Reviews

Girl Flesh by May Leitz

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wodime's review against another edition

2.5

unfortunate that this didn't cut it for me as extreme horror OR as toxic yuri. weird and roundabout pacing, very repetitive, and just too damn long

mayomommy's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

2.5

I liked Fluids, but this just didn't work for me. I felt like it started scary and then the pace was all over the place afterwards. Excited to see where May Leitz goes from here.

smakinde's review against another edition

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4.0

I’m still new to the horror scene, but wow this book. You know what’s funny? There is actually a lot more I wanted from this book. It would have been amazing to have Caroline’s POV or maybe more dialogue between Angie and Wes(just to add some depth), buuuuuut I will say this book dives deep into pain, abandonment, what it’s like being a woman(all that comes with it).

The gore was minimal for anyone who wants to read this, but is nervous.

The love that sprouts between our two lovely ladies is a bit juvenile, messy, trauma bonding to an extreme, but I loved it.

Women-we are amazing creatures. Don’t forget it.

modor's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

witchloved's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I don’t care what the other reviews say - this is art.

This story is so enthralling and relatable that I found myself processing my own struggles during the read. It’s so complex and heartbreaking, but it is raw and beautiful. It dives deeply into the human experience, and even before the main character ever touched on sexuality, reading about Angie feeling so apart from her own identity (Angela,) was a whole other plane of humanity. There were parts I wish were touched deeper on,

such as Angie’s use of uppers. While Leitz did a wonderful job in fleshing out the experiences of self harm, suicidal thoughts, habits, and tendencies, as well as anorexia, I would have loved to have learned more about Angie’s struggles with cocaine and other substances. It was only briefly mentioned, but as an addict myself, I found my interest piqued but never sated in that area.

Some reviews touch on Leitz’s decision to go back and forth between Angie’s past and present, and all I can say is that I believe the outline of this book was well-executed. To learn about the main character as the plot drove on is far more acceptable than throwing her whole backstory out there in the first chapter only to have the references and meaning lost to the actions further in. Everything was relevant, everything was methodically thought out, and it was well-paced.

To also counter the argument that this book wasn’t strong within the ‘horror’ category, I think that statement is stupid. I don’t remember anywhere saying that the primary purpose of this book was meant to be the most gorrific book ever, but the emotional intelligence in this book is astonishing. It is, in fact, emotionally horrific. I believe that the word ‘horror’ on the cover was meant to be deciphered, poetic, and clever.

In all the books I’ve ever read, this one sits within my top 3. I don’t give 5 stars easily. I need a book to offer me a message, a feeling, a purpose, and soul for me to rate 5 stars, and this book did it.

Leitz, this story has reached at least one person who needed to read it.

Girl Flesh is a modern masterpiece.