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chelseamoretz's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This story resonated with me so much. It was really beautiful and heart-wrenching, and horrible at times in the best way. I read it in all of two days, and that's saying a lot with my crazy schedule because I just could not put it down. You want to root for Trixie and Lux, you want them to make it to California and start over. Props to Julia Lynn Rubin for crafting such an amazing story, if you're a fan of true crime, LGBTQ stories, women's rights, you need to read this book, it really takes you for a wild ride across the country with these girls! There is a huge content warning from about page 30 or so in, but that's all explicitly stated at the beginning, so definitely read the content warning if you think anything might affect you, I will say there were parts that were hard to read but merely surrounding the nature of the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Murder
misscatw's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I first heard of this last September on Twitter with the line: "sapphic YA reimagining of “Thelma and Louise”. Just seeing that made me want to read it, being a fan of the film and sapphic stories.
Having finished the book, I found it was a beautifully written story of survival in the wake of incredible circumstances. Both main characters, Trixie Denton and Lux Leesburg, have experienced sexually-based trauma and in the wake of Lux's sexual assault and Trixie stabbing her attacker, the girls are forced to run for their lives. They spend the rest of the book on the run from the law, travelling west away from their hometown and lives in Blue Bottle, West Virginia. Along the way, they find that they have become the face of a #MeToo movement in the fallout of the attack, transformed by the media into these figures when they didn't ask for it.
I did like reading this book, even with its harsh topics as it deals with misogyny, rape/sexual assault, homophobia and abuse. I felt like these topics were handled well, highlighting how widespread misogyny is in the world, how it affects the perception of women in the media and can take a toll on those who experience it. While I did like the way the writing style portrays a particular aesthetic around these girls on the run, there were elements of the writing which I did not like and hindered my enjoyment of the book. It is written as one long text with no chapters, just page breaks, which I do not like - I prefer a good chapter structure. The pacing is off in parts, with it dragging through the middle of the book and only including little points of action. Also, I did not like the ending as it came to an abrupt conclusion and seemed quite open-ended since we don't find out what happens to the girls in the end. Personally, I am not a fan of open-ended conclusions as I like a good, clear ending.
We are told the story through Trixie's POV, getting to really know her character. We see a deep distrust of men - she frequently refers to them as "hogs" or "hog men" - a devotion to her best friend and love Lux, and a girl who cares about the women in her life, especially her mother, who she has to take care of. However, we get all this insight into Trixie's character but little into Lux. We know that she's a keen photographer who loves makeup, little trinkets and taking photos of everything she sees. It feels a little unbalanced with the characterisation here, since we see so much of Trixie and so little of Lux. I would have preferred it if the book was written from both their POVs so we could get an equal insight into their characters and see the events of the book from both their perspectives.
Overall, this was a great read that featured some flawed, messy characters in a situation that were not - and could not be - prepared for. They make some bad decisions along the way, but that is realistic, because they are young (seventeen, both of them) and inexperienced, in a situation beyond their control. They become known as The Trouble Girls, girls fighting back against misogyny and those who represent and perpetuate it (rapists, misogynists).
Having finished the book, I found it was a beautifully written story of survival in the wake of incredible circumstances. Both main characters, Trixie Denton and Lux Leesburg, have experienced sexually-based trauma and in the wake of Lux's sexual assault and Trixie stabbing her attacker, the girls are forced to run for their lives. They spend the rest of the book on the run from the law, travelling west away from their hometown and lives in Blue Bottle, West Virginia. Along the way, they find that they have become the face of a #MeToo movement in the fallout of the attack, transformed by the media into these figures when they didn't ask for it.
I did like reading this book, even with its harsh topics as it deals with misogyny, rape/sexual assault, homophobia and abuse. I felt like these topics were handled well, highlighting how widespread misogyny is in the world, how it affects the perception of women in the media and can take a toll on those who experience it. While I did like the way the writing style portrays a particular aesthetic around these girls on the run, there were elements of the writing which I did not like and hindered my enjoyment of the book. It is written as one long text with no chapters, just page breaks, which I do not like - I prefer a good chapter structure. The pacing is off in parts, with it dragging through the middle of the book and only including little points of action. Also, I did not like the ending as it came to an abrupt conclusion and seemed quite open-ended since we don't find out what happens to the girls in the end. Personally, I am not a fan of open-ended conclusions as I like a good, clear ending.
We are told the story through Trixie's POV, getting to really know her character. We see a deep distrust of men - she frequently refers to them as "hogs" or "hog men" - a devotion to her best friend and love Lux, and a girl who cares about the women in her life, especially her mother, who she has to take care of. However, we get all this insight into Trixie's character but little into Lux. We know that she's a keen photographer who loves makeup, little trinkets and taking photos of everything she sees. It feels a little unbalanced with the characterisation here, since we see so much of Trixie and so little of Lux. I would have preferred it if the book was written from both their POVs so we could get an equal insight into their characters and see the events of the book from both their perspectives.
