burstnwithbooks's review
3.0
I'm rather disappointed in this book. To be clear, it has solidified my love for Deb Caletti's writing - I requested a copy of this book (thank you Netgalley for granting me a copy!) because I was/am completely obsessed with A Heart in a Body in the World, and to be honest, the premise of the book was irrelevant to my interest. However, I definitely did not expect the story to go the way that it did. I actually thought at the beginning of the book that this could be five stars (or at least four), and I felt that the crux of the story was a letdown. I was also hoping for some closure with the main character's best friend, and I wasn't as big a fan of the romance as the reader was meant to be. Anyhow, this book didn't quite meet the high bar or pack as big of a punch as AHIABITW, but I did really enjoy the writing, and I'm still excited to pick up more from Deb Caletti. I think people who have enjoyed her previous work (before AHIABITW) will enjoy this, and probably just people with different expectations for the plot device than I had.
girlreading's review against another edition
4.0
A brilliant exploration of sexism, the patriarchy, toxic masculinity and the male gaze, told through the eyes of a teen discovering all that comes with being a woman for the first time.
This was definitely more of a 'crap, why does the society work like this' coming-of-age story than the YA thriller promised but I'm not mad about it because who can be mad about a book that shines a light on the exhausting double standards and misogyny (both internal and external) society places upon women? This wasn't an easy read but it was definitely an eye opening one and one I think will be very important for young teens. (Also there was an adorable pup, so that helped.)
TW: sexual harassment, domestic abuse (emotional and physical)
This was definitely more of a 'crap, why does the society work like this' coming-of-age story than the YA thriller promised but I'm not mad about it because who can be mad about a book that shines a light on the exhausting double standards and misogyny (both internal and external) society places upon women? This wasn't an easy read but it was definitely an eye opening one and one I think will be very important for young teens. (Also there was an adorable pup, so that helped.)
TW: sexual harassment, domestic abuse (emotional and physical)
bigborrowedbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was deeply unsettling in all the right ways. If you’re a woman this will get right up in those memories you’ve tried to push away about men and our society. But maybe we shouldn’t be pushing those away. Caletti makes the argument through Girl, Unframed that we have to stop pushing them away and start pushing back against them. Captivating and edge-of-your-seat intoxicating, this little novel packs a thrilling punch about what it’s really like becoming a woman.
sc104906's review
2.0
I received this as an eARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Sydney loves her life at her boarding school. She can be a regular teen with great best friends. However, occasionally she is forced to stay with her celebrity mother, who is extremely self-involved and not a great parent. Sydney is to spend her summer with her mother and she prepares herself to get through it as quickly as possible. What she didn't plan on was her mother's new boyfriend, Jake. He is supposed to be an art dealer, but his creep factor makes him seem like there is more going on there. When Sydney strikes up a relationship with a local guy, Jake becomes oddly possessive. The longer Sydney stays with her mother the more horrific the interactions with Jake become. Sydney is desperate for her friend to come visit and be a buffer, but is this really going to help?
This book works through Sydney trip into womanhood and what that means in the world. As her body has developed and she fills the standard of beauty, men (and her mother) begin to treat her differently. I had difficulty with the writing style, which is just a personal preference thing. I thought that the author keep the mystery crime a mystery for far too long and after awhile I became frustrated with it. Also, I feel like I never fully got into the character's head.
Sydney loves her life at her boarding school. She can be a regular teen with great best friends. However, occasionally she is forced to stay with her celebrity mother, who is extremely self-involved and not a great parent. Sydney is to spend her summer with her mother and she prepares herself to get through it as quickly as possible. What she didn't plan on was her mother's new boyfriend, Jake. He is supposed to be an art dealer, but his creep factor makes him seem like there is more going on there. When Sydney strikes up a relationship with a local guy, Jake becomes oddly possessive. The longer Sydney stays with her mother the more horrific the interactions with Jake become. Sydney is desperate for her friend to come visit and be a buffer, but is this really going to help?
This book works through Sydney trip into womanhood and what that means in the world. As her body has developed and she fills the standard of beauty, men (and her mother) begin to treat her differently. I had difficulty with the writing style, which is just a personal preference thing. I thought that the author keep the mystery crime a mystery for far too long and after awhile I became frustrated with it. Also, I feel like I never fully got into the character's head.
joyfullyjacquie's review
5.0
Y’all about books that catch you off guard! This book took me a few chapters to get into it, but once I did I couldn’t put it down.
If you have read any Karen McManus books, this is similar to that kind of a feel. It’s a YA mystery/thriller type of feel, but also with a coming of age element to it. I loved the main character and her struggles not only with family but also life.
The author does an amazing job of describing what it’s like for women in the world, whether your 12 or 57. The way the book ends she leaves you with some important questions and the empowerment to want to take control of your own life. Not only is this a “thriller” type of book, but it’s also a great feminist novel.
If you have read any Karen McManus books, this is similar to that kind of a feel. It’s a YA mystery/thriller type of feel, but also with a coming of age element to it. I loved the main character and her struggles not only with family but also life.
The author does an amazing job of describing what it’s like for women in the world, whether your 12 or 57. The way the book ends she leaves you with some important questions and the empowerment to want to take control of your own life. Not only is this a “thriller” type of book, but it’s also a great feminist novel.
jesshayward's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
ashleyneve's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lisaluvsliterature's review against another edition
4.0
This story kept you hanging for a long time. Obviously there were hints at what was going on, but you didn’t get a lot filled in as you went along. And you had an idea what was going to happen based on the synopsis. Within the story there were a lot of good points made, either based on just the thoughts Sydney had as things happened to her, or even just through what happened itself. This is another book where the things that women have to deal with from men looking at them and that creepy feeling we get from men but aren’t sure of if we should feel that way are really pointed out. Also how it is her “purity” that is important, and all the things that really should be worried about, is she emotionally ready, does she want to, those aren’t the concerns the male trying to be a father figure worries about.
This book had a kind of slow pace for me, and I feel that there could have been more actual things happening. I get that it had a lot of great messages, but I just wish there had been some more to the crime. We got little updates to witness testimonies or similar at the beginning of each chapter, but nothing other than the words, not what the actual testimonies or evidence was. I kind of wanted that if it was going to be pointed out. So while the story wasn’t bad, overall I wasn’t the biggest fan of it. I'd actually give it more of a 3.5 star rating than 4.
Review first appeared on Lisa Loves Literature.
This book had a kind of slow pace for me, and I feel that there could have been more actual things happening. I get that it had a lot of great messages, but I just wish there had been some more to the crime. We got little updates to witness testimonies or similar at the beginning of each chapter, but nothing other than the words, not what the actual testimonies or evidence was. I kind of wanted that if it was going to be pointed out. So while the story wasn’t bad, overall I wasn’t the biggest fan of it. I'd actually give it more of a 3.5 star rating than 4.
Review first appeared on Lisa Loves Literature.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
If you want your mystery mixed with a dash of romance, this is for you. Each chapter starts with exhibits, clearly from a trial - the who died and who is on trial is the big mystery. Then there's the relationship between Lila (superficial movie star mom) and Sydney (trying-to-be normal teen). So much of that relationship and the Lila/Jake relationship is wrong, and the author does a great job of heightening our sense of what it can be like to be a teen girl, growing into her changing body and emotions, and having men make you feel uncomfortable and having a mother who has made choices that you wouldn't make. The mystery part is a bit rushed, and we never do really get the trial but the aftermath of what happens is very real.
eARC provided by publisher.
eARC provided by publisher.