Reviews with content warning for Fatphobia - Boy Parts

I keep saying I won't read more books like this, and I end up only reading books like this -- model-like waif girls who stumble through drugs, alcohol, vomiting (so much vomiting), questionable sex, and with smeared mascara and broken faces, always stare in the mirror to see how relentlessly beautiful they are.

See: The Guest by Emma Cline, My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh, Fruit of the Dead by Rachel Lyon

What redeems "Boy Parts" from this tiring blueprint is the Gen Z sense of humor that gives the unreliable narrator, Irina, some personality. She's self-aware, albeit narcissistic, damaged, abusive and horrible, and going through her mental circus with her is incredibly entertaining and honestly thrilling. Eliza Clark gives structure and purpose to the mania, and her general commentary on pretty privilege, consent, sexual violence, and women's shift in power, is really well done.

I recommend this if you're okay with hateable and gross characters, graphic content, and moral ambiguity.

Content Warnings

ebee96's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

It's honestly a little difficult to put in to words how I felt about this book... I was drawn in by the idea that it combined horror and art, but there is a quality about it that is just very different from most things I read. I think the best verbiage I can use, is to say that this book feels *grimy*...

I feel it compulsive, and was unable to put it down at points- while at the same time noting that it made me feel more uneasy than almost anything I have ever read before. It is profoundly disturbing. I have seen a few others describe it as a gender swapped American Psycho, and while yes, it sort of is- it feels like it goes further than that.

I found the way it explored women looking at men through the sort of objectifying and often violent lens, that we typically see men looking a women through fascinating- as much as it was terrifying. There is a point about 80% in, where everything just seems to happen at once and the insanity is turned up to 11. I can't exactly say I enjoyed it.. in all honesty I felt a little sick while reading it, but I understood what it was trying to say, and that I appreciated.

Content Warnings

quirksandcontradictions's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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misunfortunate's review against another edition

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dark informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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masonwe's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

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jessdownes's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

ecaballero96's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

pola_pocket_'s review against another edition

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dark fast-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I can't say I liked the book because I truly didn't, which is weird because unhinged women characters is my cup of tea. But damn Irina was truly unlikable. Some parts were funny but the whole book was just an acid trip. Very much unreliable narrator which I loved. Ultimately I kept reading the book because I simply couldn't stop. I guess the story was entertaining and Irina was so crazy I wanted to see what the hell she would do next. I feel like nothing really happend, the closing of the book wasn't strong enough for me so I don't think I'll be recommending or reading this book again.

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