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idrisgrey's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed it a lot at first but my enjoyment sort of tapered off towards the end. I liked a lot of the themes, but I felt like the end of the book lacked impact? Sort of like the author realized they were hitting their page count/word count ceiling and hurriedly wrapped things up.
Full disclosure, I finished this book in a sleep-deprived daze. Maybe I missed some redeeming aspects of the ending?
Also, the relationship between Reese and Hetty felt strangely fraught and unresolved. It was dynamic I'm not opposed to in general but one that felt supremely unearned in this context. There was an attempt to lend weight to their interactions in the end segment of the book that struck me as strangely hollow. I don't know if that was just my exhausted reading or a real shortcoming in the text. May someday reread to figure it out.
In any event, liked the book. The central plot totally falls off a cliff by the end, but I am already planning to reading the author's next book.
I enjoyed it a lot at first but my enjoyment sort of tapered off towards the end. I liked a lot of the themes, but I felt like the end of the book lacked impact? Sort of like the author realized they were hitting their page count/word count ceiling and hurriedly wrapped things up.
Full disclosure, I finished this book in a sleep-deprived daze. Maybe I missed some redeeming aspects of the ending?
Also, the relationship between Reese and Hetty felt strangely fraught and unresolved. It was dynamic I'm not opposed to in general but one that felt supremely unearned in this context. There was an attempt to lend weight to their interactions in the end segment of the book that struck me as strangely hollow. I don't know if that was just my exhausted reading or a real shortcoming in the text. May someday reread to figure it out.
In any event, liked the book. The central plot totally falls off a cliff by the end, but I am already planning to reading the author's next book.
ksbrooks98's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed Wilder Girls. Rory Power’s ability say something incredibly impactful without dragging it out. It’s a YA novel but very high level and interesting for anyone. The end is very open, but I like that it leaves what happens completely open for interpretation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Self harm, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
witchyechos's review against another edition
3.0
Great concept, just felt like it wanted more. More set up and more resolution. This book could have been at least fifty pages longer and been a better rhythm.
tuesnxt's review against another edition
3.0
The premise of this book was interesting but the conclusion left me wanting — more explanation or more details or more clarity. It felt unresolved. I don’t mean it needed a happily ever after but I fell like the reasons behind what happened on the island were never made clear enough to feel like the story could end.
I would not NOT recommend the book but I would definitely caveat my recommendation with the fact the ending was somewhat unsatisfying.
I would not NOT recommend the book but I would definitely caveat my recommendation with the fact the ending was somewhat unsatisfying.
alexismoodie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
readastorywithtory's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
mudder17's review against another edition
4.0
This was a creepy read that had me glued to my earbuds until the very end. Like her most recent book, [b:Burn Our Bodies Down|52748041|Burn Our Bodies Down|Rory Power|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1573588170l/52748041._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72451374] (a five-star book for me), I could not put it down, although this was quite a different story! This was more science fiction than fantasy but there was a decent amount of horror as I pictured what it was that was changing these girls (no spoilers). I had no idea that they were dealing with some mysterious epidemic until I started listening, so if 2020 has been too much for you, you may want to delay reading this book for a while--at least until we get past our current situation, lol. My only quibble is that the story sort of ends abruptly and although you can imagine what might happen, it just didn't feel quite complete for me. I listened to it twice just in case I missed something (I didn't). The way it ended made me feel that perhaps at some point in the future there will be a sequel, although for the most part, most of the major plotlines were somewhat resolved. Would I have read this if I had known it would end this way? Yes, it is still enough of a satisfying ending that I would want to read the book. Think of it as a Twilight Zone ending and it's not so bad, lol. As a debut book, I think this is a very solid book, and I'm glad I read it. Perhaps the impact is even a wee bit more because we ARE in the midst of a pandemic.
copenhag's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to like Wilder Girls, and I did in a way, but it wasn’t what I wanted it to be. It was like a lesbian Lord of The Flies (I’ve never read it but from what I’ve read about it this seems eerily similar) and I loved that there was some WLW representation, but I’m confused.
SPOILERS FROM HERE ON!
Were Hetty, Byatt, and Reece in a threesome, or was it just a love triangle or just straight up a couple between Hetty and Byatt?
I liked the book, but not as much as I thought I would. Probably wouldn’t recommend. But, I’d have to give it 3/5 stars.
SPOILERS FROM HERE ON!
Were Hetty, Byatt, and Reece in a threesome, or was it just a love triangle or just straight up a couple between Hetty and Byatt?
I liked the book, but not as much as I thought I would. Probably wouldn’t recommend. But, I’d have to give it 3/5 stars.
snukes's review against another edition
4.0
What is the meaning of love? What does it mean to love other people, and to love yourself? How should the way other people treat you affect the ways you treat them? Where does the desperate desire to keep living fit into those equations?
This book's answer to that last question is a little grim, but the way it addresses the other questions makes the whole thing beautiful and dark and ... well, it's still grim.
Perhaps I'll come back and leave a better review after I've had some more time to think about this one. It's quite a bit to digest. I will say that it was a very engaging read, beautifully written, and did not hold back any punches.
This book's answer to that last question is a little grim, but the way it addresses the other questions makes the whole thing beautiful and dark and ... well, it's still grim.
Perhaps I'll come back and leave a better review after I've had some more time to think about this one. It's quite a bit to digest. I will say that it was a very engaging read, beautifully written, and did not hold back any punches.