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kiwichill'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
3.5
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
calamitywindpetal'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, and Stalking
rickireadss's review against another edition
5.0
⚠️: murder, violence, sexual assault, sexual violence, rape, death, bullying, stalking, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, adult/minor relationship, panic attacks, drug abuse, drugging, alcohol, fire/fire injury, injury/injury detail, body horror, suicide, suicide attempt, infidelity
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
hannahecabre'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
2.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Biphobia, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Pedophilia, and Car accident
nabaraditi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Blood
Moderate: Rape, Violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
anova's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Drug abuse and Sexism
Minor: Infidelity and Rape
itsalina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture and Death of parent
louisegraveyard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
jenmaysiereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Now this is how you write a solid “good for her” queer revenge story. Everyone else take some notes!
‘They Never Learn’ is a dark and devious character study about a successful professor who murders abusive men—and I fucking loved it. More than that, the story follows two women at a prestigious university, one student and the other a professor, and how they are united in their desire to bring justice.
Carly and Scarlett’s stories are very distinct from one another but seeing their narratives converge was ultimately very, very satisfying.
This book is so quick to read. The chapters are short and every scene layers on the intrigue in a way that makes it almost irresistible to inhale in one sitting. The prose itself is, while not lush, expertly constructed. Every sentence feels purposeful and meaningful. At no point did the story meander or take any narrative detours or dawdled. Everything in the book is there for a reason and the story delivers on everything it sets up. Making this book one of the most solidly written, edited and structured books I’ve picked up in a long while.
All the characters in this book are fucked up in some way and it makes the story so compelling. Scarlett is a pathological serial killer and yet she is capable of love, of empathy and loyalty. Through the characters, Fargo explores the dichotomy between good and evil. The author provides commentary on how society is perfectly content to excuse men’s immorality—letting men who have sexually abused women get away with it because he is “a promising young man”. However, when women make their own form of vigilante justice, they become monstrous and hateful.
I liked that the author embraced the monstrosity in women like Scarlett and Carly. I liked that they were allowed to revel in that darkness, that violence and still be seen as worthy of love and empathy. This messaging was especially important given that the story centres around queer women whose most profound relationships came from other woman who understand and loved them for their darkness.
All of this made me adore this book, especially coming off the back of the Killing Eve finale in which Eve and Villanelle’s queerness and darkness was deemed abhorrent and something to be exorcised from them by the writers. Getting to read a book that actively pushed against the narrative that women cannot embrace their violence and still be loveable was really important to me.
Layne Fargo is an author I’ll be picking up more from in the future. Scarlett, in particular, is my unhinged fav.
READ. THIS. BOOK.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse