A review by starsandgutters
Pretend I'm Dead by Jen Beagin

dark emotional reflective tense 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 love female protagonists who feel like they’re constantly toeing the precipice of entirely unhinged.

More vibes than plot, and most of the plot tends to be the unfolding of other people’s lives that Mona is just a witness to, nicely enforcing how stagnant and stuck she feels in her life.

Very strong narrative voice, and some absolute BANGERS of lines in here.

Darkly humorous, quietly perceptive, keenly human in the grittiest ways. 

Would have rated this higher for the writing, but minus points for unnecessary use of slurs and racism - kept waiting for a consequence to this but it never came, and personally feel there’s never a need for authors to be throwing around slurs they can’t reclaim.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings