Plain Bad Heroines. Her skill is not in jump scares, but instead in small, slightly eerie moments that have you questioning reality. I will say, if you have a fear of bees, yellow jackets specifically, maybe steer clear of this book.

Overall, I loved this novel. It's the first book of the year where I really felt truly in love with it. Please stop what you're doing and go read this ASAP! 
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