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kopiko's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
whitloves2dance's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
5.0
This book had me glued the entire time. So good!
majaanushka's review against another edition
3.0
extremely unsubtle and a bit irritating at times (why include interview transcripts that sound the exact same as the prose around them?) but overall a well written attempt to tackle complex questions around sexuality and desire. also the ending was really good and took me by surprise!
oliviacannon's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
misha_ali's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Now this is how you do a mystery/thriller about complex subjects without losing stream on the plotting and also diving deeper into motivations and human nature than most books do. I loved the discussions about victimhood versus empowerment and culpability and how the tools of power differ for men and women and how they are wielded changes as a result. I don't want to spoil the plot twists but this is an excellent dive into domination and gender-based cults and how they entrap young women and prey on them without dipping into trauma porn for the sake of shock value.
As a protagonist, Shay is compellingly self-aware and also deeply flawed and a bit afraid of her own darker tendencies. She's living in a performance of the life of a housewife writing a book but is pulled back to her alma mater where one of her best friends committed suicide and now a second one did the same and it all links back to her troubled past as a beauty queen, the object of men's lust from a young age, and the abuse all three girls went through in college.
Absolutely fantastic and a very nuanced look at power dynamics and abuse.
As a protagonist, Shay is compellingly self-aware and also deeply flawed and a bit afraid of her own darker tendencies. She's living in a performance of the life of a housewife writing a book but is pulled back to her alma mater where one of her best friends committed suicide and now a second one did the same and it all links back to her troubled past as a beauty queen, the object of men's lust from a young age, and the abuse all three girls went through in college.
Absolutely fantastic and a very nuanced look at power dynamics and abuse.
disneynerdsworld's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
mollboon's review against another edition
Content warnings galore. This is a DNF for me. I love thrillers and true crime but the author went far too far with the explicit content of this book. The beginning had me excited to see what would happen, so I am bummed. I would stay away from this one
hanseah's review against another edition
4.0
A cringe worthy story about 20 something women and how social/family manipulation affects self image and the way they may react. There are many triggers in this tale so please look at that before you decide to read this thriller.