A review by tigger89
The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Told in a series of short, punchy chapters, alternating between the present day and flashbacks to Nora's early life, this story races along, leaping from plan to plan as the situation develops. To be clear, this book is a power fantasy, throwing realism aside to deliver a story of abuse, manipulation, and the ability to find the strength to stand up for yourself when there's nobody coming to save you. This isn't a bad thing, but it's good to set expectations going in.

The exploration of Nora's identities was very well done. While the younger two had few details, I feel that I really got to know Haley, Katie and Ashley. The trauma incurred and their responses to it were the most realistic part of the book, to the point where I suggest checking content warnings before reading. Additionally, I really liked the dynamic between Nora, Iris and Wes, especially how Iris stepped into the role of Nora's accomplice. It's always nice to see explicitly bisexual characters, and here we've got two of them!

I wasn't so much a fan of how the past was revealed. It skipped around, teasing without telling, and I sometimes wasn't sure when or who I was. There were also a few mysteries teased but never delivered upon, such as the forest fire. It was made out to be a whole big thing, but we never saw the moment go down, and were left to piece together what might have happened from what came before and after. That seemed odd to me, given that it was such a pivotal moment in the Nora-Wes-Iris drama.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings