Val was my favourite character. She was morally grey, but once she found a real connection to Marion she mustered the courage and became fierce. I loved her character development, how she evolved from merely existing in the reality she lived, to becoming a force to be reckoned with. Her story was tragic, you could not help but feel pity for her, but also a sort of disgust toward her ability to allow certain things to happen. Her family bred her to be who she is, but could she also prevent herself? An interesting look at the power of familial obligation, of blind obedience, of the power of fear and the amount of courage it takes to break away from what you have been raised to believe. Such a well written, well rounded character. She is flawed, but she is trying to be better in order to deserve love and friendship. Zoey was the toughest of the bunch, but she was also the funniest. I loved all of her pop culture references; she also wants to be a writer, so she won my heart. Her story is so complex, since she is suffering both the loss of her best friend and the loss of her boyfriend (who she broke up with for reasons to do with her own sexuality). Zoey's story is a really great look at someone outside of what society would consider "normal" in terms of sexual preference. I think it is handled so well that it makes for a great learning point for readers or conversation starter for those who feel the same way. Her ex-boyfriend, Grayson, was also a fantastic character. He broke down all stereotypes regarding popular, strong men. He cleaned, baked, cooked, knew latin and loved Zoey, even with her issues regarding sex. Marion seemed at first to be the weakest of the three girls, but you soon find out that she is their grounding force, their stability, and the reason they can forge a powerful connection. Hers is a story of sadness, but one that she must overcome in order to move on to a possible future. She continuously feels like an anchor for her mother and sister, trapped by their need of her in their own sadness. She feels guilty of wanting space and freedom. Marion is strong, passionate, compassionate and powerful. She is able to see past evil motives and push for alternate answers. While I wept for her pain, I also cheered for her triumph. This book broke gender stereotypes, contained diverse characters, pushed past pre-conceived notions of sexuality, and delved into what it means to be a women in a world run by the word and actions of men. Having three different female narrators added to the continued learning and changing and shaping of the novel. It helped to know what each of the girls were thinking, how they each were progressing and how they all came to terms with their own inner power. I also enjoyed the asides by The Rock, the world coming to life and urging the girls to help. Those asides were the most poetic of an already metaphoric and imagery heavy narrative. The "Collector" was chilling and has me gagging several times, even now I cringe thinking of what those poor lost girls went through. However, the power of these three reluctant girls was a celebration of the power that comes from women working together, holding each other up, pushing boundaries and breaking glass ceilings. When men would have them tear each other apart, these girls looked past their anger, their hate and banded together. This has been my favourite book of 2019, such a profoundly amazing, creepy and beautiful read. I recommend it to everyone!
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