elderdragon_reader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder
Moderate: Excrement, Death of parent, and Blood
miss_choon'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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Violence, Physical abuse, Child death, Confinement, Torture, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia and Incest
Minor: Death of parent
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
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
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