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vandermeer's review against another edition
3.0
So well written, but I was not very happy with the story, especially the conclusion. So much more could have been made of the disappearance of a body. Also, I found the fact, that they did not call 911, far-fetched. I also felt very sorry for Diane and thought, that Kit treated her unfairly. I first thought, Diane may be a Psychopath/Sociopath, but many of the things she did, made her seem the opposite, empathetic and altruistic, and I wonder, why Kit would not see that.
srfrank's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
hayleybeale's review against another edition
3.0
31/2 stars. Ms Abbott does female friendships and rivalries really well, but this book just didn't have enough light and shade for me.
skcoe's review against another edition
3.0
“Because the bad things you do become part of you, literally. This is no metaphor. They become part of you on a cellular level, in the blood.”
I came away from this book wishing it had a clearer final message it wanted to impart. I liked a lot of it, from the allegory of those with less having to try harder to compete against those with more, the PMDD narrative centre, and the focus on the struggles specifically built in to womanhood. What i wished for more was these things to connect to our central relationship, and for the relationship between our main character and her high school friend to be further fleshed out and even have more resolve. I also wished for more chapters set in the past, and more of a/the friendship between Kit and Diane. I loved the way their stories intertwined and I simply wanted more. But altogether it was a good story that surprised me in places and i liked it well enough.
The above quote stuck out to me, especially coming back to it after the final pages. This, i feel, despite the misogyny in science, class struggles/differences, and PMDD focus, is what the book wanted to say: sometimes the bad things are bad things, no matter the surrounds.
I came away from this book wishing it had a clearer final message it wanted to impart. I liked a lot of it, from the allegory of those with less having to try harder to compete against those with more, the PMDD narrative centre, and the focus on the struggles specifically built in to womanhood. What i wished for more was these things to connect to our central relationship, and for the relationship between our main character and her high school friend to be further fleshed out and even have more resolve. I also wished for more chapters set in the past, and more of a/the friendship between Kit and Diane. I loved the way their stories intertwined and I simply wanted more. But altogether it was a good story that surprised me in places and i liked it well enough.
The above quote stuck out to me, especially coming back to it after the final pages. This, i feel, despite the misogyny in science, class struggles/differences, and PMDD focus, is what the book wanted to say: sometimes the bad things are bad things, no matter the surrounds.
smorrison4's review against another edition
Another interesting mystery from Megan Abbott. This book had such a sad ending, poor Diane.
erboe501's review against another edition
2.0
This book was recommended to me by someone who thought it related to my dissertation topic of women, bodies, and the uncanny. While the book doesn't really relate to my study subject (perhaps I didn't explain my topic well!), it did touch on topics of my interest. Women who face male prejudice, whose bodies are the focus of scrutiny, whose minds are doubted.
I don't read many thrillers like this and wouldn't say it's my favorite genre. The plot was sort of predictable. I appreciated the perspective of a protagonist trying to make it in STEM despite her economic disadvantages. I did want to know what would happen, but nothing felt that revolutionary.
A quick and easy read, but not as meaty and absorbing as I wanted.
I don't read many thrillers like this and wouldn't say it's my favorite genre. The plot was sort of predictable. I appreciated the perspective of a protagonist trying to make it in STEM despite her economic disadvantages. I did want to know what would happen, but nothing felt that revolutionary.
A quick and easy read, but not as meaty and absorbing as I wanted.
staciwilson's review
4.0
What an interesting read! I definitely felt the story was predictable at first but I was thrown for a curveball halfway through. This kept my attention and I enjoyed reading it
deshanejt's review
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
Such a good book. It had me gripping my phone, reading digitally, wondering wth was gonna happen!! You could cut the tension with a knife, and you just KNEW it was all gonna come to end, but wasn't sure how... I definitely plan to read more Megan Abbott!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Medical content, Sexism, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Grief, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Vomit
lisbethssalamander's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75