alexisgarcia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Stalking, Terminal illness, Murder, Sexual harassment, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Gore, Addiction, and Excrement
itsheyfay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Violence, Body horror, Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Misogyny
Moderate: Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Sexual harassment, and Abandonment
Minor: Mass/school shootings, Ableism, and Racism
bloopyfloopy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Torture, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Physical abuse, Mental illness, Injury/injury detail, Confinement, Child death, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, and Blood
morgcxn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Torture, Death of parent, Child death, Murder, Gore, Terminal illness, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/injury detail, Cancer, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Grief, and Addiction
seawarrior's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Hendrix has a lot to say about horror franchises and their repetitive, exploitative and misogynistic nature, most of which is done through the characterization and dialogue of Lynnette and the other woman of the Final Girl Support Group. In between chapters various fictional archival interviews and journal articles are plastered to the pages, adding to the realism of the story and to the mythology surrounding this group of survivors and their monsters. For the most part I felt this was done very well. I only felt dissatisfied with Heather's characterization; she serves as a stereotypical "junkie" figure and is widely disrespected by both the characters within the book and the narrative that gave them life. What she survived and how is also defined the least, which only becomes more disappointing as the book continues. The other women's stories are revealed in segments, by their own admissions, Lynnette's memories, or their respective archives. Since each of them were inspired by an existing horror franchise most readers can assume the bulk of the violence they witnessed and endured, negating the need to force the women to rehash the most traumatic moments of their lives. Lynnette is the only character who has in depth flashbacks of her encounters with her monster after a tortuous accusation of who was truly responsible for her family's slaughter.
The book primarily focuses on Lynnette's efforts to survive in the present, while attempting to solve the mystery of who wants the Final Girls finally gone. Pieces of this puzzle were fairly obvious to me, while others came as a surprise. Ultimately though, the villains, their motivations, and their weapon of choice, all serve to make a statement about mass violence and horror franchises as a whole. This is a love letter to horror, but a scathing one, fully aware of its flaws and refusing to hold back.
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Terminal illness, Stalking, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Misogyny, Mass/school shootings, Injury/injury detail, Gun violence, Gore, Grief, Blood, Confinement, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Car accident, Child death, Drug abuse, Excrement, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
atisha27's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Violence and Gun violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Confinement
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cannibalism, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
susiebrown's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The Final Girl Support Group, at its heart, is a slasher itself... but it's also a feminist commentary on the Final Girl trope and how f!#ked up it is. You'll see when Crazy Chrissy breaks it down for you and Lynnette even further.
Don't let the fact that this was written by a man deter you. I honestly probably would have skipped this one in favor of a different Final Girl novel if I had known Grady Hendrix was a man, but I'm grateful now that I mistook him for a woman considering how well-written the women were and how Final Girls are glamorized both in entertainment and in true crime circles. The touches on how murderbilia is so sought-after by crime groupies (despite being such a twisted concept) was also refreshing to see.
I know this review was mostly about the commentary and less about the story, but I don't think it should take much persuasion beyond the synopsis to convince you to read this novel. I mean, just read it. Doesn't it sound siiiiick?
This book is especially perfect for fans of slashers, the Final Girl trope, and pretty much any murder mystery. Read it.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Confinement, Cursing, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Lesbophobia, Kidnapping, and Drug abuse
blakethebookeater's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Gore, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Forced institutionalization, and Confinement
Minor: Drug use, Child death, and Addiction