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!

Content Warnings

florecita_lectora's review against another edition

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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

Content Warnings

yvette_l's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Such a great read! The author does an amazing job of weaving the past into her present. Such a page turner. I couldn’t put this book down. It’s been a long time since I have read a book in a few days. If you’re looking for a book that pulls a life changing event into the present while helping herself and others. The best part of this read- the author doesn’t write in a cheesy, predictable way. She unfolds this story in an extremely relatable and amazing prose.

Content Warnings