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nzmerchant's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Lucy is by no means a perfect character - and that’s exactly what I love about her. She’s been written in such a raw, flawed human that you can’t help but relate to her and forgive her for all her shortcomings (because we are all flawed beings) Contrary to most of the other reviews, I feel it ended completely and perfectly. There are minor moments of growth within Lucy and towards the end, her interaction with Danny is so humbling and shows that you don’t become a completely different person overnight. I love how the author perfectly encapsulates that frustrated restlessness of being stuck in place while thinking you’re special, the desire for immediate affection. Very beautifully written. I’ve missed reading contemporary fiction!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual violence
marmijournals's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I am thrilled by the writing of this author yet taken aback by the middle to ending as i didnt expect her to be entrenched in a toxicy relationship and am a bit troubled by how it ended? or confused? But i am so so so so excited to read more, very curious to see future writing!!!! i want more!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
ellen_is_reading's review
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use and Vomit
vikkisgrotto's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
kristaad's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence
minaopal's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abortion, and Alcohol
k8lynn's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
I almost DNFed this book in the first 40-50 pages and I’m so glad I decided not to. There were some cringey moments, but I’m glad I stuck it out and finished this book. At one point I genuinely did not want to put it down and was reading it on my phone at work between customers.
I fell in love with these characters. I loved the banter Lucy shared with Nora and Sasha. The friendships she shared with these women were one of my favorite aspects. I also found this book to be very authentic, like it was never trying to be something it wasn’t. The reality of the trials and tribulations of failed relationships. This book felt very realistic to me, a story where the narrator doesn’t get what she wants and there was something really satisfying about that.
(by the way I completely disagree with the reviews that mention loose ends never being tied off… I didn’t feel that way whatsoever.) the only downside is the ending fell a little flat. other than that, i genuinely enjoyed this book.
**trigger warnings for bdsm, violence during sex, mention of adult/minor relationships, graphic sex scenes, etc.
I fell in love with these characters. I loved the banter Lucy shared with Nora and Sasha. The friendships she shared with these women were one of my favorite aspects. I also found this book to be very authentic, like it was never trying to be something it wasn’t. The reality of the trials and tribulations of failed relationships. This book felt very realistic to me, a story where the narrator doesn’t get what she wants and there was something really satisfying about that.
(by the way I completely disagree with the reviews that mention loose ends never being tied off… I didn’t feel that way whatsoever.) the only downside is the ending fell a little flat. other than that, i genuinely enjoyed this book.
**trigger warnings for bdsm, violence during sex, mention of adult/minor relationships, graphic sex scenes, etc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
sleaterkenneth's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rocks
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual violence
james1star's review against another edition
medium-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
2.25
Thank you to NetGalley and Bespeak Audio Editions for accepting me as a prepublication reviewer for the audiobook of Good Girl. I do feel obliged to highlight the book’s good points but they do want an honest review and this is my authentic take.
The ‘plot’ follows Lucy who is a mid-twenties chaotic mess of a person. She’s working at a bookstore but really wants to pursue writing. She has sexual desires for a man to beat her and just very into kinky BDSM stuff in that department. She finds out about a 70s teen music magazine and this ignites a passion for writing again where she delves further into this media world of the time - specifically the experiences of woman. There is more to this but I don’t really care to explain it.
There are some interesting and important discussions on many topics: feminism, consent, BDSM/rough sex, women in media, female objectification of men, the reality of porn, friendships, among others. These are okay but nothing is fully explored or expanded on, I didn’t really learn anything new or that insightful. Lucy touches on her relationship with her mum and childhood in some ways but again not deep enough to understand why she has a preference for rough sexual acts like being beaten, tied, verbally abused, controlled, etc - like why? She never really thought about this. It sort of gives the impression that such a relationship is one people can go into lightly which I don’t think is a very position outlook. I did like how Lucy does have this interest and explores different types in a way and teeters on the role of consent. I guess it’s a voice I have yet to come across in books that I have read, so explicitly sharing her sexual fantasies, specifically ones we may have thoughts/desires about but rarely explore ourselves. I just needed more reasoning. Lucy’s research and interest into the media world of the 70s via her interviews with members of the SMASH magazine throw up important discussions on the role of women and the toxicity surrounding it but then it doesn’t really go anywhere. This is a running theme with many of the different plot lines is this book: they all are left rather unfinished, I would be more annoyed at this if I had been interested in them but really I wasn’t. But still it irked me.
The characters were all kinda insufferable. I found them all quite annoying, unrealistic, shallow, un-relatable and just very ‘meh’. Lucy did so so many things that just pi**ed me off like I wanted to shake her, she didn’t follow though with things and I dunno I could not care for her. Nora was very unrealistic in my opinion, the way she speaks, her attitude and just everything was so forced. Sasha is Yhh alright, she’s a decent friend and I agree with her morals in part but I would say she was kinda jarring and hypocritical. Lucy’s mum was alright I guess, she showed her daughter love albeit in some embarrassing ways - but like I did feel Lucy should have been more appreciative… I dunno. Danny was Yhh fineish but his character super super underdeveloped. The other men were all so crap: Malcolm, Henry, Sasha’s bf (forgot and don’t care about his name), the man she went to LA to speak to (forgot his name too) and just like they were all annoying, shallow and ehh. Nigel the dog was the only good character for obvious reasons: she was just a dog.
The writing was alright. I didn’t find it particularly great or intriguing. I did laugh at a few things but for the most part, the humour or ‘wittiness’ was rather forced and just not for me. The dialogue did flow but wasn’t realistic. There were many many times I felt super cringed with what was being said or happening and a plethora of ‘eye roll’ moments. If a certain thing happened near the end I would literally have thrown my phone at a wall. So yes I am extremely happy with that decision, mostly for my phone and not an appreciation for the story. It was that or physically throwing up at how cringy that would’ve been. That’s all I say on the matter.
The ‘plot’ follows Lucy who is a mid-twenties chaotic mess of a person. She’s working at a bookstore but really wants to pursue writing. She has sexual desires for a man to beat her and just very into kinky BDSM stuff in that department. She finds out about a 70s teen music magazine and this ignites a passion for writing again where she delves further into this media world of the time - specifically the experiences of woman. There is more to this but I don’t really care to explain it.
There are some interesting and important discussions on many topics: feminism, consent, BDSM/rough sex, women in media, female objectification of men, the reality of porn, friendships, among others. These are okay but nothing is fully explored or expanded on, I didn’t really learn anything new or that insightful. Lucy touches on her relationship with her mum and childhood in some ways but again not deep enough to understand why she has a preference for rough sexual acts like being beaten, tied, verbally abused, controlled, etc - like why? She never really thought about this. It sort of gives the impression that such a relationship is one people can go into lightly which I don’t think is a very position outlook. I did like how Lucy does have this interest and explores different types in a way and teeters on the role of consent. I guess it’s a voice I have yet to come across in books that I have read, so explicitly sharing her sexual fantasies, specifically ones we may have thoughts/desires about but rarely explore ourselves. I just needed more reasoning. Lucy’s research and interest into the media world of the 70s via her interviews with members of the SMASH magazine throw up important discussions on the role of women and the toxicity surrounding it but then it doesn’t really go anywhere. This is a running theme with many of the different plot lines is this book: they all are left rather unfinished, I would be more annoyed at this if I had been interested in them but really I wasn’t. But still it irked me.
The characters were all kinda insufferable. I found them all quite annoying, unrealistic, shallow, un-relatable and just very ‘meh’. Lucy did so so many things that just pi**ed me off like I wanted to shake her, she didn’t follow though with things and I dunno I could not care for her. Nora was very unrealistic in my opinion, the way she speaks, her attitude and just everything was so forced. Sasha is Yhh alright, she’s a decent friend and I agree with her morals in part but I would say she was kinda jarring and hypocritical. Lucy’s mum was alright I guess, she showed her daughter love albeit in some embarrassing ways - but like I did feel Lucy should have been more appreciative… I dunno. Danny was Yhh fineish but his character super super underdeveloped. The other men were all so crap: Malcolm, Henry, Sasha’s bf (forgot and don’t care about his name), the man she went to LA to speak to (forgot his name too) and just like they were all annoying, shallow and ehh. Nigel the dog was the only good character for obvious reasons: she was just a dog.
The writing was alright. I didn’t find it particularly great or intriguing. I did laugh at a few things but for the most part, the humour or ‘wittiness’ was rather forced and just not for me. The dialogue did flow but wasn’t realistic. There were many many times I felt super cringed with what was being said or happening and a plethora of ‘eye roll’ moments. If a certain thing happened near the end I would literally have thrown my phone at a wall. So yes I am extremely happy with that decision, mostly for my phone and not an appreciation for the story. It was that or physically throwing up at how cringy that would’ve been. That’s all I say on the matter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, Abortion, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
linneahbt's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
3.5
Fun and quick. Wanted more for Lucy but that's just because I liked her so much! Definitely unexpected at times and I'm not sure that the back cover synopsis prepared me for the contents (and I'm not sure I'm upset about that) Check the tw!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual harassment