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kalin_grace's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-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
3.75
333allseeingselkie333's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Because we’re reading from Lizzie’s POV, I want to think the author attempted to write more as mental illness AS the horror, because yeah. Being mentally ill can be horrifying to experience, and I do think that’s an avenue of exploration. I think the ending solidifies that this WASNT the case though, as we don’t see any kind of improvement in Lizzie’s health after she’s killed her two abusers and escaped. For some reason, without any context, she’s still in their Inn. Maybe that’s meant to symbolically represent the trapping nature of mental illness—a bloody version of Plath’s bell jar—but I don’t know if I like that.
I noticed some people calling this homophobic (because of Bridget, Lizzie’s lover, informing her final blackout that leaves her abusers dead) and other things. I didn’t pick up on that, especially because I viewed Bridget more symbolically; she represents Lizzie’s desires, hopes, who she wants to be, and so her falling in love with Bridget is her falling in love with a life she doesn’t have, and maybe wanting to love herself.
witchqueen5's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the story overall, but I found it very hard to read because of the weird formatting of the "blackouts" and the way it jumped from scene to scene. To me it felt very fragmented and at times I had to reread some sentences to get the focus back. Otherwise it was a good story and I enjoyed it.
rebekahmbratton's review against another edition
5.0
The retelling of Lizzie Borden is an enchanting thriller. The story is told in first person POV with razor sharp writing that emerges you into immediate tension and only builds from there. Lizzie’s mind is quick, with a chopped mindset with OCD tendencies. It leaves the reader needing to be patient with her as the mystery unravels. Very interesting concept. I recommend this book completely.
elizabethkinggg's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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
3.0
malindaoquinn's review
1.0
I immediately checked out of this book when the author chose to write a teenage girl in the year 2018 who not only knows who Emeril is and considers herself a fan, but also uses BAM and “kick it up a notch” while she’s cooking. What a horrendously bizarre choice.
I was expecting an off-kilter lgtbq-friendly novel, but the overall message of being driven insane by lesbian desires is kind of dangerous rhetoric, though i’m sure this wasn’t intended, which is really a pity.
Beyond that, the writing felt thin and the characters recycled. The blackout flashes were confusing, but not in the way intended, coming off a bit sloppy. I just can’t find any redeeming qualities in this novel.
I was expecting an off-kilter lgtbq-friendly novel, but the overall message of being driven insane by lesbian desires is kind of dangerous rhetoric, though i’m sure this wasn’t intended, which is really a pity.
Beyond that, the writing felt thin and the characters recycled. The blackout flashes were confusing, but not in the way intended, coming off a bit sloppy. I just can’t find any redeeming qualities in this novel.
haljonesy's review against another edition
1.0
“Oh yay, a queer book about Lizzie Borden, so we’ll get some murder but also some girls making out!”
This is what I thought. And yes. There is murder. And there’s girls making out. But the overall message that comes out of this book is *not* positive, and it actually rather suggests that loving a girl can make you crazy. Like, so crazy you murder your dad and stepmom with a hatchet.
Spoilers ahead.
So Lizzie has a condition where she blacks out when she gets her period. She also has a ton of anxiety because her dad is physically abusive and her stepmom is emotionally abusive. She’s super active in her Catholic church. Enter Bridget: a beautiful bi Irish girl who immediately takes a liking to Lizzie, and the feeling is mutual. Bridget does her best to stay out of dad and stepmom’s way because yeah, they’re awful. We see some cute times with Lizzie and Bridget, and it’s lovely and gay. But then Lizzie’s anxiety starts making her a little crazy. She feels guilty for her feelings for Bridget because “God Doesn’t Like Gays.” She starts to have regular blackouts, and she even kills some pigeons that she was otherwise trying to protect. There are quite a few psychotic episodes, really, and they are quite horrifying. And then Bridget breaks up with Lizzie, who thinks “I am not enough. She doesn’t say it aloud, but God’s voice whispers over my shoulder, reminding me of my broken vows, the sins I have committed for which I have yet to repent. I don’t deserve someone like Bridget. I am not worthy. I am tainted, damaged goods, just like Father has always said.” And then after Bridget breaks up with her (citing Lizzie’s psychotic episodes as cause) Lizzie blacks out and murders her dad and stepmom. Then it turns out that Bridget wasn’t even real, Lizzie just imagined her and their entire relationship.
