2.5 ⭐️ Why is everyone so horny? So many instances of instalove 😒 Why is everyone weirdly obsessed with the MC? Why the heck are all these people submitting writing pieces for their “POV” to the story and who would truthfully admit how shitty of a person they are? Was there supposed to be ANYTHING likeable about any of these characters? The writing and narration were fine, but I just wished I gave a damn about any of these characters but you got a psycho control freak, a cheater, 2 shitty “best friends”, and a love-obsessed fan.

4.5 ⭐️ This is a BOOK. One I could see being studied in English classes in 50 years. The prose and plot structure are absolutely phenomenal. Really only docking for the less than subtle foreshadowing that took me out of the ending a bit. I also lowkey wish some diff things happened romantically 👀

4.25 ⭐️ “All the rage that washed through me left a scorched wasteland behind. And yet even I know that flowers grow most brilliantly from ashes.” I loved this so much more than I thought I would! Beautiful writing, engaging romance, dystopian world building, anti-government messaging. Chef kiss 💋 (Is this getting a sequel this cuz wtf was the ending? 🥲)

3.75 ⭐️ Bit of a slow start but the last 30% def held my interest more, likely due to anxiety. The things I liked most about this book was the writing style, very eloquent and imaginative. I also enjoyed the interconnected stories between the three generations of Weyward women, I just wish that their commonalities didn’t have to include abuse/hardships. TW: -domestic abuse -death/murder -sexual assault -childloss/abortion

If someone cannot be you, they will do everything in your power to put you down. It’s amazing how quickly this character went from admiration to envy to then tearing apart every single thing about her supposed “friend”. Kuang does an amazing job of critiquing the fake “ally” and how they are so blissfully unaware of how their “ally-ship” is fraudulent and performative, but from the perspective of that person. Newsflash, if you have to constantly state that you are not a racist, you may in fact, be a racist 🤪. Her whole life was a dumpster fire that I couldn’t look away from. One bad decision after another 😬 This book is a testament to a character piece, one of my favs from Rebecca.

Idk why this gets the hate it does, I liked it 🤷🏻‍♀️ I know people complain about the pacing, but after reading multiple books over 1000pgs long, that ain’t an issue for me 😬 The setting was great, and honestly had some pretty good prose scattered about where I thought to myself “wow, what beautiful writing” ✍️