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stellahadz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Based on other reviews I've read, I feel like I'm in the minority of people who really, really liked this book. It seems like a lot of people went in expecting a scathing takedown of the true-crime industry, which would have been interesting in its own right, but I think it was a mistake to market this book that way. I read it more as a mystery/thriller with subtle yet thought-provoking social commentary, and I personally found that refreshing. So often, thrillers rely very heavily on tropes and sensationalist stereotypes. I definitely love a good beach-read mystery where you can just turn your brain off and let the story do its thing, but I Have Some Questions for You actually addresses the topics of racism and sexual violence in the legal system, and the extremely important and timely concept of law vs. justice.
The setting, characterization, story, and pacing were all great. The mystery was very well-crafted and I loved how detailed it was - nothing felt out of place, and I could picture every moment of the story so well. It was Dead Poets Society meets How to Get Away with Murder meets the Serial podcast. I liked that Bodie wasn't a perfect person; she made a lot of incredibly foolish decisions, but they all made sense in the context of her character, and I think those decisions were supposed to be a cautionary tale about the danger and confusion of latching onto a certain narrative in true-crime cases.
I found the ending deeply unsatisfying, but I also don't think that's a bad thing. It tied up some loose ends while also leaving the reader with the sense that justice wasn't entirely served, which aligns with the social commentary woven into the story. (Also, petty grievance, but the character that I REALLY wanted to see get his just desserts went completely scot-free, which is realistic but INFURIATING.)
Overall, I would recommend this book, but I would also advise people to a) check the content warnings and b) go in with as few expectations as possible - not because it's not good, but because it doesn't fit perfectly into either the box of "beach read thriller" or "scathing, in-your-face social commentary." It was one of those books that made me think and feel, and that I was sad to finish.
The setting, characterization, story, and pacing were all great. The mystery was very well-crafted and I loved how detailed it was - nothing felt out of place, and I could picture every moment of the story so well. It was Dead Poets Society meets How to Get Away with Murder meets the Serial podcast. I liked that Bodie wasn't a perfect person; she made a lot of incredibly foolish decisions, but they all made sense in the context of her character, and I think those decisions were supposed to be a cautionary tale about the danger and confusion of latching onto a certain narrative in true-crime cases.
Overall, I would recommend this book, but I would also advise people to a) check the content warnings and b) go in with as few expectations as possible - not because it's not good, but because it doesn't fit perfectly into either the box of "beach read thriller" or "scathing, in-your-face social commentary." It was one of those books that made me think and feel, and that I was sad to finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child death, Eating disorder, Racism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
laurenisallbooked's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I'm a Rebecca Makkai fan through and through, but this one left something to be desired.
I enjoyed the murder mystery, and kept coming back to this book for the plot. I appreciated the way Makkai connected this narrative to other, real-world stories of violence against women, sexual assault, and murder. I also appreciated the critiques of the legal system and noting it's inherent, structural and systemic injustices.
I enjoyed the murder mystery, and kept coming back to this book for the plot. I appreciated the way Makkai connected this narrative to other, real-world stories of violence against women, sexual assault, and murder. I also appreciated the critiques of the legal system and noting it's inherent, structural and systemic injustices.
What's as perfect as a girl stopped dead, midformation? Girl as blank slate. Girl as reflection of your desires, unmarred by her own. Girl as sacrifice to the idea of girl.
I think the book was trying to do too much. It felt 100 pages too long and also unfinished. The character development of our narrator felt unfinished (we learn about the tragedies of her father and brother, but we don't see a lot of the ripples of how that affected her, other than in the men she dates đź‘€). There were some side characters who were built up and then didn't go anywhere or contribute to the plot or ambiance. The chapters where the narrator imagines how the murder happened paid off in the end, but could have been strengthened with fewer suspects.
Overall, not my favorite Makkai but an enjoyable read while it was happening.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
katiecat22's review against another edition
4.5
A great literary mystery with excellent writing. If you like Tana French or Liz Moore as authors, you’ll like this. The New Hampshire boarding school setting is well done, and the cast of characters is really well described in both timelines through the main character’s first-person point of view. It includes a lot of commentary on bias, racism in court systems, and the double standard of how women are treated in memory when they are victims of a violent crime as opposed to men (white men specifically).
sarah_brant's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
We follow a middle aged women, Bodie Kane, as she is transported back to her boarding school where she is faced with confronting the death of her roommate from 2osome years ago. Bodie begins to question what if they put the wrong man in jail all those years ago? I loved this fictional take and commentary on true crime. When she starts looking, she falls into the world of investigating what happened to Thalia all those years ago while also dealing with her own life.
We follow a middle aged women, Bodie Kane, as she is transported back to her boarding school where she is faced with confronting the death of her roommate from 2osome years ago. Bodie begins to question what if they put the wrong man in jail all those years ago? I loved this fictional take and commentary on true crime. When she starts looking, she falls into the world of investigating what happened to Thalia all those years ago while also dealing with her own life.
mobaconplz's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
patsyv59's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Engaging mystery about the murder of a 17 year old girl at a NH boarding school in the 1990’s . Told from the point of view of another student who, 20+ years later, returns to campus as a visiting instructor and finds herself obsessed with the past and figuring out what really happened. As a student she was a midwestern outsider among the rich kids. She and others dig into the past seeking to obtain a new trial for the man who was wrongfully convicted The narrator is a podcaster who’s show is about the history of sexism and abuse of women in Hollywood, and her pov is through the lens of the sexual and physical abuse of women that has historically been tolerated or ignored.
3adeleine's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
samanthamccabe_'s review against another edition
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
3.0
I can appreciate this but I just didn’t really have a good time
sareeta's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
2.5
This was somewhat entertaining but I was always waiting for it to get better or for something to happen. I also disliked the way it seems to propose that forcing people to talk about their assaults or experiences with abusers in court even when they don’t want to is the “right” thing to do. It also felt predictable and obvious, and I got bored. There were many times I wanted to stop reading but kept going because I wanted to see what would happen. It wasn’t worth it. I’ll probably try The Great Believers someday but not for a while…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Racism, Self harm, Blood, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic