Reviews with content warning for Adult/minor relationship - Boy Parts

I want to preface this review by saying that though I am rating this book 5 stars, I can’t recommend it as a read for everyone! It is incredibly graphic, violent and dark therefore anyone looking to read absolutely needs to check the content warnings!

The writing style and character detail around Irene - a fetish art photographer - and her trauma’s and addictions which create an incredibly raw and gritty world she lives in.

It is a very intense read where we follow the spiral of Irena mental health decline and navigating the toxic relationships she has with friends and family. There is so much trauma packed into this book which shapes her into this brutal and almost sociopathic young woman.

Eliza Clark certainly knows how to write an intense story and captures that morbid fascination - so much so it was almost impossible to put down!

Though there is no clear resolve in the ending - I think it perfectly captures the tortured and twisted mindset of Irene and will no doubt plague my thoughts for a long time!

Content Warnings

thesannaclause's review against another edition

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

3.25

holy shit. this book is insane. i did enjoy the unreliable narration and additions of texts and emails as a way of storytelling. the protagonist is so unlikable and by the end i truly couldn't fathom how she had anyone in her life. this was a challenging story in an easy to read format. i would 100% recommend reading the content warnings before reading <3

Content Warnings

saccharinewoe's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

ohhh my god the main character was absolutely insufferable, narcissistic, pretentious, manipulative and unlikeable. i'm amazed at how well that was written to the point i felt like i was supposed to be collecting reasons to dislike the MC. i really liked the author's writing style it felt so easy to read... the air of nonchalance carried by the MC through the whole thing was executed so excellently - especially with how even the most horrifying stuff was described in the same nonchalant tone. the loss of control and loss of sense of self was portrayed so well. this was also a little heartbreaking especially towards the end of it like the most jarring things get revealed when you're caught off guard. a bit stomach-churning to see how a victim can end up hurting other people the same way they were hurt. like she's definitely an incredibly fucked up person to the point it's sad to see because you know exactly how she got to be that way.

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mollyaunt's review

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3.5

I was glued to this book, mostly because I love reading unlikeable female characters and I do enjoy unreliable narration. In saying that, this character is so unlikeable, there’s actually nothing redeeming about her—which could deter people. Similarly, if you don’t like unreliable narration and a conclusion that leaves an open plot and doesn’t provide concrete answers, this book would not be for you. Narratively, I really enjoyed Clark’s incorporation of texts, blog posts etc… as ways of storytelling.

⚠️ Important to note that there a multitude of trigger warnings for this book (which I may not have categorised correctly, but they all come up) so this may not be appropriate for everyone and I’d recommend checking the warnings first ⚠️

Content Warnings