rachelditty's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I thought the ending was fitting for the story.
Spoiler
Having Arianna die for her mistakes, Amanda joining a different pack, and Becca and Marley being freed from the pack. I feel like there's an analogy in there somewhere about the constraints of what's expected of young girls, especially those in the closet, but I think it would've been portrayed a lot more effectively if there were more members of the pack, and the pack from Stanford, that were queer as well, not just Becca and Marley. Werewolves are historically used as an allegory for the outsiders, for queer people, or those who society has deemed "other" and "infectious." Having both leaders of the packs be (what seem to be) straight white rich girls seems so out of the scope of what werewolves could be.Marley and Becca were pretty cute toward the end, but I really wasn't hooked on their relationship. It didn't feel like Marley was ever a member of the group that went against Arianna, only Amanda ever really did that. If Marley had had more moments where she grappled with Arianna's way of doing things, I thought her relationship with Becca would have been more interesting.
Also, as much as I didn't like Arianna, I didn't like that she was killed by girls she thought were people who would always have her back, in the same place she was drugged and almost assaulted. The whole point of the story was girls taking back power from boys who saw them as nothing more than a means to their own ends, and the girls were always supposed to take the power back from them. But Arianna dies behind a dumpster where a boy almost sexually assaults her? Yes, I think it was the right call for her to die, but the way it happened just felt wrong.
Becca and Marley were cute in their prom dresses though, so I guess points for that.
The illustrations were the best part of this, to be honest.
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Murder, Sexual violence, Gore, Violence, Blood, Body horror, and Death
emilysreadingbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Blood, Death, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic friendship, and Sexual violence
gothmiku's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Rape, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Eating disorder, and Lesbophobia
thebookbin's review
- 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? Yes
4.5
Spoiler
When the pack alpha upsets the leader of another pack, they kill her and Becca and her girlfriend eat her heart out, literally so they can stop being werewolves. Then Becca and her girlfriend go on a date to homecoming lol.I mean I did like the themes of female rage, and I definitely appreciated how they only went after sleazy guys, but the fact that they couldn't confront some themes and plot elements because it was YA really took away from it for me.
Overall I think I'm a fan of this sapphic spooky read, I just wish it embraced itself in all its gory glory.
4.5/5 eat your heart out stars
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, and Sexual harassment
kristakp's review
- 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? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Body horror, and Sexism
Minor: Lesbophobia and Alcohol
annasbuecherbeet's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Bullying, Racism, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Cursing, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Violence
itsheyfay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Grief, Murder, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Body horror, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Injury/injury detail, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
Minor: Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Bullying, and Infidelity
faduma's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Murder, Violence, Physical abuse, and Sexual harassment
amberinpieces's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Murder, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexism, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying, Lesbophobia, Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, and Homophobia
birthisacurse's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, and Body horror
Minor: Sexual harassment and Fatphobia