cursivewolf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
grief and guilt are both monsters
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Body horror, Cannibalism, Car accident, Death, Eating disorder, and Gore
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Cancer and Eating disorder
livlamentloathe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
And I set myself up for that too. I was trying to predict the twist. In actuality, there wasn’t enough there. A lot of hyped up secrets only for them to fall flat. A lot of build up only to blow away in the wind. And it was so close to queer but was not, my biggest disappointment of all. Don’t hope for surprise lesbians, you will be disappointed.
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
Moderate: Gore, Toxic friendship, Classism, Stalking, Infidelity, Death, Eating disorder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident and Cancer
heypretty52's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Body horror
Minor: Blood, Death, Eating disorder, Death of parent, Grief, Vomit, Cancer, Violence, Gore, and Infidelity
slimepuppy'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
The body horror is genuinely disgusting and disturbing, and I'm not someone who is usually fazed by it. The beginning of the book builds such an oppressive atmosphere, you can't help but start to feel like Elise's growing paranoia is spreading to you, too.
The characters are complex, multidimensional and flawed while still retaining enough of a charm that shows why they're friends.
My only complaint really is the very ending of the book - I wish we got more of an exploration of the feelings and an in depth talk between the characters instead of them simply acknowledging each other's feelings - it doesn't really seem like things changed, even if the characters say it did.
Also wtf did the authoritie do about the hotel L O L ??????
Graphic: Death, Grief, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Eating disorder, Vomit, Addiction, Alcohol, Cancer, Gore, and Death of parent
danyels_denouements's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Blood and Body horror
julsi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Spoiler
an interesting take of not being able to let go converging with a physical manifestation that no longer lets you avoid difficult and unanswerable questions; wrapped up in a horror story that everyone involved in wants to be a miracle.Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Death, and Grief
monstersinspace's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Gore, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Vomit
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Graphic: Eating disorder, Medical content, Medical trauma, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Stalking, Grief, Abandonment, and Infidelity
traa'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
4.5
Graphic: Classism, Death, Murder, Mental illness, Alcohol, Grief, Cannibalism, Gore, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Stalking, and Violence
Moderate: Car accident, Fatphobia, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Ableism, Body shaming, Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Racism, Bullying, and Xenophobia
lovesit1892's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
There was a line in this book that gave me literal chills, and as a ghosty, ghouly, macabre-loving weirdo, that never happens to me while reading books. The small, blink-and-you'll-miss-them details that give a sense of something being "off" were so subtle and perfectly placed that it kept the creeping dread slowly escalating throughout the entire book. The setting felt so realistic--from
Spoiler
the try-hard, trendy/creepy boutique hotel to the dreary New England weather--that it was easy to imagine all of the absolutely unhinged occurrences actually happening.Spoiler
I don't normally like dialogue driven books, especially centering around a young adult friend group like this one (the friendship dynamic usually feels forced and cheesy), but Harrison does a superb job of showcasing the individual voice and personality of each character. She really captures the emotions and growing pains that these women go through while navigating their friend's disappearance and subsequent "return," and the strain that it puts on their friendships. This is a great narrative on grief, friendship, growing pains, and social dynamics told through the lens of contemporary horror.
Graphic: Blood, Death, Eating disorder, Body horror, and Gore
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Cancer, Death of parent, and Stalking