emilyjhahn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Classism, Abandonment, Death of parent, Addiction, Blood, Bullying, and Mental illness
caseyadamsstark'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? Yes
4.25
But hey, I did like this book. It's confusing as heck because of the trippy things that happen--the main character Smackie, an English grad student with a huge inferiority complex, is also a highly unreliable narrator. But her imagination kicks in big time as she bleeds out her tale of woe while trying to fit in with the rich girls on campus, who reach out to include her after several semesters of treating her like an other.
And she is an other--the horror elements are a fantastic and bizarre flip to a Stepford Wives ideal, but the love story, the real love story that makes Samantha the "other", is the reason to keep reading. You could argue that there are similarities to plenty of stories out there, such as Mean Girls or Heathers (movies are stories too), or the obvious nods to Alice in her Wonderland. But the telling of this bunny horror fairytale is weird and unique and original in a good way, too.
Check it out horror fans.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Animal death, Bullying, Classism, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
jo_lzr's review
- 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
bekiethebanished'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Classism, Body horror, Death, Animal death, Bullying, Death of parent, Cursing, Murder, Kidnapping, Blood, Gore, Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Drug use, and Alcohol
Moderate: Physical abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Torture, and Self harm
Minor: Dysphoria, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
mbayram's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
İ know some people really enjoyed that but İ didn't find the characters likeable or interesting enough to enjoy it myself. Awad is an excellent writer and i enjoyed the structure or ~the body~ ;) but the plot was a bit hard to follow. That may be because İ listened to the audiobook though, so İ think I'd rate the book higher for paperback. The ending especially felt out of nowhere even though it did have sufficient lead up? İdk it's worth a try if you're into funky stuff but definitely need to be in the mood for it and i highly suggest a physical copy instead of audiobook.
İ wouldn't say it's scary but it's got horror elements so if you're sensitive to that beware.
Graphic: Self harm, Animal cruelty, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Classism, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Classism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal death, Colonisation, Blood, and Bullying
o_preston_o's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Torture, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Classism, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Self harm
bkhan1995's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Classism, Death, Blood, Animal cruelty, and Gaslighting
jasluu'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Classism, Drug abuse, Animal death, Violence, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal cruelty, Death, and Drug use
alexandrabelze's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Spoiler
my favorite part of the whole book has to be max’s whole “performance piece” with the bunnies in the cave. watching their perfect, carefully curated, fake identities collapse was so satisfying and mildly humorous.Graphic: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Blood, Drug abuse, Gore, Alcohol, Bullying, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Torture, Cursing, and Violence
Moderate: Classism, Stalking, Vomit, Addiction, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
leila_reads_too_much's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Murder, and Gore
Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Self harm and Drug use