madanxiety's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Very soon into the novel, I thought it would make a great film, and after finishing it, I think I would prefer it in film form. Again, this is because the novel felt too slow/long and hard to get through. As I read, I envisioned a whole cinematic style for it, kind of like Beetlejuice meets Sorry To Bother You meets Scott Pilgrim. I hope the movie adaptation leans into weirdness and surrealism. I also hope the movie isn't 100% White like Midsommar or Girls (which I bring up because I noticed Lena Dunham's stamp of approval on the cover halfway thru reading).
What I think was successful about the book for me was how I, too, felt like my brain had been goopified a bit lol. While listening to this audiobook, I had to rewind constantly to understand what was going on (which makes me think it might've also been a better read on paper vs. audiobook). Anyway, what I'm getting at is by the end of the book I was left thinking "what was all that??" and I think that's actually exactly what the protagonist is thinking too.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Alcoholism, and Toxic relationship
fionamatilda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Gore, Body horror, Gaslighting, Murder, Animal death, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Mental illness
bronzeageholly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
Vivid characters? Yes!
Unreliable narrator? Yes!
Strange and unholy happenings in a friendship group? Yes! Yes!
The theme of loneliness in this book was heart aching and gripping, and shown in ways I’ve never come across before. It was a struggle to put it down to sleep!
I’m not sure I always understood (or even liked) our protagonist, but her unsettling and unrelenting university experience was now mine too, and I wasn’t going to let her go it alone.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Animal death, Blood, Violence, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Self harm, Murder, Classism, and Sexual content
hobbsl'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Blood, Animal death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, Self harm, Death, Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Gore, and Emotional abuse
caseyadamsstark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
But hey, I did like this book. It's confusing as heck because of the trippy things that happen--the main character Smackie, an English grad student with a huge inferiority complex, is also a highly unreliable narrator. But her imagination kicks in big time as she bleeds out her tale of woe while trying to fit in with the rich girls on campus, who reach out to include her after several semesters of treating her like an other.
And she is an other--the horror elements are a fantastic and bizarre flip to a Stepford Wives ideal, but the love story, the real love story that makes Samantha the "other", is the reason to keep reading. You could argue that there are similarities to plenty of stories out there, such as Mean Girls or Heathers (movies are stories too), or the obvious nods to Alice in her Wonderland. But the telling of this bunny horror fairytale is weird and unique and original in a good way, too.
Check it out horror fans.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Animal death, Bullying, Classism, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
lifeonasofa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Addiction, Sexual content, Blood, Confinement, Drug use, Murder, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Bullying
missmali's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Gore, Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts
justmys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I had to keep reminding myself that it was set in a university and not a high school campus, that the characters were grown adults and not wildly troubled teenagers. Everything just felt a little off, which was mayve intentional but left me unable to click with the story or writing.
But, I'm also conflicted as I listened to the audio book version and found myself having to play it at double speed so as not to fall asleep from boredom with the way it was read. So, I'm unsure if I may have enjoyed the book more had I read a physical copy.
Either way, an interesting book and premise, scary and challenging but not for me.
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Gore, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Classism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Bullying, Confinement, and Cursing
sydneynorman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Animal death, Blood, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Blood
porporina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Death, Drug use, Alcohol, Body horror, Self harm, Animal death, Vomit, Classism, Gore, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship