Wilder Girls

Let’s talk about Wilder Girls by Rory Powers. To put it simply, it wasn’t my favorite book of the year. I’m a little bummed, because I was really looking forward to it? But, such is life! I’ll be keeping this fairly short, but here are a few of my thoughts on the book.

First off, I had a hard time following the plot. I don’t always mind that, since confusion can add a lot to a story, but everything twisted just a few too many times. I have to say, though, that with the constant changing and confusion, it was a fairly quick read. Just… instead of proper investment where I was sitting on the edge of my seat, needing to know more, I felt more of a passive investment. I needed to finish the book because I had questions, but I didn’t particularly care how things ended.

Another thing I struggled with was the main character, Hetty. I don’t think she bothered me, but I certainly didn’t connect with her on any level. Except maybe, just maybe, one scene about a third of the way through the book where she completely misunderstands Reese’s motives. I guess in that moment, I actually connected with her on a small level. But that was it.

Reese, out of everyone, was the person I kinda connected to? But even she seemed too… empty. I don’t know. I just wanted more from the characters—less violence and more critical thought and emotion—but I didn’t get it. I think that may have been the point of the book, but it just didn’t sit with me.

Everything felt a bit like exposition to me, too. Like, we would just be getting into the roots of the story, then we were pushed back into the past. Be careful around exposition, folks! It can make or break the reader’s opinion on the book!

Okay. Last thing. While I wasn’t sure why the POV switched to another character a couple of times (it felt like a cheap way to round out the story), I absolutely LOVE a good unreliable narrator. I feel like I could have read an entire book, not just read supplemental chapters, from that secondary POV. I have to say, those random sections were probably my favorite of the book.

I don’t know. I didn’t hate the book, but I didn’t particularly like it either. There were few redeeming qualities. Do I regret reading it? Definitely not! Will I read it again? Nah… I don’t feel the need.Have you read the book? What were your thoughts? Please let me know! I want to hear what other people thought about Wilder Girls!

Wilder Girls by Rory Power

The Legendary Shiver (my next read) by J.H. MacAl