lunahbee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Blood, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Self harm, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Pedophilia
Listen to the warnings (Dead Dove Do Not Eat)hailey_horror's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Car accident, Child death, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, and Grief
mydistortedparadise's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
At which point. - per the authors note - I realized this was based on a true story. Which is apparently even worse, and more sickening. I cant comment on how well this book stuck to the facts as I am unfamiliar, and quite frankly I do not want to know the reality. This book was horrifying as fiction, and it feels exploitative knowing it isn’t entirely fiction.
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Blood, Torture, Sexism, Excrement, Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Bullying, Confinement, Child death, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Cursing, and Body shaming
Minor: Body shaming, Death of parent, Car accident, and Alcoholism
aryanjarl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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: Violence, Emotional abuse, Torture, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, Bullying, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Child death, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Rape, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Self harm
Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Death, and Car accident
killmoore_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
However, despite being well written and truly gut wrenching, I feel that Ketchum missed the mark on painting a true monster in Ruth. I understand that this is written through the eyes of a child, but it really just skims the surface on what motivates a person to commit these atrocities, let alone the impact a trusted adults actions have on the children in their care.
Girl Next Door is awful. It is a gruesome depiction of child abuse, grief and depravity, written in a way that is still palatable for the general public. Check your trigger warnings and prepare to have your heart broken.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Torture, Child abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Bullying, Rape, Child death, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Excrement, Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
devinjai6655's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Incest, Rape, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Torture, Confinement, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Child death
Moderate: Blood, Body shaming, and Gaslighting
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Excrement
archaicrobin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
From the perspective of one of the teen bystanders who is not necessarily completely innocent, the reader has an interesting perspective as the narrator explains why and how he was able to standby without intervening when such horrific things were being done.
This is not for the faint of heart, or for anyone that’s looking for a happy ending. The Girl Next Door is very bleak, and exposes the horrors that are present in our neighborhoods which should be safe. Definitely recommend this to horror fans or those interested in true crime, not for your everyday best seller reader!
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Torture, Violence, Child death, Cursing, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship
waverlyloyd's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Torture, Body horror, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual content, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Self harm, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Violence
cow4girl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism and Body horror
Moderate: Murder, Rape, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Violence, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Child death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
glitterandsuds'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
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Excrement, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence