katekate_reads_'s review against another edition
3.0
Mena is a student at the elite Innovations Academy - where only the top girls are accepted as students and then are trained to be perfect companions - agreeable, beautiful, obedient. Their every need is taken care of - down to ensuring they never have a single scar on their flawless skin.
But Mena slowly starts to realize that things may not be as perfect as they seem. And we are learning along with her in this atmospheric and creepy tale. It is better to go into this without knowing much more and let yourself be swept up in it along with Mena and her classmates.
Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for the free advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
But Mena slowly starts to realize that things may not be as perfect as they seem. And we are learning along with her in this atmospheric and creepy tale. It is better to go into this without knowing much more and let yourself be swept up in it along with Mena and her classmates.
Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for the free advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
daniellemarie96's review against another edition
5.0
Sooo amazing! A must read bc I did not see that ending coming
elmachogato's review against another edition
3.0
idk maybe cause it’s ya? but it just didn’t really hit the mark for me. maybe my thought process is just like yeah men are the absolute worst so i wasn’t overtly shocked by any of it.
annasmothers's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
yanners's review against another edition
2.0
There was a point where I decided this was getting out of hand.
Maybe it was the moment when the teacher slapped the living hell out of the girl with enough force to concuss her.
Or when the so-called behavioural analyst JAMMED AN ICE PICK INTO HER EYEBALL.
AND SHE WAS FINE. NO BLINDNESS, ZILCH, NADA, NOTHING.
What can I say everything is so realistic.
There are aUcTiOnS where they get bartered off like pigs to equally piggy bigots.
There’s etiquette classes where they practically get aBuSeD and develop iNsEcuRiTy iSSueS.
Not to forget, on the night when the five-now-four musketeers sneak out, the whole compound conveniently gets dRuGgEd and they strength-in-numbers-style murder men in cold blood.
Love it really. Sure the government never questions the presence of this private institution which has housed MULTIPLE GENERATIONS of girls because private means keep off my property or I’ll sue you for trespassing. Don’t we love a supportive community.
2 stars
Maybe it was the moment when the teacher slapped the living hell out of the girl with enough force to concuss her.
Or when the so-called behavioural analyst JAMMED AN ICE PICK INTO HER EYEBALL.
AND SHE WAS FINE. NO BLINDNESS, ZILCH, NADA, NOTHING.
What can I say everything is so realistic.
There are aUcTiOnS where they get bartered off like pigs to equally piggy bigots.
There’s etiquette classes where they practically get aBuSeD and develop iNsEcuRiTy iSSueS.
Not to forget, on the night when the five-now-four musketeers sneak out, the whole compound conveniently gets dRuGgEd and they strength-in-numbers-style murder men in cold blood.
Love it really. Sure the government never questions the presence of this private institution which has housed MULTIPLE GENERATIONS of girls because private means keep off my property or I’ll sue you for trespassing. Don’t we love a supportive community.
2 stars
bookb1itch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was floated as a potential set-text for 15yo, so I was intrigued. I was immediately struck by how dark and foreboding the story was, even at the very beginning. Things turned out to be even more messed up than I first thought, though. A really great exploration of male privilege and control. Very strong characters and a positive message overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Bullying, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming
jcarolm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
4.0
snwsandy's review
4.0
At first you meet a girl attending an all-girls private school, but this school and its "Investors" are not what they seem. Some parts are bit cringe worthy when it comes to the girls' treatment but its part of the story that will lead them on to a journey and onto who they really are, which is not what they seem. Interesting story of heroism and girl power.
sphinx_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The theme of the story is right up on my face, mushing me heavily with one-layer, elementary poem, characters that lack personality that up to the very end, I could not tell who is who, and emotions spelled out in plain day as if the readers can't understand that "Mena is sad" or "Mena cares for them" without having to explicitly say it. Jackson is "cool" because he curses and doing soft crimes like running away is very rebel of him, oooooh. To put a cherry on that icing there are 2 grammar mistakes spotted on pages ( , ), making me wonder if the editor/publisher even cared enough about this book or the readers who are spending money on this.
On a calmer note. The premise had potential, it truly did. It might have actually helped if I don't know much of what Philomena was thinking because that would keep the tension up and the reader's curiosity piqued. Mr. Weeks was an interesting character, made me want to read more of him. Is he a villain? an anti-hero? I think the story might stir younger girls, embrace their self-worth more through this story so that's a yay.
On a calmer note. The premise had potential, it truly did. It might have actually helped if I don't know much of what Philomena was thinking because that would keep the tension up and the reader's curiosity piqued. Mr. Weeks was an interesting character, made me want to read more of him. Is he a villain? an anti-hero? I think the story might stir younger girls, embrace their self-worth more through this story so that's a yay.