Overall, this was a great read that featured some flawed, messy characters in a situation that were not - and could not be - prepared for. They make some bad decisions along the way, but that is realistic, because they are young (seventeen, both of them) and inexperienced, in a situation beyond their control. They become known as The Trouble Girls, girls fighting back against misogyny and those who represent and perpetuate it (rapists, misogynists).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
smudge's review against another edition
2.5
tw/cw: alcohol, anxiety, panic attacks, blood, graphic injury, death, depersonalization, dementia, drugs, guilt, homelessness, misogyny, teen pregnancy, racism, white supremacy, sexual assault (on-page), rape (on-page), suicidal thoughts, threats, tobacco use, threats
I rated this book 2.5 stars, I was originally going to dnf this book at 15% but gave it another chance. The beginning of this book was pretty boring and at some points it felt like the plot wasn’t going anywhere. I probably wouldn’t read this book again or recommend it to anyone.
I rated this book 2.5 stars, I was originally going to dnf this book at 15% but gave it another chance. The beginning of this book was pretty boring and at some points it felt like the plot wasn’t going anywhere. I probably wouldn’t read this book again or recommend it to anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
bookcrushin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was an intense read, I kind of enjoy the revenge fantasy of it all, but also it is a lot of trauma, so be sure to check CWs to read safely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, and Alcohol
readalongwithnat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I received a free eARC from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for my honest review.
WOW. This book was wonderful. There were so many twists and turns that I did not anticipate. I loved how the #MeToo movement played a role in their story. This is a great queer release that I will be recommending to so many folks!
WOW. This book was wonderful. There were so many twists and turns that I did not anticipate. I loved how the #MeToo movement played a role in their story. This is a great queer release that I will be recommending to so many folks!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent
obscurepages's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It's my first read for Pride Month and I'm so glad to say I enjoyed it! Trouble Girls was a great read! It was dark, poetic, gritty, and poignant.
The overall story is a very real and heartbreaking example of what women go through because of terrible men. The characters were also compelling, and I was particularly moved by the MC's perspective. Also, it's very hard to explain it, but this book just makes you feel things. It takes you on such an emotional and haunting journey on finding freedom and love, and running from your fears. Overall, I enjoyed this one.
CW: sexual abuse/sexual harassment, rape, attempted rape, blood, gore (mild), domestic abuse, toxic relationships
Thank you so much to Wednesday Books for sending over an ARC! This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.
(Check out the rest of my Pride Month TBR!)
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
The overall story is a very real and heartbreaking example of what women go through because of terrible men. The characters were also compelling, and I was particularly moved by the MC's perspective. Also, it's very hard to explain it, but this book just makes you feel things. It takes you on such an emotional and haunting journey on finding freedom and love, and running from your fears. Overall, I enjoyed this one.
CW: sexual abuse/sexual harassment, rape, attempted rape, blood, gore (mild), domestic abuse, toxic relationships
Thank you so much to Wednesday Books for sending over an ARC! This, of course, did not affect my overall opinion of the book.
(Check out the rest of my Pride Month TBR!)
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Blood
Minor: Domestic abuse, Gore, and Toxic relationship
literarypenguin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 Stars
When I finished reading this book yesterday, I had to carefully gather my thoughts and feelings about this book. I can now say with honesty that I have mixed feelings about it. My feelings do lean more positive then negative but I do have thoughts. I did enjoy the book but some things to dampen my enjoyment just a bit.
Trixie and Lux are two small town girls with hard upbringings. After deciding to take a road trip to get away for awhile, Trixie and Lux make a small pit stop at a college bar. That pit stop soon turns violent as the girls are forced to run for their lives. Now on the run, Trixie and Lux must decide if they turn themselves in or leave their former lives behind forever.
One thing I loved about this story was that the characters, especially Trixie and Lux, were flawed and messy. I love when characters are flawed because it makes them more human and not some unattainable form of perfection. Trixie had some clear issues with PTSD/Anxiety that she has yet to get help with. Lux has abandonment issues and issues with her emotions that she cant control. These issues that Trixie and Lux had made the story all the more real and raw. The writing was very good and the locations are definitely what kept me invested. I loved seeing the different places and people the girls encountered on the road, how some were good and some not so good.
One thing that bothered me was how when the girls got a unexpected windfall of money, they spent it very fast and without much care. I know they are teenagers and they can make irresponsible decisions but I thought since they both were taking care of people, Trixie being the sole caretaker of her mother with early onset dementia or Alzheimers and Lux taking care of her little brother, i thought they would be more aware of their money and more responsible with it. I really didnt like some of their decisions either and how some situations were a little too convenient for them.
I thought that the #Metoo movement could have been included a little bit more and found a better way to fit more into the story rather then just in blog posts and forums. I thought the ending could have been a bit better either with a epilogue or better ending.
So even though my feelings were mixed by the end, I still enjoyed it. Take a read for yourselves and whether your feelings are positive, negative or mixed like me I hope you get enjoyment from it like I did.
When I finished reading this book yesterday, I had to carefully gather my thoughts and feelings about this book. I can now say with honesty that I have mixed feelings about it. My feelings do lean more positive then negative but I do have thoughts. I did enjoy the book but some things to dampen my enjoyment just a bit.
Trixie and Lux are two small town girls with hard upbringings. After deciding to take a road trip to get away for awhile, Trixie and Lux make a small pit stop at a college bar. That pit stop soon turns violent as the girls are forced to run for their lives. Now on the run, Trixie and Lux must decide if they turn themselves in or leave their former lives behind forever.
One thing I loved about this story was that the characters, especially Trixie and Lux, were flawed and messy. I love when characters are flawed because it makes them more human and not some unattainable form of perfection. Trixie had some clear issues with PTSD/Anxiety that she has yet to get help with. Lux has abandonment issues and issues with her emotions that she cant control. These issues that Trixie and Lux had made the story all the more real and raw. The writing was very good and the locations are definitely what kept me invested. I loved seeing the different places and people the girls encountered on the road, how some were good and some not so good.
One thing that bothered me was how when the girls got a unexpected windfall of money, they spent it very fast and without much care. I know they are teenagers and they can make irresponsible decisions but I thought since they both were taking care of people, Trixie being the sole caretaker of her mother with early onset dementia or Alzheimers and Lux taking care of her little brother, i thought they would be more aware of their money and more responsible with it. I really didnt like some of their decisions either and how some situations were a little too convenient for them.
I thought that the #Metoo movement could have been included a little bit more and found a better way to fit more into the story rather then just in blog posts and forums. I thought the ending could have been a bit better either with a epilogue or better ending.
So even though my feelings were mixed by the end, I still enjoyed it. Take a read for yourselves and whether your feelings are positive, negative or mixed like me I hope you get enjoyment from it like I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Dementia and Murder
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Toxic relationship
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an arc of this book.
On a weekend trip, best friends Trixie and Lux run into trouble at a bar and the night ends in violence. The girls go on the run as wanted fugitives, and they have to deal with harsh truths and realities as they leave behind the only life they've ever known, and only have each other to hang onto.
I so badly wanted to love this book, but it just didn't grip me the way I had hoped it would. I felt like the pacing was quite slow, and I didn't feel like I knew the characters enough to really care about them. The important things that happened were kind of glanced over in the writing to make way for more reflection from Trixie, which is fine, but makes for a read where it feels like you're always waiting for the action to start.
The most interesting part of this book for me was the discussions of sexual assault, the forum posts, and where the girls went with that. I thought those parts made some really good points and was an important topic.
I was not a fan of the ending of this book, personally.
Pub Date: June 1, 2021
On a weekend trip, best friends Trixie and Lux run into trouble at a bar and the night ends in violence. The girls go on the run as wanted fugitives, and they have to deal with harsh truths and realities as they leave behind the only life they've ever known, and only have each other to hang onto.
I so badly wanted to love this book, but it just didn't grip me the way I had hoped it would. I felt like the pacing was quite slow, and I didn't feel like I knew the characters enough to really care about them. The important things that happened were kind of glanced over in the writing to make way for more reflection from Trixie, which is fine, but makes for a read where it feels like you're always waiting for the action to start.
The most interesting part of this book for me was the discussions of sexual assault, the forum posts, and where the girls went with that. I thought those parts made some really good points and was an important topic.
I was not a fan of the ending of this book, personally.
Pub Date: June 1, 2021
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Violence, Dementia, and Murder
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Toxic relationship
caidyn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow, what a debut. I'm one of the minority who hasn't watched the movie Thelma and Louise. I know, I know. But it's such a cultural thing that I know what it's roughly about and I know the ending that it's famous for. And this book was excellent. I've had it on my radar for ages and I'm so grateful that Wednesday Books granted me access to this ARC. Because after reading around 15% of it, I preordered it because I knew I needed to own it. I really loved Lux and Trixie. The complicated relationship, the wrestling with sexuality, the past that was so underwritten and gorgeously done. It was a fantastic book and I can't wait to see what this author does next.
Wow, what a debut. I'm one of the minority who hasn't watched the movie Thelma and Louise. I know, I know. But it's such a cultural thing that I know what it's roughly about and I know the ending that it's famous for. And this book was excellent. I've had it on my radar for ages and I'm so grateful that Wednesday Books granted me access to this ARC. Because after reading around 15% of it, I preordered it because I knew I needed to own it. I really loved Lux and Trixie. The complicated relationship, the wrestling with sexuality, the past that was so underwritten and gorgeously done. It was a fantastic book and I can't wait to see what this author does next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Murder
carriethelibrarian's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault