Reviews

Pretend I'm Dead: FROM THE AUTHOR OF BIG SWISS by Jen Beagin, Jen Beagin

questionablereads's review against another edition

dark funny slow-paced

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

4.0

dark, weird girl lit, complete with messy thoughts and behavior ... I probably shouldn't have laughed as much as I did, but I did

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Racial slurs

kelseylitsliftsanddips's review against another edition

3.0

This started off really promising for me, but about halfway through took a turn that I just didn’t enjoy nearly as much as the first half. I wish the plot would’ve kept going down the path the first half was, and it would’ve been at least a 4⭐️ for me. But I lost interest and the ability to care about what was happening. I still enjoyed the main character though, and her honest inner dialogue. 

shesometimesreads's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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

3.0

leighgoodmark's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 Clearly a talented writer, but this one wasn't for me, and is going to stick around in my head in an unwanted way.

loganisreading's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

2.0

dnf @ 71% 

sappharine's review against another edition

dark funny reflective fast-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

4.5

hell_slime's review against another edition

dark funny medium-paced

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

4.0

brezaja's review against another edition

4.0

Love Beagin’s style of writing, her humor is always what I look forward to when I read her work. I think there’s something to be said of her as a writer, due to the fact that she can take comedy and weave it seamlessly through a work that is otherwise a bit dark, especially towards the ending.

I did not expect the turns that the book would take, but I was along for the ride the whole time. Definitely a bit more intense in a way that I would ever expect. The ending is poignant to me; it speaks to creating a life for oneself that is governed by only the self… a final goodbye to a past that can only hold one stuck in a place of pain.

Under the superficial layer of humor holds the message of understanding ourselves and being willing to change as a way to move forward. Much to think about with this book. I enjoyed it.

yvnghag's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

jaclyncrupi's review against another edition

4.0

Not at all what I was expecting, this was funny and dark in a Miranda July/Ottessa Moshfegh kind of way. I was unsure about it at first but the voice won me over completely.