alyssapf31's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This took longer to read than I wish it had. Idk if it was the focus on multiple characters that made it confusing or the girls’ stories having very little to do with the expected plot, but it was just slow.
kristen_eden's review
4.0
Let's start by saying that stories featuring an all female cast coming of age hold a very special place in my heart. Bonus points if it's set at a private school. More bonus points if there's magic involved. No magic here, but this look into a year in the life of this all girls school was still so well done, high marks all around. Read more like a very interwoven short story collection, with each new school event passing the Mic to a new character.
catreader18's review against another edition
4.0
This story follows girls at an all girls boarding school over one school year. When the school is rocked by a rape accusation, the students want to find the truth.
This is only part of the story. I loved this story and that it followed the girls for an entire school year. There are so many different characters represented and it makes the book all the more interesting. I didn’t like how the story handled some of the things that happened in the book, which is why I rated it one star lower. Overall the writing is captivating and it is very good story.
This is only part of the story. I loved this story and that it followed the girls for an entire school year. There are so many different characters represented and it makes the book all the more interesting. I didn’t like how the story handled some of the things that happened in the book, which is why I rated it one star lower. Overall the writing is captivating and it is very good story.
jamiethomasss's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
rachelsreads93_'s review against another edition
3.0
3.5 out of 5 ✨s — first of all, thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of All Girls! I loved the description of the plot from the get-go. A story revolving around a scandal in a boarding school? Count me in.
I have mixed feelings about this book, though. I want so badly to have been invested in more of these characters. I liked that we got to see the impact of the news of the assault accusations on a variety of different experiences at the school. I just wasn’t satisfied with the ending nor that the characters didn’t feel like they converged at any point for some big sort of impact by the end. For me, this didn’t work so much.
I did, however, really like how Layden explored how a sexual assault case from 1995 impacted students at the same school in 2020. As a teacher, I think this spoke to some conversations happening within younger generations at this very moment. There were some powerful moments about assault and consent.
Although this was not my favorite book of 2020, the plot was still intriguing and there were many moments that felt powerful throughout. Would still recommend to others that feel the plot sounds intriguing!
I have mixed feelings about this book, though. I want so badly to have been invested in more of these characters. I liked that we got to see the impact of the news of the assault accusations on a variety of different experiences at the school. I just wasn’t satisfied with the ending nor that the characters didn’t feel like they converged at any point for some big sort of impact by the end. For me, this didn’t work so much.
I did, however, really like how Layden explored how a sexual assault case from 1995 impacted students at the same school in 2020. As a teacher, I think this spoke to some conversations happening within younger generations at this very moment. There were some powerful moments about assault and consent.
Although this was not my favorite book of 2020, the plot was still intriguing and there were many moments that felt powerful throughout. Would still recommend to others that feel the plot sounds intriguing!
delinxw's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Disappointing. The ending was dissappointing and I didn’t get the closure on the story I longed for. Maybe because it’s just not my type of writing style, but it feels like I’ve read these 300 pages to end up with 6 unfinished stories or so. It took me over a month to finish it, because I just couldn’t get through it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual content
Moderate: Classism, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, and Misogyny
etakloknok's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
eedunn18's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
tifflovesbooks80's review against another edition
3.0
This novel, told in multiple viewpoints, gives insight into the lives of multiple students at an all girls school where a former student is accusing a teacher of a rape that happened two decades previously. Through these different viewpoints, we are granted access into the minds of young women from various backgrounds and how they handle the pressures of trying to fit in at this school while simultaneously trying to unravel the mysterious circumstances that happened to someone their age 20 years previously.
I really enjoyed the Atwater school setting and the brief glimpses into the way that administration was handling the public relations of this incident. This book also touches on eating disorders, LGBTQ+ issues, and the pressure put on teens today through social media and everyday life.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.
My only criticism is that I wished there was more of a wrap up at the end to close up some of the stories started in each narrator’s chapter. I would have liked a “where are they now” scene since I was very invested in a few of the narrators. I feel that some of the impact of the book got lost with so many narrators and too many lose ties that remained at the end.
I really enjoyed the Atwater school setting and the brief glimpses into the way that administration was handling the public relations of this incident. This book also touches on eating disorders, LGBTQ+ issues, and the pressure put on teens today through social media and everyday life.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.
My only criticism is that I wished there was more of a wrap up at the end to close up some of the stories started in each narrator’s chapter. I would have liked a “where are they now” scene since I was very invested in a few of the narrators. I feel that some of the impact of the book got lost with so many narrators and too many lose ties that remained at the end.