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montana_cole's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
1.0
1/5
To be honest I really don’t know what to really think of the book. I just am in a book slump.
To be honest I really don’t know what to really think of the book. I just am in a book slump.
basilkumquat's review against another edition
1.0
Stopped after 80 pages. The book has three main characters, but the tone is so dreary and trying to be too cool for the town that it's hard to tell them apart. Set a few years after the Vietnam War, Isabel, Magda, and Ruth live hard lives. Yet, in trying to escape they commit crimes and wrestle with angst. Everything felt stiff and they honestly didn't even seem like real friends. Just not my kind of book.
madmollyann's review against another edition
1.0
I got about halfway through before moving on. The writing was weird, grammar not great, and I had no attachment to or real interest in the characters.
potatocouch13's review against another edition
2.0
DNF
this was such a painful read because it was so hard to follow the story and care about the characters. I've honestly read too many books about people in small towns feeling trapped and thinking that they're above everyone else.
All 3 of the MCs seemed flat and I just couldn't tell them apart
this was such a painful read because it was so hard to follow the story and care about the characters. I've honestly read too many books about people in small towns feeling trapped and thinking that they're above everyone else.
All 3 of the MCs seemed flat and I just couldn't tell them apart
poshacouch's review against another edition
2.0
DNF
this was such a painful read because it was so hard to follow the story and care about the characters. I've honestly read too many books about people in small towns feeling trapped and thinking that they're above everyone else.
All 3 of the MCs seemed flat and I just couldn't tell them apart
this was such a painful read because it was so hard to follow the story and care about the characters. I've honestly read too many books about people in small towns feeling trapped and thinking that they're above everyone else.
All 3 of the MCs seemed flat and I just couldn't tell them apart
hannahbrostrom's review against another edition
3.0
This book was weird, in that I don't really know how to feel or what to think.
The characters and their developments were written well, and I knew this would be the case from the very beginning. It was also a very raw, honest book, and I felt that the commentary in the narrative is really what this book has going for it. The book brings up things I do not often see talked about in modern literature, and it was developed enough to keep you thinking but brief enough to be tastefully concise.
A lot of it did, however, feel convoluted, especially towards the start. It introduced too many characters and situations far too quickly. This eventually balanced out of course, but it almost turned me off from continuing. Some characters also felt purposeless and unrealistic when they were introduced. Further, the ending came too quickly and completely turned the pacing upside down.
This has become one of my favorite books, almost solely because of the characters and narrative, and the way that it personally resonated with me. But I recognize that objectively, it's nothing special.
The characters and their developments were written well, and I knew this would be the case from the very beginning. It was also a very raw, honest book, and I felt that the commentary in the narrative is really what this book has going for it. The book brings up things I do not often see talked about in modern literature, and it was developed enough to keep you thinking but brief enough to be tastefully concise.
A lot of it did, however, feel convoluted, especially towards the start. It introduced too many characters and situations far too quickly. This eventually balanced out of course, but it almost turned me off from continuing. Some characters also felt purposeless and unrealistic when they were introduced. Further, the ending came too quickly and completely turned the pacing upside down.
This has become one of my favorite books, almost solely because of the characters and narrative, and the way that it personally resonated with me. But I recognize that objectively, it's nothing special.
notlikethebeer's review against another edition
As with many of the other reviews, I'm really not sure how to feel about this book. In many ways, it was fantastic. The writing was incredibly beautiful at points, and I really liked all three of the main characters. It was a really good look at the idea of womanhood!
However, I also had lots of issues with it too... the prose could be a bit pointless at times, and it seemed to wander a lot, I had a hard time keeping track. The flicking between the characters didn't help, as they all had very similar voices. I felt that there were some massive moments that were really underplayed and accepted, such as Magda's mum having left her kids to their abusive dad (I totally understand that she needed to get out, but she did just leave her two children in an incredibly unsafe environment!) and. Also, so many characters and I just got a bit lost.
I don't know. I just don't know.
However, I also had lots of issues with it too... the prose could be a bit pointless at times, and it seemed to wander a lot, I had a hard time keeping track. The flicking between the characters didn't help, as they all had very similar voices. I felt that there were some massive moments that were really underplayed and accepted, such as Magda's mum having left her kids to their abusive dad (I totally understand that she needed to get out, but she did just leave her two children in an incredibly unsafe environment!) and
Spoiler
when Isabel basically kind of r*ped Ruth but apparently it was okay?? Wtf??I don't know. I just don't know.
elliereadsthings's review against another edition
Triggers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Toxic friendship