Review: Girls with Sharp Sticks, Suzanne Young

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Girls with Sharp Sticks (Girls with Sharp Sticks, #1) by Suzanne Young
Published by Simon Pulse on March 19, 2019
Genres: young adult, dystopia, thriller, mystery
Format: Paperback
Buy on Amazon, Book Depository, Wordery, Barnes & Noble, Publisher, Bookshop
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The Girls of Innovations Academy are beautiful and well-behaved—it says so on their report cards. Under the watchful gaze of their Guardians, the all-girl boarding school offers an array of studies and activities, from “Growing a Beautiful and Prosperous Garden” to “Art Appreciation” and “Interior Design.” The girls learn to be the best society has to offer. Absent is the difficult math coursework, or the unnecessary sciences or current events. They are obedient young ladies, free from arrogance or defiance. Until Mena starts to realize that their carefully controlled existence may not be quite as it appears.
As Mena and her friends begin to uncover the dark secrets of what’s actually happening there—and who they really are—the girls of Innovations will find out what they are truly capable of. Because some of the prettiest flowers have the sharpest thorns.

☂️ TRIGGER WARNINGS:

physical and emotional abuse, murder, graphic violence, misogyny, body shaming, victim shaming, assault, mentions of infertility, PTSD, ableism.

There are no spoilers in this review.

I ENJOYED…

☂️

• Girls with Sharp Sticks had been sitting on my TBR for a long time. It’s one of these books I believed I could L O V E, like, really love and, damn. Right from the first page, I was obsessed.
• This is a bold, empowering and infuriating book all at once. In this story, we follow Philomenia and other girls attending a very prestigious, but also very mysterious boarding school. They’re taught to be kind and respectful and just overall, to be good women…. by men.
• I loved the world and setting of this book SO much as well. The creepy boarding school in the woods that no one knows about, the classes, the way the teachers teach and the aura of mystery and unease surrounding it all, I just couldn’t stop asking myself SO MANY QUESTIONS.
• Right from the start, I just couldn’t stop thinking about this book or put the book down. It was rightly paced, gripping and addictive and I just needed to know what would happen next. The twists and turns and events happening had me gasping and I just loved it SO damn much.
• This book is carried by a wonderful cast of characters and Philomenia, the main character, goes through a tremendous growth. I loved seeing her change as the story goes on, realizing little by little what really is happening and just taking charge, growing so strong and determined. I rooted for her so much and just wanted her to be okay.
• I also adored the cast of classmates and friends surrounding Philomenia. GO for female friendships!!! I loved how close they were to each other, how protective of each other they were, too and, most of it all, I loved how much they loved each other. Their bond made me so happy to read, really.

OVERALL

☂️

Girls with Sharp Sticks is a new favorite of mine and I just can’t STOP thinking about it. I can’t wait to read its sequel. If you’re looking for a book you won’t be able to put down, with incredible female friendships taking down the world and ughh just so good, READ THIS.

FINAL RATING : It’s a hurricane!

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Did you read Girls with Sharp Sticks or do you want to? What was your latest favorite read? Let me know in comments!

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