Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - Squad

This is probably the quickest read of my life. Then again it is a graphic novel. I finished it in 45 minutes and it was a fun little story.
The sorry is quick, but fun and the dialogue isn’t flat like some graphic novels.
I’m not really the biggest GN fan, but I think I would read more that are similar to this.
Rape revenge is one of my favorite film genres, and this is kinda a watered down version of that.

Crying score: none

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ccatsol's review against another edition

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dark funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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madmadmaddymad's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

NICE.

It’s a little bit Heathers, and highly satisfying. Becca moves to a new town and joins a pack of werewolves comprised of the school’s mean, popular clique. Once a month; they attend glamorous parties and devour any guy who can’t take “no” for an answer.

It’s a dark and playful feminist fantasy. Oh; and it has a really satisfying sapphic romance subplot. I love this one. 5 stars - will read again!

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tinyelfarcanist's review

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dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A group of continually hangry teenagers fight predatorial behaviour... without addressing their inner misogynistic issues.

Squad operates on the premise of a new mixed-race student trying to fit in by joining an all-girls gang with "Mean Girls" mechanics. It misses being the feminist commentary it tries to be when the protagonist and her abused peers by a Regina George figure are portrayed solely as victims. You can't sympathise with them as they are still toxic to others when not in the presence of their aggressor.

In the end, most problems aren't solved and are kind of played down when the main obstacle is sorted out.

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ednam0dewannabe's review against another edition

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adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
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

This was an interesting, light and entertaining read. Despite becoming confusing in certain panels, the narrative is straightforward and clear. I loved the art style and the lgbtq+ representation (we need more of it) but I found the pacing too fast, leaving neither characters nor readers a minute to digest any new information or emotions. In conclusion, if you want a light and entertaining read I recommend this graphic novel.

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foreverinastory's review against another edition

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challenging dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to love this but this was not what I was expecting. There were so many toxic things in here and I was not prepared for it. Or the cannibalism.

Squad is the story of Becca, a transfer student to an elite high school. She doesn't expect to be adopted into the popular clique. But she is and now she has friends. Friends that are sometimes mean to each other, but that's the price of belonging right? Then Becca finds out her friends are werewolves and they prey on boys who sexually assault people. Becca agrees to be turned and together the four of them are unstoppable. When Arianna's predatory boyfriend is accidentally killed, cops begin looking for a serial killer and the girls world begins to unravel.

I guess in all this a good guide on what friendship shouldn't look like. You shouldn't be afraid of your friends. They should call you by the name you want them to use. They shouldn't insult your body or what you do with it.

I did like Becca's romantic storyline, even though it did feel a tad underdeveloped. Overall, I think this was not for me, which is par for the course with me and werewolf books honestly.

Rep: queer Asian American female MC, sapphic white female love interest, Black female side character, white fat female side character, BIPOC female side character, hijabi BIPOC female side character.

CWs: Murder, cannibalism, violence, attempted sexual assault, attempted rape, death, gore, blood, toxic friendship, bullying, sexual harassment, body shaming, slut shaming, misogyny, sexism, lesbomisia/lesbophobia, underage alcohol consumption, fatphobia, toxic relationship. Moderate: Racism and racial microaggressions, eating disorder mention, ableism, classism, grief.

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booksthatburn's review against another edition

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adventurous tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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gem114's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Squad is a YA graphic novel that I picked up for my classroom. It addresses the desire to fit in as well as young women's desire to feel powerful and does both with a heaping dose of the paranormal. While I understand the goal of the story, the characters are a bit too far over the line of morally gray to be likeable, even if you can sympathize with them, in my opinion.

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