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knitwitalex's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Bullying, Racism, Self harm, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Stalking, and Pregnancy
writingcaia's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
As always the author takes me with her haunting writing, her noir and somewhat morbid inspiration.
It was not my favourite of hers but still a great and short read.
A story about sharks and scorpions, the desert and the ocean, little towns and big dreams, people who deceive, people who want to escape and those who are pawns.
A coming of age story with a noir thriller vibe, in Baja California under the scorching sun and the heat of wildlife.
It was not my favourite of hers but still a great and short read.
A story about sharks and scorpions, the desert and the ocean, little towns and big dreams, people who deceive, people who want to escape and those who are pawns.
A coming of age story with a noir thriller vibe, in Baja California under the scorching sun and the heat of wildlife.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Blood, and Sexual harassment
sofipitch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
This was entertaining but I was able to predict most of the plot beats ahead of time.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment
saimab's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
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? Yes
4.5
I was almost sad to finish because I enjoyed it so much, the writing and the characters and the suspenseful atmosphere of it being so wonderful to read.
SMG has a way of writing women that is almost comforting. Our main character Viridiana in an 18-year-old woman who desperately wants off her little island, too intelligent to be spending her days watching sharks and waiting for tourists so that she can give them tours. She's both ambitious and directionless - wanting to travel and visit Mexico City, but unsure how she can ever escape this small town. I instantly loved her, her smarts and her awkwardness and her love to quote books and movies.
When she is given the opportunity to be a personal assistant/translator for some tourists, she is eager but apprehensive. It spirals from there - the tourists aren't what they seem, and suddenly one of them is now dead. But she's enamoured by the charismatic Gregory and fascinated by the elusive Daisy, so when they both said that the death was an accident she has no choice but to go along with the plan.
It's frustrating at times reading Viridiana be strung along by the foreigners, but at the same I can't blame her when I consider how magnetic and charismatic they must be to a small-town girl. That's not to say that Viridiana doesn't learn from them and their manipulative ways, and it's thrilling to see how she transforms from a naive girl to someone very aware of the power she holds.
All in all, yet another SMG book I adored.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Sexual harassment
Minor: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Gaslighting