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A review by notwelllread
Reputation by Lex Croucher
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
*Update: I haven't stopped thinking about this book since I finished it. When that happens, I take it as a good sign. I'm increasing my rating from a 3.75 to a 4.5. Although I think some aspects of the novel could have been worked on and fleshed out more, I am 100 percent captivated by Lex Croucher's writing.*
Reputation is like a love child between Mean Girls and a Jane Austen novel. Toxic friendships and rebellious youths mirror our own experiences at that age, and answers the question no asked but still happy to receive, how would Mean Girls play out if set in the Regency Era?
With a cast of characters, so deeply nasty and no redeeming qualities, I was sure this book wasn't for me. Normally I love reading morally gray characters (they're my favs!), but either its a testament to Lex Croucher's writing or an unfortunate side effect of it being her very first novel, the mean, petty, and bratty characters were hard to swallow. Its not until the last 100 pages where I felt some relief from the toxicity of Georgianna's "friendships".
Ultimately, it was Lex's writing and those last few pages that saved this book for me. I do wish that Frances and her swath of equally unlikable friends had more of a lesson to learn, still what little that was learned helped bring about a satisfying conclusion to a frustrating, yet delightful read.
Reputation is like a love child between Mean Girls and a Jane Austen novel. Toxic friendships and rebellious youths mirror our own experiences at that age, and answers the question no asked but still happy to receive, how would Mean Girls play out if set in the Regency Era?
With a cast of characters, so deeply nasty and no redeeming qualities, I was sure this book wasn't for me. Normally I love reading morally gray characters (they're my favs!), but either its a testament to Lex Croucher's writing or an unfortunate side effect of it being her very first novel, the mean, petty, and bratty characters were hard to swallow. Its not until the last 100 pages where I felt some relief from the toxicity of Georgianna's "friendships".
Ultimately, it was Lex's writing and those last few pages that saved this book for me. I do wish that Frances and her swath of equally unlikable friends had more of a lesson to learn, still what little that was learned helped bring about a satisfying conclusion to a frustrating, yet delightful read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Drug use, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Racism