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A review by kt2e56
The It Girl by Ruth Ware
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Ah this one had such a solid premise but really fell apart by the end. The author wanted to seem clever by introducing all of these twists but so many of them relied on completely changing the already underdeveloped characters to suit her needs instead of letting them feel like real people.
Lots of details actually helped make this fall apart and feel like half assed writing.
Some examples:
-We’re supposed to find Ryan to be a lovable bloke despite him cheating on Emily (a relationship that never once feels believable between two people who almost never interact with each other) even though he has a VIOLENT temper and practically assaults April over one of her more harmless pranks. And he does this in front of people (including April’s boyfriend!!!!!) who all just seem content with standing there. Why did they remain friends with him?
-Hannah is a complete idiot.With ZERO evidence she accuses her husband of murder and then is shocked when he’s mad about it
-The end makes us feel bad forJohn Neville (and even lets him give a whole speech about April and how she was an “it girl” presumably giving the fictional podcast and this book their titles despite him never once speaking to her or even knowing her) as if he’s just some misunderstood weirdo and not a man who persistently sexually harassed and stalked several female students AND assaulted another student. Obviously he didn’t deserve to die in prison but why are we suddenly making him out to be some kindly old man when he has done NOTHING to earn that?
-Will. Another idiot. I don’t know why him and Hannah are still together. Realistically someone wouldn’t just get over their spouse accusing them of murder and almost getting them killed. Also he did a COMPLETE 180 in personality and laughably so. Hannah is also a jackass for staying with him after he threatened her.
-Not a personality change but something that annoyed me is that there’s no way in hell a prestigious university theater program would allow their actors to walk off with costumes and wigs. Like that would NEVER happen. Ever. That’s all property of the theater department.
-Literally every male character was a misogynist and the female characters were all just cool with it and found it endearing? Okay.
-Why was it repeatedly mentioned that Dr. Meyers’ door was open and there was a sliver of light shining out the night of the murder if he really was out of town like he claimed? Another example of a poorly executed, nonsensical red herring.
This was enjoyable enough but considering how long it was, I do wish it didn’t feel so sloppy in its details.
Lots of details actually helped make this fall apart and feel like half assed writing.
Some examples:
-We’re supposed to find Ryan to be a lovable bloke despite him cheating on Emily (a relationship that never once feels believable between two people who almost never interact with each other) even though he has a VIOLENT temper and practically assaults April over one of her more harmless pranks. And he does this in front of people (including April’s boyfriend!!!!!) who all just seem content with standing there. Why did they remain friends with him?
-Hannah is a complete idiot.
-The end makes us feel bad for
-Will. Another idiot.
-Not a personality change but something that annoyed me is that there’s no way in hell a prestigious university theater program would allow their actors to walk off with costumes and wigs. Like that would NEVER happen. Ever. That’s all property of the theater department.
-Literally every male character was a misogynist and the female characters were all just cool with it and found it endearing? Okay.
-Why
This was enjoyable enough but considering how long it was, I do wish it didn’t feel so sloppy in its details.