Reviews with content warning for Adult/minor relationship - The Knockout Queen

Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe

17 reviews

ksilvio's review

Go to review page

challenging reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

Content Warnings

agathajanemaud1908's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

Definitely did not enjoy this as much as Thorpe’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles. It’s similar to her The Girls from Corona Del Mar in that they are absorbing, wrenching reads, but I always felt somewhat removed from the characters and what was happening to them. Super strange since this book and I believe The Girls are both in first person, while Margo alternates between first and third person.
With The Girls and Margo, I wasn’t a fan of all of the characters’ actions but I came to understand them through the great storytelling and insight into their motives. With this book, I never really understood why Bunny did certain things, but I guess that’s partly because we’re seeing her through Michael’s eyes and he is almost always fascinated by her. If you haven’t read any Rufi Thorpe yet, I wouldn’t recommend this book as the one to start with.

Content Warnings

lovelymisanthrope's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

I received this as a gift from someone.
"The Knockout Queen" is a dark comedy about two unlikely friends: Bunny and Michael. Bunny is the queen of North Shore. She is pretty, the star of the volleyball team, and her father is extremely wealthy. Michael is a gay teenager who lives with his aunt because his mom went to prison for stabbing his father. Michael starts to date an older man, and when someone from school finds out, there is a very violent encounter that completely changes both Bunny's and Michael's lives.
Rufi Thorpe's writing style reminded me a lot of Grady Hendrix's dark comedic style of writing. This type of writing can be very off putting for a lot of people, and I do not think everyone will appreciate this story.
Michael's and Bunny's friendship felt so raw, flawed, and authentic. They both made poor decisions regarding one another throughout the duration of their friendship, but at the end of the day they both cared deeply for one another, and truly only wanted what was best for each other. I thought this representation was wonderfully done, and very true of friendships that are made in high school. People are always growing and evolving, but the people that stand by you through it all, are the ones that are meant to stay.
I think both Bunny and Michael are great examples of trying to create an identity that feels right. Michael is an outcast, and he is gay, but not necessarily "out". He does not know exactly who he is, and it is really difficult for him to cope with this. Bunny's father has really controlled her future, but she loves her father more than anything and does not see that. He has his own interests on the fore front of his mind, and all Bunny wants to do is please him.
This story made me laugh, made me sad, and made me question my own identity and who I have allowed to influence that identity.
This was an amusing story, that I might recommend to a certain type of reader.

Content Warnings