Scan barcode
annaforthebooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Self harm, and Sexual assault
Minor: Miscarriage
inesiragui's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual assault
alysereadsbooks'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
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
katenorman17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
weneedtotalk'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
3.5
Moderate: Rape, Self harm, and Sexual assault
kanorve's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
amyvl93'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It follows Fern, who has found some slightly accidental viral fame for sharing her experiences with mental illness, who after a ten year estrangement comes face to face with her best friend from her teenage years Jessica. The novel then takes us between the present, as Fern struggles to grapple with Jessica's arrival in her life and the years of the early 00s and Fern and Jessica's original friendship, leading to the point where the girls stop speaking.
Bourne is great at writing about the contemporary female experience and Girl Friends is no different. Fern's insecurities may feel irrational but also recognisable, as does Jessica's behaviour. Bourne's descriptions of the early 00s also felt painfully familiar, from the pop culture references to the grim way that 'lad culture' was accepted and enabled by teenage girls desperate to be recognised. This is a novel that looks at how misogyny creeps into relationships between young men and women, and how it can be a barrier to recognise how things really are.
The only thing that felt false to me is that there needed to be a 'reveal' about Jessica's motivations, given Fern's career and academic interests I would have expected her to be more able to understand the rationale behind the behaviour of those around her. However, this is a great contemporary read and I'll be first to pick up Bourne's next adult novel.
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape
jenicatreads'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
4.0
Minor: Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
ohhellograce's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault
poetrydragon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Body shaming, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy