I never read any of the other Haters series books. Based on the reviews I saw on goodreads, it is not necessary to have read the trilogy before readinI never read any of the other Haters series books. Based on the reviews I saw on goodreads, it is not necessary to have read the trilogy before reading this one. But I just wanted to mention that it is part of a series, in a way.
I'm torn on my rating. It's more like a 2.5 to me. I didn't hate the book but I didn't love it, either. The book got more interesting as the characters died out, sorry to say. This is mostly because the dialogue was clunky and unrealistic. It read, to me, like a B horror movie screenplay. I feel like there were simply too many characters and not enough character development among them. I kept forgetting who characters were (didn't help that some names began with the same letter) and sometimes their motivations were muddled. It took too long for the three core characters to stand out. I simply didn't care for most of the characters because I did not know them.
But the good part of the book was the story itself. It's an interesting and creative concept. I'll probably go back and read the first book of the series because I want to see that event from those characters' perspectives. I hope the dialogue is better, though....more
I liked this book, although I might have liked it more if I was younger. I think people who aren't necessarily into 3.5 stars but I will bump up to 4.
I liked this book, although I might have liked it more if I was younger. I think people who aren't necessarily into horror would enjoy this book as it isn't just a mindless, gory slasher but also a (bitter)sweet tale of navigating friendships, relationships and family as a teen. (I just read over my review and I feel like that line makes it look like I think that horror is mindless and gory. I don't think at at all - horror is my favorite genre! - I just meant that if you are concerned that it IS a mindless gory slasher then you shouldn't be because it is not mindless although it is a little gory. :)
Anyway, the book wasn't scary, and that's fine because I didn't expect it to terrify me. It was definitely suspenseful at times though.
As for the mystery of who the killer was: (view spoiler)[I'm a little unsure how I feel about the killer's identity being revealed about halfway or so through the novel. On the one hand, I continued to believe there was someone else involved, so my suspicions over certain characters didn't go away for quite a few chapters. That kept up the suspense and tension for me. Also, I didn't guess the killer was going to be *that person* at all. On the other hand, knowing that the killer was David kind of made the rest of the book not that fun anymore? I have to think about this some more. (hide spoiler)] But ultimately, I think the story could have gone a predictable route and I respect that it didn't.
I REALLY liked the main character, Makani; she actually behaved and sounded like a real teenager. I also appreciated that the author included diverse characters. All the characters were written really well IMO and that'll definitely be enough to make me want to read more from this author....more
This book was just okay. I wanted to love it. I thought there would be more to the story... I thought it would be more about the hippos, more fantastiThis book was just okay. I wanted to love it. I thought there would be more to the story... I thought it would be more about the hippos, more fantastical or sci-fi-y! But it was just about five terrible people trying to blow up a gate to let the hippos out. Lost opportunity to make social commentary, whether it was the food industry and meat eating, or just the climate of the age period. Lots of snarky dialogue and WAY too many "It's not a caper, it's an OPERATION!" jokes (like after the third time... stop). The best part was that it was short so at least it read quickly. I did have some questions about the plot... but i'll write that up later, my time at this public computer is up lol!...more
Fun book! I didn't give it five stars because the formatting of the story irritated me a little bit. It may not bother you, though, so don't let that Fun book! I didn't give it five stars because the formatting of the story irritated me a little bit. It may not bother you, though, so don't let that criticism sway you from reading the book! What I mean by formatting: One of the characters, Catherine, "wrote" the novel, and so the story is constantly interrupted by dialogue between the characters who are commenting on the text. I didn't know the book was going to be like that so I was quite confused when it first happened. Then I got used to it... and not going to lie, some of the commentary made me laugh. But by the end of the book, I didn't think the commentary was all that useful. It was cute, but I definitely found myself skimming some of the quips at certain points.
I also think the ending wasn't as strong as it could have been. (view spoiler)[I wish it ended with the narrative, and not commentary from Catherine about Mary Shelley (although I am glad she addressed Shelley and Frankenstein). (hide spoiler)]
But the characters! I adored them. It was so cool to see how classic characters like Jekyll and Hyde, Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes, etc made their way into the story. LOVED that the main characters were all women and LOVED the commentary on gender roles and sexism.
I actually finished this on Friday... let me edit that real quick!
This book was... Dumb. I know that's not a nice thing to say, I don't like the fact that I hated the book so much and I feel bad leaving a negative reThis book was... Dumb. I know that's not a nice thing to say, I don't like the fact that I hated the book so much and I feel bad leaving a negative review. But. I cannot in good conscience recommend this book. Writing was clunky and awkward and the story was weird and not in an interesting way. The characters were ridiculous. I don't understand the creative choice of focusing on Ben, who was a total dumb ass. Don't get me wrong, the two sisters central to the story of this book weren't much better but at least they were more interesting? Why not just have the book be about them and Connie? Instead of this wack 13 Reasons Why bullshit in the form of short, vague notes that made zero sense anyway. None of the religious nonsense was explained. I don't like how it was insinuated that (view spoiler)[Ben wasn't actually molested by the Coach (this was during a girls' flashback toward the end of the book when one of them muses on the Coach being falsely accused) (hide spoiler)]. I just felt like after I finished the book, what was it trying to tell me about child victims? Absolutely nothing, I guess. So it was just an overall gross way to have a book about child abuse/molestation. I finished the book thinking um, okay: (view spoiler)[Really? Digging up the girls' cremated remains and throwing the urns into the water? lol wtf (hide spoiler)] I just felt like the author wanted to throw in as many "triggers" as she could (eating disorders! depression! child sex trauma!) and adding in religion to make it faux deep. the book wasn't deep, it was stupid....more
I would never have read this book if I hadn't won it in a giveaway that publishers Simon & Schuster were having. The genre is not really my typical chI would never have read this book if I hadn't won it in a giveaway that publishers Simon & Schuster were having. The genre is not really my typical choice so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the book. But to my surprise and delight, I really liked the story! I warmed up to the characters, although it did take me a bit to like the MC. Maybe the character Thad could have been a little more dimensional, but otherwise I liked the development of the characters. I especially liked the romantic tension between Sanna and Isaac and found it easy to believe these characters were falling for each other. There were a few different conflicts throughout the story which made the book interesting, and they all wrapped up nicely. All in all a lovely, delightfully cozy book!...more
I was so tense while reading this. Loved the calm, straight forward tone of the book in contrast to the increasingly suspicious and outright sinister I was so tense while reading this. Loved the calm, straight forward tone of the book in contrast to the increasingly suspicious and outright sinister actions of L.
A totally believable but mindfuck of a text. For people who like a slow burn, who like to be pushed as readers, and who enjoy dark literature - you should read this!...more
This book seems to have a low average rating but I'm not sure why. As far as YA books go it's actually pretty good. I like that there were two LGBT chThis book seems to have a low average rating but I'm not sure why. As far as YA books go it's actually pretty good. I like that there were two LGBT characters (and it's actually decent representation!). The mystery unfolds at a good pace. I personally didn't guess the ending, I totally suspected someone else. It was a fun and fast read, and I liked that it switched between the two perspectives of Alice and Caleb....more
Murder and mystery surrounds a bunch of fucked-up rich privileged drunk and damaged Ivy League studens/graduates. it was a fast and fun read but god dMurder and mystery surrounds a bunch of fucked-up rich privileged drunk and damaged Ivy League studens/graduates. it was a fast and fun read but god damn did I hate everyone Lol...more
I don't normally write reviews this detailed and I rarely give less 2 stars and less, but I was home while reading and since I didn't want to post my I don't normally write reviews this detailed and I rarely give less 2 stars and less, but I was home while reading and since I didn't want to post my complaints as status updates, I noted down things that bugged me about the book as I read it. So, here we go.
