laniemax's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Sexual content, Sexism, Torture, Vomit, Bullying, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child death, Excrement, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence
gabforshort'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
Graphic: Sexual violence, Torture, Rape, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Violence, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Fatphobia, Death of parent, and Excrement
priscillarobock'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Child abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Excrement
rachelunabridged's review
- 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
4.25
i actually went back and forth about this book for a while before deciding how i wanted to handle this review. i don't feel good about rating on the basis of content because this is basically a true story, so i've decided to rate based purely on the writing itself. i think the author did an amazing job with telling the story. he was able to capture the terrifying events without allowing it to creep into exploitation. it felt like he was very respectful of the source, and i liked that in the acknowledgements at the end, he seemed as infuriated about it as i did.
additionally, i really enjoyed his style. he writes in a very straight forward + to-the-point manner that reminded me a lot of stephen king. this was my first read by the author, but i'll definitely be checking out more of his work in the future!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Torture, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Child abuse, Sexism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Cursing, Child death, Murder, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Death, and Confinement
healhopelove's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, and Violence
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
isabelatms's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, and Violence
pinotandprose's review against another edition
Graphic: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Excrement, Gore, Pedophilia, Blood, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, and Violence
samjd92'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Torture and Violence