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A review by scottiesandbooks
Girlcrush by Florence Given
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
“It’s coordinated mysogyny wrapped in a dazzling bow, using us as its mouthpiece to trick us all into thinking it’s validating”
This book is internalised homophobia and stereotyping wrapped in a dazzling bow, using us as its mouthpiece to trick us all into thinking it’s validating.
Ok *cracks knuckles*
This author has tried to do something pretty wonderful; use their voice to promote feminism, queerness, bisexuality and show us that social media is detrimental to our health and well-being… and that the world is still controlled by men.
What the author has succeeded to do is write a book of two halves. The second half succeeds in the message….. but you have to get through a very problematic, May HARMFUL first half to get the message. And by then it’s lost.
This is not the queer affirming book it claims to be. This is a book doused in queer stereotypes and harmful language. As a bisexual woman I found it littered with biphobia and severe problems around identity, femininity, masculinity and many issues catered towards our non binary siblings too.
This not only hurts queer people who pick it up, making them feel invalidated and ridiculed… it also confirms that all the stereotypes about us in the queer community are correct…… it doesn’t help cis het people understand us at all. It lets them know that it’s ok to poke fun at the queer community. That it’s ok to use the word “fag” in a jokey way, that it’s ok to ask “so who’s the gay one?” (I.E. the man) in a same sex relationship.
I understand that some books include the above references to prove a point. To show that these words, phrases and stereotypes are wrong. This book has not done that. And for that I will never forgive it.
This could have been something special. Instead I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Ever.
This book is internalised homophobia and stereotyping wrapped in a dazzling bow, using us as its mouthpiece to trick us all into thinking it’s validating.
Ok *cracks knuckles*
This author has tried to do something pretty wonderful; use their voice to promote feminism, queerness, bisexuality and show us that social media is detrimental to our health and well-being… and that the world is still controlled by men.
What the author has succeeded to do is write a book of two halves. The second half succeeds in the message….. but you have to get through a very problematic, May HARMFUL first half to get the message. And by then it’s lost.
This is not the queer affirming book it claims to be. This is a book doused in queer stereotypes and harmful language. As a bisexual woman I found it littered with biphobia and severe problems around identity, femininity, masculinity and many issues catered towards our non binary siblings too.
This not only hurts queer people who pick it up, making them feel invalidated and ridiculed… it also confirms that all the stereotypes about us in the queer community are correct…… it doesn’t help cis het people understand us at all. It lets them know that it’s ok to poke fun at the queer community. That it’s ok to use the word “fag” in a jokey way, that it’s ok to ask “so who’s the gay one?” (I.E. the man) in a same sex relationship.
I understand that some books include the above references to prove a point. To show that these words, phrases and stereotypes are wrong. This book has not done that. And for that I will never forgive it.
This could have been something special. Instead I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Ever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Violence, and Lesbophobia