foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Grief, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Medical content, Murder, Police brutality, Antisemitism, and Rape
Minor: Pregnancy and Suicide attempt
exlibrissum's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Murder, Police brutality, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, and Suicide attempt
genevieveokeeffe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, and Confinement
Minor: Antisemitism
dalek_caan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Confinement, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Antisemitism, Gun violence, Child abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Mental illness
Minor: War and Violence
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Told in dual timelines, The Broken Girls is the story of four best friends at a remote boarding school for troubled teens, and a journalist trying to learn buried details of her sister’s murder.
I love a good ghost story, and Simone St. James writes some of the best. The Sun Down Motel remains one of my all time favorites thrillers, and I really enjoyed The Book of Cold Cases earlier this year, so I was super excited to get my hands on The Broken Girls this spooky season. Overall I really enjoyed it—the themes of female friendship and empowerment were really meaningful to me, and I particularly loved the underlying message about the importance of telling stories and not erasing women’s trauma.
I will say that I ultimately wanted a little more from the plot, which sometimes felt a bit disconnected to me, and I wish there had been a bigger twist or two. Still, the creepy boarding school vibes and hauntingly (pun very intended) beautiful writing definitely make this a top notch recommendation for this time of year!
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: ghost stories; stories about uncovering and healing from trauma; dual timeline thrillers
CW: Death/murder/attempted murder (including of a child); grief; sexual assault/rape; traumatic brain injury; mentions of anti-semitism/Nazism/concentration camps; mentions of PTSD/suicide/suicide attempt; miscarriage/stillbirth.
Graphic: Grief, Violence, Murder, Death, and Genocide
Moderate: Abandonment, Child death, Confinement, Sexism, Antisemitism, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Forced institutionalization, and Misogyny
Minor: Drug abuse, Addiction, and Drug use
beccam22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
🕰 Actually good dual timelines
👯♀️ Close friend groups
🔪 who done it
Graphic: Antisemitism, Racism, Grief, Hate crime, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Death, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Eating disorder, and Classism
kimbekaw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Murder, Violence, and Confinement
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Rape, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Antisemitism, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Classism, and Sexual content
cbarsa9's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Confinement and Murder
ldruckreier's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Child death, Murder, Confinement, Death of parent, Grief, and Forced institutionalization
colleenward_'s review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I absolutely love when a mystery moves at a pace that you can follow, and actually lets you feel like you can be a detective in the story. Expletives were shouted when my suspicions were confirmed; I love love LOVE when that happens!
I had very little knowledge of the plot when starting this book but quickly became attached to the story of four boarding school girls: Sonia, Katie, CeCe, and Roberta. I also really enjoyed the switching of time periods and the connectedness of everyone living in this little town in Vermont.
The Broken Girls has a little bit of everything - spook, thrill, mystery - and I’d strongly recommend it to anyone who is looking for an extension of spooky szn right about now!
Graphic: Antisemitism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Hate crime, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gun violence, and Cancer