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deepower7's review against another edition
1.0
It's not even that it's a bad story. It's just that my suspension of disbelief doesn't work like that.
ginamarche's review
dark
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
3.75
lunarflare's review
4.0
a captivating construction of the peculiar, bleak, otherworldly realm of high school cheerleading and teenage sexuality. i was pleasantly surprised by the writing and the characters were masterfully crafted.
bella_t_16's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Toxic friendship, and Murder
Moderate: Vomit, Eating disorder, Cursing, Sexual assault, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Drug use, Alcohol, and Adult/minor relationship
midnightlibrarymouse's review against another edition
I just got bored. Even after the thing I knew was going to happen (because I watched the TV show based on this a few years ago), I'm just so bored. The TV show was great though, I do recommend that!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Eating disorder, and Body shaming
rottedrapunzel's review
3.0
Cool suspense thriller in the realm of cheerleader popular young adults. Characters were interesting in development, exploring the depths of some intriguing and messed up people. That's my way of saying I liked it.
However, this is one of the rare situations where I prefer the TV show to the book, both in terms of plot choices, and arcs. Also, the TV series opened up additional perspectives, scenes and characters that the book would have benefited from greatly imo to flesh out the information provided from one, at times unreliable narrator.
However, this is one of the rare situations where I prefer the TV show to the book, both in terms of plot choices, and arcs. Also, the TV series opened up additional perspectives, scenes and characters that the book would have benefited from greatly imo to flesh out the information provided from one, at times unreliable narrator.
punkinmuffin's review against another edition
3.0
Well that helped me pass the time on a sick day. Actually, it's pretty good.
itsheyfay's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Infidelity, Death, Murder, Violence, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Car accident
midici's review
3.0
This book I picked on a whim and read fairly quickly. I have to say it's not quite what I expected. There were some things I enjoyed a lot: the grittiness of it, and the realistic dreams and terrors of teenage girls. The way the characters use their outfits and makeup as a form of armour, a way to create the persona they want - it's a typical trope in novels involving teenage girls to involve a make-over of some sort but this was way more realistic. Girls being messy, being reckless, falling in and out of love. Having issues like eating disorders or sexual assault to deal with.
I really enjoyed the way the main character Abbie describes the pride in becoming stronger, in being able to nail the tricks they are learning. I was never involved in cheerleading (I don't know if any Canadian high schools do cheerleading. Maybe a few?) but it reminded me of playing soccer, of being able to outrun the competition, to take the shot. The adrenaline high of saying "I did that. That was me".
So with that out of the way I can the plot didn't work for me. There was no real character growth. If nothing changes at the end of the book, then what's the point. One could argue that Abbie taking over Beth's role as top girl could kind of count, but I don't. Abbie did not out manoeuver Beth or come into her own. Beth abdicated by purposefully injuring herself severely.
We get glimpses through the book that Abie was already pushing back at Beth's control and looking for ways to stand out. As the book goes on you become more aware of how unreliable she is as a narrator. There's the issue of Coach, who encourages the girls to become a 'real' team, who encourages self abuse in the form of eating disorders, who encourages underage drinking - she seems fairly one dimensional. She's immature. She doesn't want to mother her young daughter or work out the issues she has with her husband. She wants to revel in the high school drama instead. Whatever.
I was interested at first in the murder of the Corporal, but even that became less interesting. Everything seemed to unravel on its own without input from the characters, but not in any dramatic way. Essentially, while I sort of enjoyed it as first, about half way I lost interest and powered through just to finish.
I really enjoyed the way the main character Abbie describes the pride in becoming stronger, in being able to nail the tricks they are learning. I was never involved in cheerleading (I don't know if any Canadian high schools do cheerleading. Maybe a few?) but it reminded me of playing soccer, of being able to outrun the competition, to take the shot. The adrenaline high of saying "I did that. That was me".
So with that out of the way I can the plot didn't work for me. There was no real character growth. If nothing changes at the end of the book, then what's the point. One could argue that Abbie taking over Beth's role as top girl could kind of count, but I don't. Abbie did not out manoeuver Beth or come into her own. Beth abdicated by purposefully injuring herself severely.
We get glimpses through the book that Abie was already pushing back at Beth's control and looking for ways to stand out. As the book goes on you become more aware of how unreliable she is as a narrator. There's the issue of Coach, who encourages the girls to become a 'real' team, who encourages self abuse in the form of eating disorders, who encourages underage drinking - she seems fairly one dimensional. She's immature. She doesn't want to mother her young daughter or work out the issues she has with her husband. She wants to revel in the high school drama instead. Whatever.
I was interested at first in the murder of the Corporal, but even that became less interesting. Everything seemed to unravel on its own without input from the characters, but not in any dramatic way. Essentially, while I sort of enjoyed it as first, about half way I lost interest and powered through just to finish.