If you've read any other thriller ever, you'll probably recognize the main character (MC):
Hardened by trauma. With a boyfriend who is super protective and says crap about a perfect victim;
Has a dark horse savior in the background, described as gruff with a husky voice and taut biceps and popping veins who you secretly want to sweep in and save the day because the boyfriend is not good enough and will eventually show his ass;
gets close to a secondary character that the reader is suspicious of, and that secondary character is ~seductive (described repeatedly in this way), constantly refers to the MC as "babe" and probably chain smokes and influences the MC to do Very Bad Things;
Shows her messy side by speaking in broken, gasping sentences while gulping whiskey that ~burns as it goes down, and this happens about 20x and oh look let's pop a xanax or 2 or 3 ahhh;
Does ludicrous things like steals iPhones right in front of the owner who doesn't somehow notice?? Because she's a Messy Bitch Who Lives for Drama!
Every time she turns on her phone there are 50 missed calls and texts, 25 voicemails, and an absurd amount of emails because apparently the whole world is currently obsessed with her.
There were many aspects of the story that were laugh-out-loud horrible. Like, (view spoiler)[A cop letting Samantha (Tina) off from being charged in assault against a police officer because he was told in hushed tones that she was a Final Girl? (hide spoiler)] Or, how about: (view spoiler)[the obnoxious Janelle letting in some dude stranger, who no one knows where he came from, who isn't even wearing the proper sized pants, into their cabin to party? And the other characters just accept this? Which makes it even more puzzling that the main character, Quincy, would later on immediately let Samantha into her life knowing the consequences all too well of Stranger Danger? (hide spoiler)] Or how about (view spoiler)[Samantha busting two in-progress crimes like she's fucking Batman, lmao. (hide spoiler)]
Or most strangely, around 35% into the story, Quincy is very upset that her photo was printed because she claims that now people will 1) know what she looks like, and 2) know where she lives. Except from the beginning of the book, she was concerned by press lurking outside her apartment? And she gave interviews for money after the murders?
You guys this was in the first 120 pages...
By page 100 I wanted to rip my hair because every chapter ended with "I'm a final girl" or someone saying "You're a final girl' OK not really. but:
Chapter 1: "I want to teach how you to be a Final Girl." Chapter 3: Final girl! Chapter 6: "But you're a final girl! You're different!" Chapter 9: Did you know that she's a Final Girl? Chapter 10: "Hey look! It's The Final Girls!"
OK, so not *every* chapter in the first 100 pages ended with a constant reminder that you are reading a book about a Final Girl, but but it is an idea certainly beaten to death. I mean I wasn't even counting all the times in the beginning and middle of the chapter when the phrase "final girl" was mentioned.
Here is what I liked about the book: The flashbacks, although full of stupid characters, were more interesting. Because at least we got a step back from a first person perspective of Quincy (the flashbacks are written in third) who is beyond irritating. I don't get the stylistic choice of switching between first and third to finally third, but okay. (view spoiler)[Tina was more interesting than Quincy. (hide spoiler)]
The characters needed more fleshing out. Every man character was trash. Jeff, the boyfriend, needed something else other than be an annoying little "something's wrong tell me what's wrong. even tho i know something is seriously wrong i'm going to flounce for 3 days which will provide you with the opportunity, should it arise, to fuck the cop dude you've been dying to fuck and for this suspicious as hell secondary character to make her move!" I mean (view spoiler)[Jeff disappears for like, most of the book and is never mentioned again LOL so his character didn't have much of a purpose. The plot couldn't pick up steam while he was still around. (hide spoiler)] And their arguments about him being a public defender were unnecessary to the story.
