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legalplanner's review
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Holy crap did this one take me by surprise. I knew going in what the heavy/triggering topics were going to be. I was not prepared for how they were handled in this novel.
Josie is our anxious narrator in this novel, we meet her in her senior year of high school. She’s working on getting into her dream school, winning a journalist competition, and surviving the holidays. Once she wins the contest she meets the teen actor and realizes journalism isn’t always objective.
The writing of this was great. I liked that Josie didn’t feel like having anxiety was just a “thing” to have. We literally saw her having panic attacks and anxiety attacks because she was overwhelmed. This was not just a throwaway illness. I liked that she was constantly trying to over come it and deal with her own body issues.
I knew the majority of the action was in the second half. But wowzers I was not prepared for the last 25%. I stayed up far too late in the evening to finish this because I had to know what happened.
The way sexual assault and harassment was handled was very well done. It was interesting that even when we’ve been assaulted we try to reframe it in our own mind, rather than admit assault. I also think that we forget that sometimes what’s right for one survivor is not right for all. People in positions of power should not be able to take advantage of individuals like in this novel.
I’m left feeling some tears in my eyes, a bit of hurt in my heart for all survivors who have experienced something like the characters in this book, and a desire to share this with anyone who will listen. 5/5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Mental illness, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
TW: rape, sexual assault, fat phobia, anxiety, ptsd, harassmentcranedphoenix's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
the fact that josie doesnt believe what happened to her was assault is extremely important because a lot of survivors and such in general tend to think that what happened to them wasnt as bad as what happened to others.
its interesting when they introduce julia morrison and how everyone thought she was a crazy person very similar to britney spears and how a lot of people i grew up with were told she was just crazy.
i like how the book brings up separating artists from their work because i truly do not think you can do that because how they are and what they do is often in their work when theyre movie directors or writers etc etc. and i truly think trying to separate them is a cop out excuse to enjoy things you ised to mostly because of nostalgia.
theres difference between cheating which is shitty and being full on racist anti semitic rapist pedo etc etc.
i also absolutely hate how the main character says shell never have "good hair", being grown i know she meant straight hair but black hair IS good hair and that teed me off.
its like yeah ive felt down about some of those things as a kid cuz other people made me feel down about them and the line was supposed to be relatable which im sure it is/was but dang i got mad.
pennys line about waiting to see how they are when they arent nice is so important because thats when true colors start showing, anyone can pretend to be nice its not hard.
chapter 33 just rubs me wrong, i just dont like the josie marius side story like thats not what i picked the book for also the "ill just get crushed" joke is old and tiring its like when people tell buff women to step on them its gross.
next chapter was interesting how they made marius one of the victims and they touched on biphobia when marius said people would think he wanted it since he was bi.
josie and savannahs interaction when she gets the random calls is also annoying like how tf are you going to groan and push her when her life is practically being threatened
It was overall a semi good read but I feel like the two stories clashed more than fully went together
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexual harassment, and Racism
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Biphobia
adannaisiodu's review
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
mme_carton's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Bullying, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Vomit
Moderate: Self harm, Sexism, Biphobia, Misogyny, Alcohol, and Eating disorder
Minor: Pregnancy
longlost's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wow. wow wow wow. with this book camryn garrett has solidified her place as one of my favourite authors. her writing style is ENTRANCING and her character craftsmen-ship is incredible. josie is so strong and reading her story, seeing her succeed in the thing she loved, succeed in uplifting the voices of other women, was so fucking powerful. i swear by the time savannah called to tell her she'd found the NDA they needed i was on the verge of tears. this book might be about a heavy subject but it is so so important
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Gaslighting, Bullying, Rape, and Body shaming
Minor: Alcohol and Cursing
lena_loves_reading's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Fatphobia and Racism
inejraybearer_1104's review
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Rape
Minor: Fatphobia
liaandersson's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
I really don't know what to say. I adore this book with every fibre of my being. It was extremely well executed and respectful of all subjects that were brought up. I am in awe of these characters. The amount of joy I felt when we put him in his place and he couldn't come up with excuses anymore. This is a story about brave people using their voices for the greater good and preventing other people from having to go through the same trauma. I relate so much to the characters and I love how the side-plots were so well incorporated with the rest without taking over, yet still getting their time to be acknowledged. Josie is the fucking BOMB who got to post in The Times at 17 years old, I'm so proud. I was so truly happy when I finished the book because what it stands for is so important and it was so well represented in this book, even if Hollywood is a far off dream for many of us. What can I say except READ IT, but be aware of the topics discussed to make sure one is in the right mindset and prepared to avoid any traumatic triggers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Fatphobia, and Bullying
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Eating disorder and Biphobia
christinesreads's review
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Sexual assault
rebeccafarren's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism and Fatphobia