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cspa's review against another edition
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed this book, and I'd like to begin by highlighting what I liked about it. The book provides insightful commentary on the relationships between influencers and followers, social media, privilege, class, and racial structures. The unnamed narrator's obsessive and erratic behavior intrigued me, as I've recently appreciated reading about unpredictable and unhinged female protagonist for added drama. However, I felt that the potential for dramatic tension wasn't fully explored to my liking, although the book remained engaging for the reasons mentioned earlier.
The commentary in the book was remarkably perceptive and thought-provoking, adding depth and sharpness to the narrative. So much so, that even with the lower raking, highly recommend reading this book for its insightfulness. While it was my favorite aspect as it encouraged deep reflection, I'm unsure if the protagonist's vibrant and unruly personality seamlessly aligned with the overarching heavier themes in the more essay-like chapters, leading to a somewhat disjointed experience.
Conversely, as someone with mild dyslexia, I found the book's format to be challenging. The abundance of run-on sentences, lengthy paragraphs that could be divided, and the absence of quotation marks for dialogue made it difficult to follow. I recognize that this style mirrors the protagonist's stream-of-consciousness narration and her unstable nature. Which I appriciate but did struggle with. At the halfway mark, I bought the audiobook to enhance my reading experience, and I regret not doing it earlier. The author's captivating narration truly brought the character to life in a authentic way my brain alone couldn’t.
My last qualm, I wish the timeline had been clearer and more linear, as the frequent shifts between past and present tense were somewhat disorienting.
In conclusion, I believe it's valuable to read due to its insightful analysis. Additionally, it's a shorter book with chapters of varying lengths so there’s no harm in giving it a shot!
Ultimately, I enjoyed it, but I didn't adore it.
The commentary in the book was remarkably perceptive and thought-provoking, adding depth and sharpness to the narrative. So much so, that even with the lower raking, highly recommend reading this book for its insightfulness. While it was my favorite aspect as it encouraged deep reflection, I'm unsure if the protagonist's vibrant and unruly personality seamlessly aligned with the overarching heavier themes in the more essay-like chapters, leading to a somewhat disjointed experience.
Conversely, as someone with mild dyslexia, I found the book's format to be challenging. The abundance of run-on sentences, lengthy paragraphs that could be divided, and the absence of quotation marks for dialogue made it difficult to follow. I recognize that this style mirrors the protagonist's stream-of-consciousness narration and her unstable nature. Which I appriciate but did struggle with. At the halfway mark, I bought the audiobook to enhance my reading experience, and I regret not doing it earlier. The author's captivating narration truly brought the character to life in a authentic way my brain alone couldn’t.
My last qualm, I wish the timeline had been clearer and more linear, as the frequent shifts between past and present tense were somewhat disorienting.
In conclusion, I believe it's valuable to read due to its insightful analysis. Additionally, it's a shorter book with chapters of varying lengths so there’s no harm in giving it a shot!
Ultimately, I enjoyed it, but I didn't adore it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Racism, and Toxic relationship
ghostmomxoxo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Cultural appropriation, and Misogyny
ewwa18's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Infidelity
Moderate: Racism and Stalking
withlivjones's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Reading this felt like watching reality TV. Unfortunately, I don’t like watching reality TV.
The premise was very intriguing, and I am generally a fan of unlikeable characters. I really liked the commentary on race and class at first, but eventually it started to sound like Patel was saying the same thing each time in very slightly different ways. The prose reads like slam poetry at times and jury’s still out on whether or not I enjoyed it. I did laugh at a few of the chapter titles, though, they felt very Tumblr-esque. I see myself potentially returning to this book in the future in case I missed the hype the first time around.
The premise was very intriguing, and I am generally a fan of unlikeable characters. I really liked the commentary on race and class at first, but eventually it started to sound like Patel was saying the same thing each time in very slightly different ways. The prose reads like slam poetry at times and jury’s still out on whether or not I enjoyed it. I did laugh at a few of the chapter titles, though, they felt very Tumblr-esque. I see myself potentially returning to this book in the future in case I missed the hype the first time around.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Racism and Sexism
bookwormteddy's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
i’m gonna be honest, i struggled with this book. like. i get it, right? comparing yourself to, feeling inferior to, and fighting for attention from seemingly mediocre, rich white people makes you crazy. been there, felt that! we get a lot of discussion of race dynamics, class, white feminism, performative allyship without really expanding on them in any meaningful way. these things are harmful, not because they’re by-products of oppressive systems but because they just? piss the narrator off?
there is very little plot, which typically doesn’t bother me, but i cared so little for the few characters we met that i found myself getting so frustrated with the narrator. she is so unlikeable that i never really felt bad for her. i found myself yelling, girl get off the floor!! go to therapy!! stop it!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, and Stalking
Minor: Domestic abuse
eslsilver's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Racism and Xenophobia
crawforl's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Stalking, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Classism and Racism
chronicacademia's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Classism, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
Moderate: Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Cultural appropriation, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Racism, and Misogyny
black_flamed_candle_b00ks's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I’m not a fan.
Only gave it two stars because I like the front cover, so technically a 1 ⭐️
Only gave it two stars because I like the front cover, so technically a 1 ⭐️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
lidia7's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
insightful but repetitive.
classism and race discussion were the highlights for me.
big TWs for infidelity & domestic abuse (physical, emotional, verbal) from the abuser's POV.
while reading about the fucked up relationships the narrator has, i recognized bpd patterns/ tendencies.
overall, i thought i would enjoy it more than i have. too often it felt like a chore to read through.
classism and race discussion were the highlights for me.
big TWs for infidelity & domestic abuse (physical, emotional, verbal) from the abuser's POV.
while reading about the fucked up relationships the narrator has, i recognized bpd patterns/ tendencies.
overall, i thought i would enjoy it more than i have. too often it felt like a chore to read through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Stalking
Moderate: Classism, Misogyny, and Racism