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dezaraemd's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
emsxrenee's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
omgbiscoffspread's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
kitandink's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
also, hell of a plot twist
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Mass/school shootings, and Toxic friendship
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Biphobia, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Pedophilia, and Car accident
aimzthereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Vomit, Car accident, and Death of parent
jenmaysiereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Now this is how you write a solid “good for her” queer revenge story. Everyone else take some notes!
‘They Never Learn’ is a dark and devious character study about a successful professor who murders abusive men—and I fucking loved it. More than that, the story follows two women at a prestigious university, one student and the other a professor, and how they are united in their desire to bring justice.
Carly and Scarlett’s stories are very distinct from one another but seeing their narratives converge was ultimately very, very satisfying.
This book is so quick to read. The chapters are short and every scene layers on the intrigue in a way that makes it almost irresistible to inhale in one sitting. The prose itself is, while not lush, expertly constructed. Every sentence feels purposeful and meaningful. At no point did the story meander or take any narrative detours or dawdled. Everything in the book is there for a reason and the story delivers on everything it sets up. Making this book one of the most solidly written, edited and structured books I’ve picked up in a long while.
All the characters in this book are fucked up in some way and it makes the story so compelling. Scarlett is a pathological serial killer and yet she is capable of love, of empathy and loyalty. Through the characters, Fargo explores the dichotomy between good and evil. The author provides commentary on how society is perfectly content to excuse men’s immorality—letting men who have sexually abused women get away with it because he is “a promising young man”. However, when women make their own form of vigilante justice, they become monstrous and hateful.
I liked that the author embraced the monstrosity in women like Scarlett and Carly. I liked that they were allowed to revel in that darkness, that violence and still be seen as worthy of love and empathy. This messaging was especially important given that the story centres around queer women whose most profound relationships came from other woman who understand and loved them for their darkness.
All of this made me adore this book, especially coming off the back of the Killing Eve finale in which Eve and Villanelle’s queerness and darkness was deemed abhorrent and something to be exorcised from them by the writers. Getting to read a book that actively pushed against the narrative that women cannot embrace their violence and still be loveable was really important to me.
Layne Fargo is an author I’ll be picking up more from in the future. Scarlett, in particular, is my unhinged fav.
READ. THIS. BOOK.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse
caregorman's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment