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alicerowano's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Outing, Murder, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Cursing, Body shaming, Blood, Vomit, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Stalking, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Rape, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Homophobia
sophieennis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Cancer, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Infidelity, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Vomit, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body horror, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Murder, Outing, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Biphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Fatphobia, Lesbophobia, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Transphobia
haricots's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Gore and Vomit
Moderate: Homophobia
owenwilsonbaby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Solid satire with some really funny moments and interesting characterisation. I really like how Irina's perception of Flo is slowly undercut by external glimpses of Flo. The final conversation about what Flo thinks Irina can give her is such a good example of this, as Irina interprets Flo's doomed desire for her as pathetic, when there is actually something deeply sad about Irina being functionally unable to recognise love and desire as a genuine investment in someone's wellbeing, rather than a means to an end. Irina's cynicism slowly being undercut by her delusions and the optimism of those around her was also really interesting - her voice can be quite compelling so the moments where you realise how flawed her own narrative is about herself and her world was enjoyable.
I did wander what this book was moving towards. The last act felt comparatively slower than previous sections. Anticipating the end of the book, I began to realise it was probably going to lack substantial payoff, which is odd when the first two acts were quickly-paced. Given the prominence of Irina's 'friendship' with Flo, I did feel like that should have featured more in the final conflict.
I have really mixed feelings on this book. The deliberate gratuity was interesting and having also read A Certain Hunger this year I understand the market for and am interested in literary fiction that centres female psychopathy. The commentary on desire and forcing yourself into different boxes was insightful (e.g. Flo only liking who she was supposed to like). I think my main problem is it feels like something is missing, but I just don't know what. I wanted to like it more.
Graphic: Biphobia, Cursing, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence
bl41's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It was deranged and hypnotic
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Self harm
alyssasolo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal death, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
evaorbit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Murder, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Moderate: Eating disorder and Fatphobia
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, and Transphobia
penelopereads'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
I’m trying not to give spoilers but I suppose there are MILD SPOILERS below. These are more notes for myself to help me work through how I feel about this book.
Eddie 💔
Bit Dolly/Emma Jane esque. Didn’t like that. Don’t appreciate that lifestyle. Main character is intolerable (but that’s the point.)
Did appreciate the flip of the usual predatory/violent/dangerous/ruthless and detached narrative.
Trauma? Mental health?
Enjoyed the did she/didn’t she?
Was impressed by what seemed like a very sudden/surprising shift about 2/3 through, which in retrospect was actually hinted at.
The use of the name, the cat and the bell (Schrödinger, much?) were clever and subtle but not too subtle.
Moderate: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Biphobia, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit