briryder's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
I loved this book. It reminded me a bit of Sweetbitter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexism, Rape, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, Vomit, and Sexual violence
Minor: Racism
geekybobbin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
Minor: Eating disorder, Rape, Drug abuse, Body shaming, Addiction, and Fatphobia
becca_thegrimreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a heavy book, detailing the toxic and dark natured world of Hollywood. Working at a network, our unnamed narrator is at war with herself about whether to stand up and argue for change but lose all prospects of job advancement, or to stay quiet and earn a higher ranking position that might allow her to bring change. We see the unspoken expectations put on women through standards of beauty, fitness, grooming, etc. Undergoing all this she compares this to why men are allowed to wear the same outfit every day to work. As the book progresses, the patriarchal structure of the workplace worsens. There are scenes of sexual assault, rape, and harassment included and the ramifications that women face when they come forward.
The other side of the book examines the narrator's relationship with her mother, a high profile lawyer who campaigns for women’s rights and against rape. Her mother is demanding of her time, not allowing the narrator to have time to herself as an adult and admonishes her for not loving her. However, her mother can also be affectionate and loving and pay for anything the narrator needs that she can’t afford. Her mother’s ethics and morality can be questioned very heavily in the book. Her actions do not follow what she has preached during her career. When a close friend is accused of sexual assault, she is going to represent them. Her view on victims’ rights seem to fade when it’s a friend who is accused.
I find that I would have preferred less interaction between the mother and narrator as their arguments tended to all be the same. I think some of the conversations they have are important as it highlights the hypocritical nature of the mother and leaves the narrator questioning her own values. I think what lets this book down is more the execution. The beginning was a brief history of our narrators life, and learning of her immense privilege. It then took a while for the substance to appear in the book, as we got more observational notes from the narrator than plot. I think this is a book that covers a very important and vital topic, it just missed the mark at a few places.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.
The other side of the book examines the narrator's relationship with her mother, a high profile lawyer who campaigns for women’s rights and against rape. Her mother is demanding of her time, not allowing the narrator to have time to herself as an adult and admonishes her for not loving her. However, her mother can also be affectionate and loving and pay for anything the narrator needs that she can’t afford. Her mother’s ethics and morality can be questioned very heavily in the book. Her actions do not follow what she has preached during her career. When a close friend is accused of sexual assault, she is going to represent them. Her view on victims’ rights seem to fade when it’s a friend who is accused.
I find that I would have preferred less interaction between the mother and narrator as their arguments tended to all be the same. I think some of the conversations they have are important as it highlights the hypocritical nature of the mother and leaves the narrator questioning her own values. I think what lets this book down is more the execution. The beginning was a brief history of our narrators life, and learning of her immense privilege. It then took a while for the substance to appear in the book, as we got more observational notes from the narrator than plot. I think this is a book that covers a very important and vital topic, it just missed the mark at a few places.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Toxic relationship
read_watch_sarah's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Body shaming, and Eating disorder
feministbookclub's review against another edition
Got tired of MC’s body shaming
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Eating disorder
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