ilaxaria's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Gore, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault
krystof's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use and Gore
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Murder, Self harm, Stalking, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
jo_lzr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Firstly, there were some quotes and scenes in this book that I really did enjoy, whether they were poetic or completely insane.
Honestly, I could just describe this book as creepy, crazy and sad (and a bit horny).
Also, I enjoyed the author's sarcasm for the pretentiousness of some people in the art world. I think that it was done in a very smart way.
On the other hand, there were some parts in the story where I couldn't understand what was happening, but I understand that this is the author's purpose.
Overall, this was an interesting read hence why I am giving it 3 stars.
Graphic: Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death, Murder, Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Classism, Cursing, and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape
justmys's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I had to keep reminding myself that it was set in a university and not a high school campus, that the characters were grown adults and not wildly troubled teenagers. Everything just felt a little off, which was mayve intentional but left me unable to click with the story or writing.
But, I'm also conflicted as I listened to the audio book version and found myself having to play it at double speed so as not to fall asleep from boredom with the way it was read. So, I'm unsure if I may have enjoyed the book more had I read a physical copy.
Either way, an interesting book and premise, scary and challenging but not for me.
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Gore, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Classism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Bullying, Confinement, and Cursing
suchsweetsorrow89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Now, for those who have read the book and want my opinion (aka spoilers), here's what I made of it:
Spoiler
I thought that this text served more as a metaphor for the writing process than anything else. Some people believe that this is meant to be a story of a schizophrenic woman attempting to find out her place in the world— and ultimately doing that through writing. While I think this assumption is feasible, I find this interpretation to leave out the role of academia in the text. And frankly, if this were to be the point of the text, I would not like this book (instead of making a meaningful piece that critiques the lack of disability justice in academia, you turn mental illness into horror? boo!!!). One of the most impactful aspects of this story, when I read it, was how Sam speaks so candidly about the death of her passions in academia, her struggles to write unless she is with Ava (a project that ultimately serves to remind her of her drive and capabilities to create something she loves), and her loneliness as she navigates what truly makes a writer when with the rich white friend group who, no matter how much they try, cannot do what Sam can do (made most clear on both the night she led Workshop and their desires, jealousy, and fury when faced with Max (another creature that, though so much darker than Ava, is still an original piece of work that they can never recreate)). In the end, I think this text serves as a metaphor for the harshness of the creative writing process and how fine the line really is between creative genius and pure madness. I think that this is what made the text so nice for me, even if when I first read it I wouldn't have been able to put these thoughts together. I certainly want to reread it with more annotation to see if this belief I have still holds, since my brain was not as active as it should have been when reading this. Hence, why I believe it's something like an American Psycho instead of a Heathers.Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Gore, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Murder, Blood, Body horror, Alcohol, Drug use, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual assault
theghostly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Ableism, and Sexual assault
erinpiac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Toxic friendship, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Classism, Cursing, and Death
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
amberghinii's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Self harm, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Classism, Gore, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Alcohol, Blood, Abandonment, Animal death, Death, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Sexual assault
rustycups's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Death, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Moderate: Self harm, Gore, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Alcohol
samcanuel's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Violence, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Vomit
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts