The Girls by Emma Cline | Review (Spoiler Free!)

[@ChapterStackss]

I changed the intro music, so let me know what you guys think 🙈

[@amrutamahajan9627]

It's nice! 😀

[@PeeweeM80]

I like it! :)

[@bookswithb2684]

👍🏾

[@wandamae7502]

I like it!

[@wandamae7502]

I like it!

[@maybemags]

My mom's babysitter was actually one of the first to be murdered by the Manson family when she lived in El Monte so i think I should stray away from this book as it may be a little too close to home...

[@rosemannering]

I wasn't so keen on this book either - but actually, I found the writing really annoying. It felt like it was trying too hard and there were too many metaphors - also, what the heck was that framing narrative?! But I did enjoy the plot which kept me reading

[@ChapterStackss]

I completely agree about it trying too hard at times. Someone made a good point on goodreads along the lines of "no one needs to hear someone eating spaghetti poetically" haha

[@raykline7904]

Dark Places gave me anxiety, at the end I was happy to have finished it, but it still sticks out in my brain to this day. I think I'll wait till The Girls is out in paperback format. Thanks for the review!

[@grenbaygrl1]

Just finished this book, and I was happy to see one of my favorite booktubers had a review of it! I completely agree with your review of the book... sorta. I really enjoyed the writing style, I liked how the cult wasn't glamorized, and I agree that whether or not you enjoy the book completely hinges on whether or not you find the characters interesting. I personally really liked Evie as a character, and as a result I really enjoyed the book as a whole. Yes the book spends a lot of time talking about how insecure she is as a character, but I viewed the book as more or less being about how insecurity and the desire to belong can completely take over someone's life and drive even the most normal of people to do terrible things. While I really got into the book, I would definitely say to people if you're forty pages into it and not liking it so far, then it's probably not for you. Thanks for the video! Always fun to see how different people like a book :)

[@too_fond_of_books]

I read an ARC from Netgalley and I really liked it. I'm actually surprised that others didn't like it as much as me. Lol! I've always been fascinated by cult groups especially the Manson cult, so I didn't find this book to be slow at all. I think the writer did an excellent job of providing vivid snapshots of the time period. At the end of this book, I was left with the feeling that anyone can cross that line and do something horrific. It's human nature to get caught up in something and ignore the red flags.

[@Atram674]

I just finished reading it and what you say in your review completely describes my feeling towards this book. I felt no connection to any character and at times I had to take a breather because Evie was getting on my nerves...

[@Gary_M]

If you would like to read a good book about a girl in a cult, check out Inside the Outside by Martin Lastrapes. I think you might like it. I'm not sure about the new intro music. I think I prefer the old one, but maybe the new one will grow on me. :)

[@biiicks]

I read an arc of the girls a few months ago and I really liked it, but it's interesting to hear the reasons why you didn't. I agree that it was a bit repetitive at points, like you said with Evie's 14 year old insecurities, but that didn't bother me so much. The parts that I found frustrating were the present day/middle-aged Evie bits, I just found them a bit unnecessary, but other than that I enjoyed it a lot.

[@ChapterStackss]

See I actually enjoyed the present day sections! haha, but yes I could see how they felt a little unnecessary.

[@painfullyweird]

I was dissapointed too. I thought it would be more focused on the cult itself, or at least a little more scary (I don't know if that's weird to say, ahaha) instead it left me with a kinda "blah" feeling.

[@candycane513]

Omg...just finished this book and I literally agree with everything you said! I felt nooo connection with any of the characters

[@PeeweeM80]

I think you need to read The Crow Girl by Erik Axl Sund as it is very psychology focused and looks a lot at murder, abuse and mixed personalities. It's a seriously creepy Scandinavian thriller. Just seems like something you would enjoy.

[@AshleyZieman]

Your lasr intro was my favorit intro ever. And now I have to read this book because I have heard so many different opinions! :)

[@paulwinchell6904]

yes new music yes to not glamorizing Russell aka Charlie if you grew up in CA during that time it was inescapable and agreement on the language I think what Cline was going for was this could be anyone

[@ChapterStackss]

Glad you like the new music!

[@PoisonedLipgloss]

Have you seen Aquarius with David Duchoyny? I haven't heard anything about it but it supposed to be based on the Manson murders too

[@ljdavis9784]

Have you read Save Yourself by Kelly Braffett? From what you're saying about this book I think they bear some similarity to one another and I'd be really interested in your thoughts on it.

[@bookswithb2684]

I totally agree about the character, no one was interesting and I didn't have any connection. The entire time I was waiting for something, and waiting, then it happens, and it was dull. It's a shame I was so excited about this one, even before all of the hype. Oh well.

[@ChapterStackss]

Yea when "it" finally happens, I was also underwhelmed.

[@courtney1629]

I wish I'd watched your review before wasting my time with this book. The premise sounded so interesting but it was a big let down for me too. You hit the nail on the head with the characters jusy being uninteresting and not at all compelling. I stuck with it thinking the "action" would make it worth it, but unfortunately that was not the case.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Sigh. I'm a 1/3 of the way through this book now, and these are my exact feelings so far. I'm a little disappointed that none of those things change as the book goes on. I also expect to care about characters - or at the very least be gripped by characters - when I'm reading a character study.

[@ChapterStackss]

Well at least you're not alone in feeling that way 😅

[@colorfulruth4980]

Once I was done with the book, I realized that it was a coming of age story. After I had that epiphany, I actually liked the story more.

[@ChapterStackss]

I felt like she didn't change or grow very much though, but I'm glad you ended up liking it!

[@colorfulruth4980]

+ChapterStackss well, I agree on the not changing part, but maybe it is more like a transitioning of age story. Actually, I think it is more of a transition to middle age story/reflection on life rather than a coming of age to adulthood. I could go on, but it would provide spoilers and I don't want to spoil things especially on a no spoiler review video. I liked the book more so because it caused me to think and not because it was an uplifting story. It was definitely an uncomfortable read and only needs to be read once.

[@Amy-wc6jn]

I felt the same way about the book. I was really hoping for something to surprise me or stand out from just a "retelling" of a story I already know.

[@ChapterStackss]

Yea, it just felt as if there was so much more she could have done with the story :/

[@selfidolization]

The main reason I gave this book a low rating (aside from my many other small reasons) is because by the end when the murders are described I felt completely flat and disinterested and that is supposed to be the height of the book, which was really disappointing for me. I had really high hopes for this book :-:

[@pakigurl820]

Courtney Ferg omg exactly why I didn't like this book. The whole premise of the book were leading up to the murders and the murders were not interesting and it just made the ending so boring

[@cristinearcher1771]

Have you ever read Crime and Punishment? If you haven't, I think you would enjoy it! It's suspenseful and goes into the mind of a killer. Kinda the best of both worlds!

[@AshleyZieman]

Totally agree with this comment :)

[@Ezmeplumflower]

wanted to read this book, I'll end up checking it out at my library.

[@lindsayfabian]

i got about 100 pages into this one and kinda dumped it for another book haha, i did enjoy the writing too but i guess it wasn't enough for me to keep reading

[@ChapterStackss]

Yea, if you didn't like the first 100 pages, you probably wouldn't have liked the rest of the book anyway :/

[@nicolefoster7976]

Is there a character that's based on Dennis Wilson?

[@ChapterStackss]

I believe so, yes.

[@colorfulruth4980]

Yes there is.

[@jtferdon]

Hmm, chose this as my book of the month and now I have heard several reviews that make me want to skip. BTW, I recently listed to the podcast series about Charles Manson on You Must Remember This podcast. Worth checking out.

[@Katie-xe3uh]

I didn't really enjoy this novel either and agree with you 100%.

[@kimberlya7267]

this book is on my TBR for next month :). hoping it doesn't move to slow for me.

[@ChapterStackss]

I hope you like it!!

[@msbunnyears429]

You know, I'm a newer subscriber to your channel and have no knowledge on The Manson Murders, so I'm wondering if I would enjoy it?

[@ChapterStackss]

Oh I don't think knowing/not knowing anything about the Manson Murders would affect if you like the book. I was just making a joke that because I review a lot of creepy books, that my subscribers would probably know about serial killers haha...

[@msbunnyears429]

Oh okay! Well maybe I'll give it a shot anyways. But I am a little hesitant, I tend to agree with your opinion on some books.

[@ASoron0424]

Dafuq? I had no idea this had to do with the Manson murders. Kinda surprised that a book having to do with Manson would've gotten so popular. Also, the new music is great!

[@ChapterStackss]

See I think it got popular because it's based off the murders, but it unfortunately wasn't taken in a an interesting direction :/

[@GwendolynKensinger]

Felt the same way about The Girls. Glad I wasn't the only one :)

[@creativeliberties912]

Your review and Conrad's have been enough for me to say I'll probably pass on this one

[@ChapterStackss]

Oh I didn't realize he had one! I'll go watch that now.

[@creativeliberties912]

He does! And it is not as generous to Cline as yours haha

[@Beekeeper8011]

Creative Liberties who's Conrad and how can I watch his review?

[@creativeliberties912]

His channel name is 7 Days at Sea!

[@Beekeeper8011]

Creative Liberties Thank you. Unfortunately, it looks like he has removed his book review of the Girls :/

[@DontHaveaDegreeinReading]

In my first year of high school we had to give a speech in our English class. We were allowed to pick any topic. ANY TOPIC and I chose Charles Manson......what is wrong with me? LOLOLOL

[@ChapterStackss]

HAHAHAAH! That's amazing. We would have been friends in high school.

[@theflytrapdiaries]

Just discovered this channel. New sub.

[@marshmallow864]

This book really messed with me and sent me into a short book slump.

[@cringeykitteh2237]

I loved the book

[@brittabohlerthesecondshelf]

I think I disliked the book more than you did. The writing was way too pretentious for my taste and I didnt think the characters were believable (esp. the older Evie), too many tropes & stereotypes.

[@selfidolization]

Britta Böhler Agreed

[@sandyroberts1328]

I read it and didn't like it

[@ChapterStackss]

At least you're not the only one >_>