Unbelievably good.

I don't state that lightly, this had flaws but none of the flaws could have taken away the rating I gave this.

Carly, a young woman in her first year away from her abusive father, gets paired into a dorm with a older student; Allison. She's everything Carly wants to be, and Carly is protective.

Scarlett, a English professor with a hidden motive, she's a murderer. Not just anyone however, men who deserve it.

I loved the LGBTQAI+ representation, and it wasn't portrayed as taboo like some books do it. The characters were unique, I especially loved Mikayla and Wes, both well written background/side characters with bigger roles near the ending.

I did not expect that twist half way through and i am honestly so surprised, it's so different.

Content Warnings

raychelbennet's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

afterplague's review against another edition

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dark tense 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? No

4.75

I really liked this book, and I think those who know my tastes by now are completely unsurprised. A story about a woman revenge killing men who deserve it, a great twist, and bit of sapphic sprinkle on top? Yeah, this is a new favorite.

I feel like I can't really talk about a lot of the things I enjoyed with this novel without spoiling some of my favorite parts, so I think I'm going to keep this review very short. I will say that this is one of the best twists I've read all year, maybe ever. There were so many little hints, but just as many redirections and I can say I completely did not see it coming.

I really liked Scarlett as a character. She's so smart, detail-oriented, and she's also extremely in the right. Rape revenge stories get a lot of criticism, and a lot of the time that's for very good reason. Until recently, the person getting the revenge was not the woman, but instead a male relative or loved one (husband, father, brother, etc.) There's a much more personal sense when the character seeking this revenge is a woman. More than that, Scarlett is seeking revenge in a very "cold" way. She's many years detached from her own experiences, and so she's able to get away with murder again and again and again. It's a take I haven't personally seen before.

Carly's storyline is a little less interesting but that's because it's very difficult to compete with "serial killer trying to avoid detection." Her story is about friendship, and the complexities of how that friendship can be changed negatively by men. I think there's a lot to say about how without the actions of the men around them Carly and Allison could've been very happy together.

I don't want to spoil any more of this book because I truly believe you should read it! I was concerned because I generally don't like reading about sexual assault, but if you also have that worry I would say I think it's handled pretty well, and nothing is as explicit as I feared. I listened to the audiobook and I would highly recommend it!

Content Warnings

ibeau's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Slay

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handove's review against another edition

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3.5

i really liked the first half or so, but once we got to the big twist it all seemed to take a downturn & i didn't even care how it ended. enjoyable & fast-paced but nothing too special.

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sufferingbrooklynite's review against another edition

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4.0

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finnickdeservedbetter's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense 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

Tropes & Themes

• Serial killer FMC
• "Victims" are the real villains
• Revenge
• Set in a small college town
• "Good for her" thriller
• Bi FMC
• Secret past

Spice:
Low (there's a couple scenes but they're fairly fade to black)

My Thoughts:
You know, for years I've putting off reading thrillers because I thought they "weren't my thing". I have no idea why though because I had a blast reading this.

The plot twists were maybe a bit predictable but still fun and the ending was so satisfying. 10/10. No notes. The romance also have me giggling and kicking my feet a little ngl.

The rest of the author's books are immediately going on my TBR, especially with her bio saying she "writes dark, dramatic stories that support women’s rights—and also women’s wrongs". Sign me up.

Favourite Quote:

"Tomorrow is the night. So tonight I prepare: picking out the perfect outfit, shaving my legs, shaping my nails. All the things most women do to prepare for a date. But little do they know: killing a man is so much more satisfying than fucking a man could ever be."

Content Warnings

hxlleann's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective tense 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

4.5

Content Warnings

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