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mrs_mccluck's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. But it is not for the faint of heart. It deals with some pretty heavy issues; abuse, self harm, addiction. But we also get to see survival, acceptance, humility, and incredible growth. I’m sad that I’m finished this book.
amy_lynda's review against another edition
1.0
First, massive TW: there's quite a bit of sexual abuse, specifically child molestation, and emotional abuse. In other books I've read, the author generally used foreshadowing to alert the reader beforehand to abuse--Elizabeth Church DOES NOT do that in this book. The abuse happens and is frequently referenced out of nowhere. The reader is almost never given any sort of warning, so be wary!
Secondly, Javier, the Spanish man Ruby (aka Lily) falls for, has a stereotypical "Spanish" accent. I have numerous friends from many Spanish-speaking countries, and NONE of them had that accent. It was horrible. Ruby also describes Javier as "exotic" and lists this as one of the reasons she's with him. This is yet another red flag for me. As a Latina of mixed Indigenous and European (including Spanish!) descent: I HATE BEING DESCRIBED THAT WAY. So does EVERY WOMAN AND MAN OF COLOR THAT I KNOW. DO NOT USE IT. EVER. It is almost always used in a sick, dehumanizing, racial sexual-fetishism way.
Third, it appears that Church, has some issues with BDSM? At one point, Javier spanks Ruby before "making love" to her. In fact, I believe she describes it as "tender lovemaking." While I do agree that Javier is certainly physically and emotionally abusive to Ruby, especially later on in their relationship, I had a difficult time understanding WHY Ruby thought that being spanked in the bedroom or experiencing any sort of pain alongside pleasure is a bad thing. That bit just felt particularly preachy from Church, for no apparent reason.
Fourthly, I don't think we got enough of Ruby's emotional journey towards healing. The abuse of her childhood drives the entire book, but her healing is only given a page or two. It fell flat, and didn't seem realistic at all.
I did enjoy the historical aspects of Vegas, which I don't come across often, but that wasn't enough to make up for the major issues in the book.
Secondly, Javier, the Spanish man Ruby (aka Lily) falls for, has a stereotypical "Spanish" accent. I have numerous friends from many Spanish-speaking countries, and NONE of them had that accent. It was horrible. Ruby also describes Javier as "exotic" and lists this as one of the reasons she's with him. This is yet another red flag for me. As a Latina of mixed Indigenous and European (including Spanish!) descent: I HATE BEING DESCRIBED THAT WAY. So does EVERY WOMAN AND MAN OF COLOR THAT I KNOW. DO NOT USE IT. EVER. It is almost always used in a sick, dehumanizing, racial sexual-fetishism way.
Third, it appears that Church, has some issues with BDSM? At one point, Javier spanks Ruby before "making love" to her. In fact, I believe she describes it as "tender lovemaking." While I do agree that Javier is certainly physically and emotionally abusive to Ruby, especially later on in their relationship, I had a difficult time understanding WHY Ruby thought that being spanked in the bedroom or experiencing any sort of pain alongside pleasure is a bad thing. That bit just felt particularly preachy from Church, for no apparent reason.
Fourthly, I don't think we got enough of Ruby's emotional journey towards healing. The abuse of her childhood drives the entire book, but her healing is only given a page or two. It fell flat, and didn't seem realistic at all.
I did enjoy the historical aspects of Vegas, which I don't come across often, but that wasn't enough to make up for the major issues in the book.
superwendy's review against another edition
2.0
I had issues with this book. So many issues. The fact that the heroine is never really angry at The Aviator over his involvement in the accident that killed her parents and sister. He survives. She survives. She goes to live with a cold fish aunt and an uncle who molests her. And the man who walked away from the accident? She blames him for nothing. Ever. Misplaced or otherwise. This strained for me.
Also, the fact that this Very White book decides to import a Spaniard to fill out a villainous role. Look, I get the Very White thing. Lily grows up in small town Kansas and Vegas showgirl acts in the 1960s weren't exactly the Rainbow Coalition. But suddenly the author needs a villain, an abusive boyfriend character, and makes the decision "oh, let's make him from Spain, speak with an accent and use broken English!" I found this really jarring and really skeevy. Literally, 1960s Vegas. A town drowning in mobsters. No, instead we get the only not-white guy, who isn't Sammy Davis Jr., to be the scumbag abuser. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.
Also, the fact that this Very White book decides to import a Spaniard to fill out a villainous role. Look, I get the Very White thing. Lily grows up in small town Kansas and Vegas showgirl acts in the 1960s weren't exactly the Rainbow Coalition. But suddenly the author needs a villain, an abusive boyfriend character, and makes the decision "oh, let's make him from Spain, speak with an accent and use broken English!" I found this really jarring and really skeevy. Literally, 1960s Vegas. A town drowning in mobsters. No, instead we get the only not-white guy, who isn't Sammy Davis Jr., to be the scumbag abuser. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.
stephrand's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
eleanorfranzen's review against another edition
3.0
After the relentless masculinity of Bernie Gunther, All the Beautiful Girls was something of a relief. Church tells the story of Lily Decker, who transcends a tragic childhood (parents die in a car accident; the aunt who raises her is cold and the uncle is a child molester) to become a high-earning showgirl in Las Vegas under the name Ruby Wilde. It’s a story with solid forward momentum: Lily’s childhood has left her vulnerable to predatory men, dependent on self-harm to quell the constant tide of shame and loathing inside her, and unable to trust the good intentions of her friends. With the help of the man who killed her parents – whose guilt is such that he provides for Lily as if she were his daughter – she begins to learn the consequences of abuse in childhood and to connect her trauma with her later behavior. Church’s writing isn’t quite strong enough for this to happen without all the seams showing; every time Lily has a moment of growth, it’s signposted, in case readers can’t see it on their own. The descriptions of Las Vegas in the ’70s, however, are great: the way it caters to middle America’s nostalgia for simpler times, the glitter and the glamour masking a culture stubbornly unwilling to engage with the pace of social change. The sorority of showgirls is especially well drawn; Lily’s friends, Vivid and Rose, sometimes feel more believable than she does.
emilydehaven's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
catbonati's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
nini_readswithcats's review against another edition
5.0
This book was completely outside of my reading comfort zone and I loved it. There were so many things that I thought I would hate and this book does deal with some serious issues in a fairly graphic way. That being said I fell head over feels with our Vegas show girl.
This book made me smile, laugh and cry and I would definitely consider widening my reading horizons after enjoying this so much.
This book made me smile, laugh and cry and I would definitely consider widening my reading horizons after enjoying this so much.
ms_jo's review against another edition
3.0
As others have said, this is a well written story and an engaging read - buuuuut, it definitely needs a content warning. There are scenes of abuse and self-harm written in great detail, using very explicit language, which the blurb/cover/intro don’t prepare you for.
madss_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0