Coop the cop needed to do something other than be gruff and hot. It made no sense that he is borderline rude to Quincy but immediately hugging and doting over Sam who he doesn't know and supposedly doesn't trust. And then he (view spoiler)[almost fucks Sam, and then once caught is basically like "but I love YOU Quincy! And Quincy is like "ok! Sounds good, let's fuck!" Because of course all book she's been waiting for a ~real man~ to fuck her good, since her boyfriend was way too nice about it. (hide spoiler)]
I guess the author thought if he wrote one-dimensional male characters who do horrible things to women and get their ass kicked (or killed) women would eat this up but.. No. Although looking at the high ratings on Goodreads for this book I'm guessing it actually worked on readers.
The last quarter of the book is utterly ridiculous... (view spoiler)[Seriously? Joe's insane asylum girlfriend was a dead ringer for final girl Samantha, so much so that she (Tina) was able to hijack Sam's identity and fool everyone including reporters and journalists? And she WANTED her photographs taken and to be splashed all around the news. I mean wouldn't someone realize it was an impostor? Like the police were after them... And wouldn't it be especially obvious considering we find out later that the real Sam was apparently dead? Lol k... (hide spoiler)] And as to the reveal: I don't know. There are like 3 main characters to the book so I think nothing was a surprise at the end.
What really gets me is that this was written by a man, using a name that could be a woman's, to obviously trick readers into thinking they're reading the next Gillian Flynn. Unfortunately, it worked on me! (Although he's no Gillian Flynn.) I make an effort to read women authors as much as I can, especially if they are writing in the horror or thriller genre because men are over represented. Now knowing who actually wrote this book, I will never pick up their writing (pen name or otherwise) again.
I was prepared to ding down my review at least one star because of the author name crap, but since this book sucked I can't go lower than 1 star anyway. Maybe when I've cooled off I will raise my review to 2 stars but right now I'm kinda angry that I wasted my time on this book...
And the last line... (view spoiler)[It might have had more of an impact if "I'm a Final Girl!" wasn't said fifty times previously. WE FUCKING GET IT!!! (hide spoiler)]
Can't wait for the movie adaptation (that's sarcasm)....more
I'm not quite sure how to review and rate this book, to be honest. I liked it, for the most part. I liked the atmosphere and the style of writing. I lI'm not quite sure how to review and rate this book, to be honest. I liked it, for the most part. I liked the atmosphere and the style of writing. I liked the creepiness that hovered over the story. I liked the initial set-up with the VHS tapes. I liked the cult storyline when it was introduced.
But I didn't like the vague dialogue between characters. I get that it helped serve up an unsettling and dreamy mood, but come on, no one talks like that or would react that way. It made things seem artificial and kept pulling me out of the story.
And the sudden insertion of the "I" first-person narrator was jarring and confused me.
The story ended up wrapping up better than I expected; my expectations were based on a few other goodreads reviews I read which were of the "What the heck just happened" variety. That said, I still found the ending unsatisfactory. Because ultimately I was thinking, "I sorta get it, but not really - what the heck just happened?"
In the acknowledgments at the end of the book, he says something about the book being about mothers. I didn't get that at all, and kinda wish I had read that part before reading the story because that may have changed how I was understanding the scenes/action.
There is a lot in this book that is profoundly unsettling and that kept me reading. I wanted more. If you're thinking about reading the book, do it! It was an interesting and evocative read, and maybe you'll "get it" more than I do. (If so, please let me know in the comments so we can talk!)
ALSO: (view spoiler)[What was up with Lisa hitting Jeremy during his taped interview? I don't get why she was abusing him... it didn't seem to mesh with the wrap-up we got of the tapes and her story. I would be sympathetic to her, but her beating people up? WTF? And I didn't get all what else was going on in the tapes other than the interviews... Did I miss something or was this purposely left vague?) (hide spoiler)] ) ALSO p2: (view spoiler)[Why (or rather, how) did Ezra have all the surveillance tapes from Lisa's childhood in his trunk? (hide spoiler)] I must've missed that....more
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