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breannabanda's review against another edition
3.0
“Soup when you're sick and somebody in your corner, even when you're wrong, and an arm around your shoulders on the most terrible day.”
socrates90's review against another edition
Was boring, didn't draw me in. Felt like I was waiting for the Joker to spice things up a bit in the story. All men being the bad guys got really annoying.
starintheskye's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
Fantastic read start to finish, cannot wait to read the next one!
nightwing's review against another edition
DNF at 20%.
I really couldn't vibe with this. It had really fun concepts in it--women in STEM getting back at sexist men in their field--but I feel like it didn't fit Harley all that much? I would've probably liked it better if the book didn't have any DC stuff and was an original book instead. The dialogue was very fast-paced and modernized which will work for teens but didn't work for an adult like me.
I really couldn't vibe with this. It had really fun concepts in it--women in STEM getting back at sexist men in their field--but I feel like it didn't fit Harley all that much? I would've probably liked it better if the book didn't have any DC stuff and was an original book instead. The dialogue was very fast-paced and modernized which will work for teens but didn't work for an adult like me.
itratali's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
4.5
thebookberrie's review against another edition
TW: misogyny, sexual harassment, sexual assault, grooming, parental abuse, death
Okay DC icons go off!!! After I really enjoyed [b:Black Canary: Breaking Silence|52239859|Black Canary Breaking Silence|Alexandra Monir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1591728633l/52239859._SX50_.jpg|77324204] last year, I thought it was a one-off but this one was also super feminist and it ate. I think I just really like Harley Quinn.
Harleen Quinzel gets an internship in a psych lab at Gotham University. There she wants to make a big scientific discovery so she can get a full ride scholarship and get away from her abusive father. When she faces harassment and then sees how other women are treated in STEM, she decides to take revenge and justice into her own hands along with a group of other girls.
Okay first I think this could have been unrelated to DC and the character Harley Quinn at all. Like I did really like the connections to the world and other DC characters but this would have hit without that and with brand new characters.
BUT honestly I really liked her characterization in this. She's a tiny bit different but she still felt like she had the energy of Harley Quinn to me. A spunky, violent, but smart and bubbly girl. The characterization of Harley that I love is chaotic and cute girl and not you know, the Joker's dumb hot girlfriend who exists only for him. When she's her own character completely unrelated to him, yes. She's also super young in this though and you can see the path that is going to lead her to becoming Harley Quinn. This book leaned so hard into her bisexuality and was so gay. Loved that.
Some of the references to other DC characters really had me going like I didn't think we would see the taxidermied beaver but here we are?? Subtle moments like her working on a catchphrase or dyeing her hair were so good tbh. Then Poison Ivy??? Yes book 2 can we just-
There was a LOT of gross misogynistic men in this and it was truly infuriating to listen to all the nasty things that happened but as the author said in her author's note, a lot of it was from real interactions. Women face the absolute worst in male dominated fields and I could rant for a long time how simply unfair that and the world is. Women get harassed and have to carve out a place in STEM and other fields and it makes me want to get a baseball bat and go ham ngl.
I loved the girl squad and I loved how they fought back against the misogyny together. Feminist rage books go HARD. Along all this there is a mystery and I was invested. I listened to the audiobook and it was really good. I really loved the narrator they got- she sounded so YOUNG but so Harley without being overdone.
littlebookishfairy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bookishrealm's review against another edition
4.0
This was a solid entry in the DC Icons series. I have to admit I was a tad bit nervous because Harley Quinn is one of my favorite DC characters and I’m not a huge fan of all the novels that surround comic book characters. But this was a pleasant surprise and I think it will be a great fit for those that are genuinely interested in learning more about her origin story.
The novel takes place in both the past and the present. Readers will enter the story as Harley finds out that her close friend and partner has been harmed by an unidentified individual. As readers continue through the story, they’ll learn more about Harleys home life, her extraordinary capabilities in the sciences, and her deep desire to attend Gotham University. There were some great explorations of Harley’s friendships, her pitfalls, her diagnosis of ADHD, and her aspiration to leave her abusive father behind after losing her mother. I was pleasantly surprised at the extensive character development that readers are privileged to while reading this story. I know quite a bit about Harley, but I will admit that I learned some new things while reading it.
One of the main emphasis of this book is the role of women in STEM while battling misogyny. There is a content warning for grooming and sexual assault. The author spent some time basing some of the scenarios of this book on real life events and the work that women have to do to carve out a space in this field. Harley is the epitome of someone trying to create that space especially with her research on the genetic materials that make someone a villain and someone less likely to be a villain. My only issue with this exploration is that readers never really truly see a single good man in this book. It felt like they were all villains to certain degree and I didn’t like the message that sent.
Overall, this was well written and well paced. Fans of the DC universe, particularly Gotham, will enjoy some the cameos from other characters including the Joker and Poison Ivy. I loved the representation and exploration of Harley being bisexual. I was afraid that we weren’t going to get that. If you’re a fan of DC, this one might actually be worth picking up.
The novel takes place in both the past and the present. Readers will enter the story as Harley finds out that her close friend and partner has been harmed by an unidentified individual. As readers continue through the story, they’ll learn more about Harleys home life, her extraordinary capabilities in the sciences, and her deep desire to attend Gotham University. There were some great explorations of Harley’s friendships, her pitfalls, her diagnosis of ADHD, and her aspiration to leave her abusive father behind after losing her mother. I was pleasantly surprised at the extensive character development that readers are privileged to while reading this story. I know quite a bit about Harley, but I will admit that I learned some new things while reading it.
One of the main emphasis of this book is the role of women in STEM while battling misogyny. There is a content warning for grooming and sexual assault. The author spent some time basing some of the scenarios of this book on real life events and the work that women have to do to carve out a space in this field. Harley is the epitome of someone trying to create that space especially with her research on the genetic materials that make someone a villain and someone less likely to be a villain. My only issue with this exploration is that readers never really truly see a single good man in this book. It felt like they were all villains to certain degree and I didn’t like the message that sent.
Overall, this was well written and well paced. Fans of the DC universe, particularly Gotham, will enjoy some the cameos from other characters including the Joker and Poison Ivy. I loved the representation and exploration of Harley being bisexual. I was afraid that we weren’t going to get that. If you’re a fan of DC, this one might actually be worth picking up.
agw622's review against another edition
I couldn't handle the sexual assault content and toxic relationship
alidy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0