This is definitely a very weird book. I understand why some people may not vibe with the implausibility of most of it, but for me that wasn’t my biggest gripe. I can usually overlook implausibility for a good story. 

 

One of my issues with it is that a lot of it was so insanely predictable. Especially Alex and Wren’s previous sexual ‘trysts’ and the ending as a whole, which I knew I wouldn’t be impressed with at about 80% through the book. 

 

However, even though it was really predictable at points, I was shocked by some things, and the tension throughout the book was really strong. It also really hit a nerve with the abuses of power idolised people can get away with. When people are desperate for a piece of you, they will put up with so much more than they should, just to get a taste. 

 

The dream sex scene at the banister was also one of the best sex scenes I’ve ever read. 

 

And then in contrast, there were some things which infuriated me. One being how absurdly dramatic Alex was about her past with Wren. She blacks out and/or vomits when she thinks about her, but all that happened was a minor injury and the friendship ending? Completely pathetic and unrealistic. 

 

Another was the ‘this is the only copy of your manuscript’ blackmail. They wrote the manuscripts on their LAPTOPS, obviously they’ll be more than just the one physical print out of it? Such a weak plot point that carried a lot of the conflict at the end of the book. 

 

And WHY THE FUCK would you read the ending of your novel at it’s LAUNCH EVENT???? Absolute nonsense, but written as if it isn’t anything out of the ordinary?? 

 

Even with all of this, the worst thing about this book by far is the gross and seemingly normalised sexualisation and sexual abuse of children. The plot of Roza’s first book includes two 12-year-olds, who shag both each other and grown men. It’s never once commented in the book that CHILDERN shagging GROWN MEN is bad, and in fact it seems to be almost idolised? The book is even described as “an early queer classic”. It’s actually pretty horrifying, and gives V. C. Andrews vibes. Basically everyone in the book is obsessed with this novel, and how it’s one of the ‘greatest of all time’, but never mention how problematic it is??? This is then re-enforced at the end of the book, when Wren says the novel taught her “that girls didn’t have to be sweet little creatures, that they could in fact be angry and dark and sexual”. THE CHARACTERS IN THE BOOK ARE 12 YEARS OLD!!!!! Utter disgrace. 

 

Aside from the above, I did have a pretty good time reading this, and if it weren’t for the weird inserts of child sexualisation I would be rating it higher. Very strange book, and also concerning that none of the BookTubers I’ve seen talk about this book mention the weird paedo vibes at all…