So. Based on the timeline of events here, it’s not until after “Bridget” shows up that Lizzie’s episodes start to get really bad. She starts lying more, she steals, she kills some pigeons during a blackout, she burns her diary. She’s going through a lot of trauma, and it seems like we’re supposed to blame all of this on Bridget. She’s the catalyst, theoretically without her none of this would’ve happened. Which sends the message that “loving and lusting for a girl will make you do crazy things that you wouldn’t normally do.” Bit of a homophobic message there, Dawn. Add to that Lizzie’s constant guilt and fear about God hating her for being gay and we get another homophobic layer to this book. And in the end, Lizzie has only her sister in her life who cares for her. She doesn’t have someone who loves her for herself, and the imaginary person she did have broke up with her anyway, which implies that depression and anxiety make you unlovable. Yes, the psychotic element was definitely a major factor in the facet of Lizzie’s subconscious “breaking up with her” but it’s still a horrible thing to read, watching Lizzie fall apart the way she does.
And then Bridget isn’t even real. It’s like the ultimate “Bury Your Gays” trope. Everything Lizzie went through wasn’t real. She imagined being gay and that drove her crazy and into a murderous frenzy.
This book is too homophobic for my tastes, even if I only observed the homophobia by analyzing what’s written.
This is what I thought. And yes. There is murder. And there’s girls making out. But the overall message that comes out of this book is *not* positive, and it actually rather suggests that loving a girl can make you crazy. Like, so crazy you murder your dad and stepmom with a hatchet.
Spoilers ahead.
So Lizzie has a condition where she blacks out when she gets her period. She also has a ton of anxiety because her dad is physically abusive and her stepmom is emotionally abusive. She’s super active in her Catholic church. Enter Bridget: a beautiful bi Irish girl who immediately takes a liking to Lizzie, and the feeling is mutual. Bridget does her best to stay out of dad and stepmom’s way because yeah, they’re awful. We see some cute times with Lizzie and Bridget, and it’s lovely and gay. But then Lizzie’s anxiety starts making her a little crazy. She feels guilty for her feelings for Bridget because “God Doesn’t Like Gays.” She starts to have regular blackouts, and she even kills some pigeons that she was otherwise trying to protect. There are quite a few psychotic episodes, really, and they are quite horrifying. And then Bridget breaks up with Lizzie, who thinks “I am not enough. She doesn’t say it aloud, but God’s voice whispers over my shoulder, reminding me of my broken vows, the sins I have committed for which I have yet to repent. I don’t deserve someone like Bridget. I am not worthy. I am tainted, damaged goods, just like Father has always said.” And then after Bridget breaks up with her (citing Lizzie’s psychotic episodes as cause) Lizzie blacks out and murders her dad and stepmom. Then it turns out that Bridget wasn’t even real, Lizzie just imagined her and their entire relationship.
So. Based on the timeline of events here, it’s not until after “Bridget” shows up that Lizzie’s episodes start to get really bad. She starts lying more, she steals, she kills some pigeons during a blackout, she burns her diary. She’s going through a lot of trauma, and it seems like we’re supposed to blame all of this on Bridget. She’s the catalyst, theoretically without her none of this would’ve happened. Which sends the message that “loving and lusting for a girl will make you do crazy things that you wouldn’t normally do.” Bit of a homophobic message there, Dawn. Add to that Lizzie’s constant guilt and fear about God hating her for being gay and we get another homophobic layer to this book. And in the end, Lizzie has only her sister in her life who cares for her. She doesn’t have someone who loves her for herself, and the imaginary person she did have broke up with her anyway, which implies that depression and anxiety make you unlovable. Yes, the psychotic element was definitely a major factor in the facet of Lizzie’s subconscious “breaking up with her” but it’s still a horrible thing to read, watching Lizzie fall apart the way she does.
And then Bridget isn’t even real. It’s like the ultimate “Bury Your Gays” trope. Everything Lizzie went through wasn’t real. She imagined being gay and that drove her crazy and into a murderous frenzy.
This book is too homophobic for my tastes, even if I only observed the homophobia by analyzing what’s written.
keepthisholykiss's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This book is absolutely terrible. An embarrassment to be written. The way it discusses queer love and mental illness is embarrassing. Do not read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Ableism, Homophobia, and Mental illness
mel_fck's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
5.0