Reviews

Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett

_reading_with_kate_'s review against another edition

Kristen Arnett is one of my favorite people to follow on Twitter.

vannahsun's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective sad 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

4.75

I really enjoyed this book and felt as if it definitely lived up to the hype on TikTok, recommend by creators for people who like to read “weird girl books.” This book took me awhile to get through but I’m glad that I pushed through it and finished it. It was a bit repetitive in the narrative structure with flipping back and forth from memories that Jessa had with her family or Brynn and up keeping the family taxidermy business after grief and loss has struck the family. I loved how openly queer and honest the book felt and I felt as if Jessa and Brynn’s relationship was heartbreaking and one that you can sympathize with if you’ve ever been the person that wants someone that they can’t have. Overall, it was an interesting and insightful read about the unraveling of a family after loss, stricken with grief and resentment, and how they pick up the pieces and put things back together over time. Highly recommend! 

blueflor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

julesmathhart's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

When I saw that Karen Russell had blurbed this book, I knew I’d love it!

plnjane's review against another edition

4.0

jessa was a butch emily dickinson to me and her craft was dead things

remy_detached's review

dark emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

nicolettedakota's review against another edition

dark funny sad medium-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

moonsweetie's review against another edition

emotional funny

4.0

bholeclencher's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

amottaviano's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5