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readwithtay's review against another edition
3.0
{3/5}
I FINALLY finished this after a month of this book putting me in a slump, ugh.
I really don't know what to think of this book. For one, it was definitely not what I expected. Like I knew Rianne was going to be a flawed character going into it but daaaamn girl, you got problems.
There was so much sex in this book, which honestly, wasn't something I had a problem with. However, I did think that it was used in a pretty negative way. I mean, the first time she was drunk and it was with one of her camp coaches and the rest was either with her boyfriend or the guy she was cheating on him with.
I don't know man I just had bad vibes throughout the entire book but at the same time I can't say I hated it... It was just meeeeeh.
I FINALLY finished this after a month of this book putting me in a slump, ugh.
I really don't know what to think of this book. For one, it was definitely not what I expected. Like I knew Rianne was going to be a flawed character going into it but daaaamn girl, you got problems.
There was so much sex in this book, which honestly, wasn't something I had a problem with. However, I did think that it was used in a pretty negative way. I mean, the first time she was drunk and it was with one of her camp coaches and the rest was either with her boyfriend or the guy she was cheating on him with.
I don't know man I just had bad vibes throughout the entire book but at the same time I can't say I hated it... It was just meeeeeh.
allzen_nochill's review
1.0
It's rare that I don't finish a book, but I made an exception for this one. Who even is this protagonist? What even is the plot? I'm all for "quiet books" but this ain't it.
ruthsic's review
2.0
From the blurb, I expected this to be a sex-positive coming-of-age story about a girl who figures out her life and all. But Just a Girl veers far from that. First, the narration is very detached; it is in the third person but describes all her random musings through the book. Some of them are very philosophical and make for good quotes, yes, but if you were hoping to understand her through it, you are out of luck. Rianne is sort of indifferent when it comes to sex - she has had it plenty of times, and thought it doesn't excite her, she goes along with it. She and Luke, another guy like her, form sort of a relationship and even though it gets serious on his side, she is mostly non-committal about it. She likes being needed, but she doesn't want it herself - I think that's the way I figured it out. I should warn that the book involves several sex scenes (obviously), so here's your content warning.
But when she meets Sergei, she starts wanting him. Never mind that she is at a crossroads in her life, with her mother giving her an ultimatum to get her life in order and move out, her future plans to live with her best friends abruptly disbanded - now she doesn't know what she wants, except for him. And she goes for it, even though she knows it is wrong that she is cheating on Luke. Now, I'm all for a girl being comfortable with her sexuality, but cheating is where I draw the line. And as for breaking up with Luke, she does it in the worst way possible, and she doesn't even berate Sergei for it. Speaking of Sergei, please tell me I am not the only one who found him problematic - he is older than her, likes violence, gives her an ultimatum but makes the decisions for her. Like, that is certainly grounds for a stable relationship.Sure, he makes her come multiple times, but is that really what you want to run away from your seemingly boring life for?
Look, I am never one for advising what teens should not read. But this book has me considering that. Because even with the realistic depiction of a girl's sexuality and psyche, I do not think it is advisable to encourage the message being sent by the ending of this book. Also, guy whisks you off because you have given up on making it on your own, and you be happy? That is the sort of message you want to give to young girls? Really? Not to mention how dangerous it would be in reality to run off with a guy when you DON'T EVEN KNOW HIS FREAKING LAST NAME! These are the kinds of stories that make the evening news, not the basis for a coming-of-age novel!
Anyway, even if I got past that ending, this book doesn't have much to commend for itself. The pacing is super slow, and if I was this close to not DNFing it. I thought, you know what, maybe the ending will make this directionless plot have some sense, like it would be something that would make me look past the utter boredom I felt despite the good writing. But it was like watching a wet firework burn and hoping it will go on and then it just fizzles out - that is what I felt when I finished this book.
But when she meets Sergei, she starts wanting him. Never mind that she is at a crossroads in her life, with her mother giving her an ultimatum to get her life in order and move out, her future plans to live with her best friends abruptly disbanded - now she doesn't know what she wants, except for him. And she goes for it, even though she knows it is wrong that she is cheating on Luke. Now, I'm all for a girl being comfortable with her sexuality, but cheating is where I draw the line. And as for breaking up with Luke, she does it in the worst way possible, and she doesn't even berate Sergei for it. Speaking of Sergei, please tell me I am not the only one who found him problematic - he is older than her, likes violence, gives her an ultimatum but makes the decisions for her. Like, that is certainly grounds for a stable relationship.
Look, I am never one for advising what teens should not read. But this book has me considering that. Because even with the realistic depiction of a girl's sexuality and psyche, I do not think it is advisable to encourage the message being sent by the ending of this book.
Anyway, even if I got past that ending, this book doesn't have much to commend for itself. The pacing is super slow, and if I was this close to not DNFing it. I thought, you know what, maybe the ending will make this directionless plot have some sense, like it would be something that would make me look past the utter boredom I felt despite the good writing. But it was like watching a wet firework burn and hoping it will go on and then it just fizzles out - that is what I felt when I finished this book.
dizzyiz's review
1.0
what was even the point of this book? like, literally every single character was a disgusting human being.
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