Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

20 reviews

puffinthedog's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is one of the books that got me back into reading after a bit of a slump. A well written, women-centered, victim-centered novelization of one of the most well known crimes of one of the most infamous serial killers in America’s history - without ever saying the nose picker’s name. A true crime novel that reframes the narrative to lift up the women affected and poke holes in the media driven narrative of a charismatic, brilliant man who was anything but. A powerful look at the way that societal expectations and misogyny -not charisma - enabled a mediocre man to target brilliant women, escape prison, elude capture, and continue killing (while getting glorified in the press)

A great book for anyone who likes true crime - but is sick of True Crime. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Death, Blood, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Gore, Child abuse, Eating disorder, and Injury/Injury detail

lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I was very excited to pick this up because of how much I enjoyed "Luckiest Girl Alive" last year.
"Bright Young Women" follows two women, who have never met, but who are bonded by their determination to uncover the truth. Pamela is the president of the top sorority at Florida State University. She is bright, driven, and on track to become a very successful lawyer after she graduates Florida State and enters law school. Tragically, in January 1978, she is awoken from her sleep at the sorority house to discover that several of her sisters were brutally murdered. Around the same time, in Seattle, Tina is finally making peace with her life. She meets an interesting woman named Ruth, who captures her attention. Unfortunately, Ruth disappears one day, and Tina is determined to seek the justice for Ruth in spite of Ruth's family's insistence to sweep it under the rug.
I was entirely captivated by this story, and I did not want to put it down. Though quirky, Pamela is such a strong character, and reading about her pragmatic approach to this horrible event was strangely calming. I was rooting for her, and I wanted to see her seek the feminist justice she deserved. Her ease of detachment from what was happening near her was impressive.
My heart broke for Ruth at every turn. She had such a rough life with her mother's constant criticism, and just when she was finally gaining some happiness, it was cruelly taken from her. I wanted more for her.
I loved how the story ultimately came together and I really enjoyed how the characters became connected. It is interesting to think about how people we have never met, are connected to our stories. I also think it is fascinating that the author used a real-life crime as inspiration for this story.
I have not stopped thinking about this story since I finished it, and I highly recommend it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Grief, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Mental illness, Violence, Sexism, Body horror, Rape, Stalking, Lesbophobia, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault

florecita_lectora's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Murder, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexism

Moderate: Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, and Gore

Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Death of parent, and Dementia

la_lune's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Death, Rape, Stalking, Torture, and Violence

Minor: Gun violence

imstephtacular's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexism, Blood, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual violence, Mental illness, Body shaming, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Classism, Cursing, Sexual content, Dementia, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Fatphobia, Sexual harassment, and Alcohol

Minor: War, Vomit, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gun violence, Racism, Kidnapping, Incest, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Physical abuse

epinyan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

Bright Young Women was so incredible that it made me rethink giving some previous reads 5 stars. As a crime junkie and empath, I appreciated the insight given into the lives of the victims and the friends and family throughout the journey. While a somewhat fictional novel, it provided lessons and meaning that can be carried into how I (and society) approach crime within the media. If you enjoy this book read Know My Name by Chanel Miller (or vice versa). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Murder, Sexual assault, Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Grief

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Dementia, Eating disorder, and Vomit

marpaige's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Murder, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

addythebookbat's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Sexual assault, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Gore, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Rape

kelleywithanextrae's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Death, Kidnapping, Grief, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Medical content, Alcohol, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, and Mental illness

Minor: Sexual assault, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexism, Gun violence, Eating disorder, and Lesbophobia

augustinedreams's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.75

I like the theme & motifs of this book, about sexism & glorification of murders against woman. Very powerful. But this is more of a law/court drama than the thriller I wanted or thought it was.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Eating disorder, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, Grief, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Vomit, Murder, and Rape