jennyshelby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Eating disorder, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Mental illness, and Vomit
Moderate: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
arifahmalik's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Vomit and Sexual content
booksaremyabode's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Body shaming, and Vomit
Moderate: Sexual assault
travelseatsreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was a bit too optimistic because while there was some really good interesting lines which really caught my attention, overall the majority of the time I was left rolling my eyes, clinging to the hope that this is not what your average 20something Trinity graduates are actually like.
So for some balance;
What I Liked?
• The portrayal of the consuming & suffocating nature of social media was terrifyingly accurate. Prasifka spoke about closing out of Instagram after scrolling for hours & your thumb automatically reaching back for the app & I was shook, I do that, all of the damn time!
• Observations about the role of the Catholic Church are extremely well executed & so relevant at the moment considering the NMH crisis.
• The crack & it's varied impact on people was really well done. Especially post-covid after seeing people going from panic buying hysteria to almost forgetting it exists.
• There are many beautiful quotes which stand out as poignant commentary on society which would make me want to come back to Prasifka's writing at another time of her life.
What I Didn't Like?
• The book reeks of upper-class white cis-gender female privilege & it isn't a pretty smell.
• Flippant references to things such as the famine come across as distasteful & quite irrelevant.
• The book tries to be feminist forward yet in total contradiction has the protagonist crawling after guys who are horrifically & quite obviously manipulative.
• The injustice of portraying females as these whiney, insecure naval gazing beings who can't function properly without male attention (negative or positive).
Overall, it's an interesting book which some will absolutely devour & completely identify with but for me it just missed the mark. Insightful & poignant at times yet also repetitive & draining.
If you've read it let me know your thoughts!
Graphic: Classism, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexism, Alcohol, Body shaming, and Eating disorder
becca_thegrimreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“I refresh the feed every minute and continue to consume, growing fat. I’m like a vampire, leeching off the content of other people’s lives. I’m not even really interested in anything I’m reading.”
This was a very intriguing book that delved into peoples' relationship with social media. I honestly felt that I needed to delete all apps off my phone after reading this. Sophie is completely dependent on her phone and having access to the internet. Scouring and refreshing apps to learn the most up to date opinions or to see what her friends are doing. Her appetite for information stems for her own lack of self esteem and insecurity and hopes that it will make her seem interesting or intelligent in social situations.
The book also discusses the difficulties that this generation will face. The crack in the sky could be caused by environmental change, and shows the reaction towards our dying planet with either hyperawareness or indifference. The book also portrays the financial struggles of this generation with Sophie struggling to find a job and dealing with anxiety of whether she will ever manage to afford a house. The misogyny, violence, and abuse that Sophie suffers not only online but in real life is harrowing. Prasifka highlights how victims of abuse can be gaslighted and undermined, and in the end doubt themselves. Sophie's experience is one that unfortunately too many people have gone through and yet it still perpetuates our society.
Thank you to Netgalley for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Fatphobia, and Body shaming
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
Minor: Abortion
northernlitreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Blood, Eating disorder, and Injury/Injury detail