Reviews

The Girls by Emma Cline

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jazzypizzaz's review against another edition

3.0

The gripping evocative prose in this book speaks my language, crafted to reach inside me and tug... It's like this book wormed its way in through scars leftover from middle/high school to feed on buried emotions. This book evokes all the freshness of adolescent insecurities that never *really* leave you all the way, but just fade and are knit over with time. Excellent story and insights into a young girl's psyche, although discomforting at how much of myself I could see in between the lines of the narrative.

charlott_reads_books's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

joeybartusek's review against another edition

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hopeful slow-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

thebookofdanny's review against another edition

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2.0

If you're going to fictionalise a real-life story of angry hippies, then tackle Cookie Mueller (personal hero of mine) joining the Dreamlanders. Sure, it doesn't involve mass murder, but it does involve Cookie crushing a live - but not for long- chicken between her legs. I'd take that over this inoffensive (but very well written) novel any day. I just have so many problems with this book and I'll never develop the ability to skilfully articulate said problems for a goodreads review. Damn my stunted intelligence.

khopeisz's review against another edition

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challenging reflective tense medium-paced

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? Yes

4.75

scalpelsandstories's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Emma Cline's novel is a haunting exploration of girlhood, desire, and the allure of a dark and dangerous world. Set against the backdrop of the late 1960s, the novel transports readers to the summer of 1969, a time of cultural upheaval and the rise of the notorious Manson Family.

The story revolves around Evie a 14 year-old girl grappling with the complexities of adolescence and a sense of loneliness and alienation. Drawn to a group of free-spirited and enigmatic young women who belong to a cult led by the Russell, Evie becomes inexorably entangled in their world. As a young, naive girl she never stands a chance. However, the novel weaves back and forth between Evie's past and her present, offering a profound insight into the consequences of her choices. the complexities of adolescence and a sense of loneliness.

As you’re reading, you want to reach out to young Evie so many times to protect the young vulnerable girl from the allure of the cult. Cline is able to portray the turbulent emotions of girlhood so well through her captivating writing. Through her writing, you can almost imagine what it was like to be a young girl in 1960s California. This is a beautiful, dark portrayal of humanity and toxic relationships.

This book is definitely again not a light read nor for everyone but I truly enjoyed reading about this time period. This uneasy narrative pushed my thoughts outside of my normal comfort zone in the best way.