A review by a_picara
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is a book I'm glad I read, but wouldn't reread & don't know if you can ever be in the mood to read. It's tough and emotional, but it sets out to center the lives and experiences of women targeted by serialized violence, and it fully achieves that goal. Skewering the true crime hype that sees serial killers as objects of fascination, this novel reflects on the social dynamics that enable this view. The end offers hope that with changing social dynamics and conceptions of gender, our world is becoming more empowering for women. 
The narrative jumps between time with two main characters followed and three main timelines. These are all woven together brilliantly. The tension and atmosphere are balanced and the characters feel real even as the novel has its central message.
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