Reviews

Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao

minty's review against another edition

2.0

So relentlessly bleak, even though the characters have inexplicable hope about their lives. The audiobook reader had a meek, breathless quality that I found highly irritating. The story felt like it dragged--what else terrible can happen to these two? The ending was not as satisfying as I had hoped. 2 stars: It was ok.

I also know the word "burn" is in the title, but I still needed a TW for someone getting a horrible 3rd degree burn, and wish I'd known that was going to happen because I wouldn't have read it if so.

lovetlr's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

The very perky narrator was quite distracting especially given the dark subject matter. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Trafficking

pixeltune's review against another edition

4.0

Overall really beautiful writing, though there was one especially salacious scene that really tampered the experience for me. It did make me think a lot.

vibecalledjess's review against another edition

4.0

Girls Burn Brighter is an unbelievably beautiful and haunting story of two best friends. Immediately drawn in, but there are times you wish you could look away or close your eyes to their pain. The two young women are raised in poverty in rural India. Their friendship is their sole source of joy. They are determined to help themselves, in spite of the odds against them. This book also includes stories within this story: giving insight into the surrounding characters.

My emotions were all over the place. This novel is not a light read. And the ending! Gah! I couldn’t put this book down. Savitha and Poornima had my full attention! I wanted to reach through the book and hug them. As engrossing as it was, I felt the last few chapters were somewhat rushed. I still highly recommend.

maddiemo's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

bonnieohthecat's review against another edition

4.0

Beautiful and devastating tale of romantic friendship between two Indian women.

kelseyallen's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

this was such a beautiful story, but it was also extremely depressing. every single page made my heart hurt. strong TW for multiple different sexual assaults throughout the book. 

michromeu's review against another edition

I'm not really sure how to rate this because it was very impactful, but also very bleak and difficult to read. Will need to let this one sit for a bit.

katielemons's review against another edition

3.0

A novel about a about a once-in-a-lifetime friendship between two girls in India who are driven apart but never stop trying to find one another again. I was hooked pretty immediately, but this was certainly not an "easy" read. There are themes of violence, physical abuse, human trafficking, immigration, prostitution, and death amongst other things. While the ending was hopeful and the writing brilliant, it left me in a puddle of tears. I read this during the beginning of quarantine (March, 2020), and it just about ruined me. Cruelty is a theme from start to finish.

ble227's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

3.0

Really dark....struggled to get through.