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Flawless Girls
The Soler sisters are infamous in polite society—brazen, rebellious, and raised by their fashionable grandmother who couldn’t care less about which fork goes where. But their grandmother also knows the standards that two Latina young ladies will be held to, so she secures them two coveted places at the Alarie House, a prominent finishing school that turns out first ladies, princesses, and socialites.
Younger sister Isla is back home within a day. She refuses to become one of the eerily sweet Alarie girls in their prim white dresses. Older sister Renata stays. When she returns months later, she’s unfailingly pleasant, unnervingly polite, and, Isla discovers, possibly murderous. And the same night she returns home, she vanishes.
As their grandmother uses every connection she has to find Renata, Isla re-enrolls, intent on finding out what happened to her sister. But the Alarie House is as exacting as it is opulent. It won’t give up its secrets easily, and neither will a mysterious, conniving girl who’s either controlling the house, or carrying out its deadly orders.
Tautly written, tense, and evocative, this is a stunning YA novel by award-winning and critically acclaimed author Anna-Marie McLemore.
Younger sister Isla is back home within a day. She refuses to become one of the eerily sweet Alarie girls in their prim white dresses. Older sister Renata stays. When she returns months later, she’s unfailingly pleasant, unnervingly polite, and, Isla discovers, possibly murderous. And the same night she returns home, she vanishes.
As their grandmother uses every connection she has to find Renata, Isla re-enrolls, intent on finding out what happened to her sister. But the Alarie House is as exacting as it is opulent. It won’t give up its secrets easily, and neither will a mysterious, conniving girl who’s either controlling the house, or carrying out its deadly orders.
Tautly written, tense, and evocative, this is a stunning YA novel by award-winning and critically acclaimed author Anna-Marie McLemore.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2024
38 people are currently reading
6223 people want to read
About the author
Anna-Marie McLemore
32 books3,503 followersAnna-Marie McLemore (they/them) is the author of William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist The Weight of Feathers; Wild Beauty; Blanca & Roja, one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Novels of All Time; Indie Next List title Dark and Deepest Red; Lakelore, an NECBA Windows & Mirrors title; and National Book Award longlist selections When the Moon Was Ours, which was also a Stonewall Honor Book; The Mirror Season; and Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix. Their latest release is Venom & Vow, co-authored with Elliott McLemore, and Flawless Girls will be released by from Feiwel & Friends in May 2028. Their adult debut, The Influencers, is forthcoming from Dial Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
December 26, 2023
The cover of Flawless Girls is simply FLAWLESS - Here, I have no notes. Immediately at first glance you’re drawn in - and after reading the book, I find it to be just another cherry on top with its irony of outside VS inside.
First, I loved the intersex representation in our main character and the author’s note at the end. You can tell how much care was put into that aspect of the book and that earned another star from me. Unfortunately, the rest of the book fell flat for me but I will definitely be looking at this author’s other works.
I guess I thought this was be more of a traditional mystery, but it seemed to lean more towards literary fiction with a foreboding mystical element - there were a plethora of metaphors and similes about gems or diamonds or other shiny things that just got old after a while. I also didn’t like how I had to sit through the entire book of metaphors for the author to flat out plainly explain the entire point of the metaphors at the end. Like..? But the chapters were short so I feel like I could get through the book really fast, and I was interested in the dynamic between the two sisters and the dynamic between Isla and a few girls she met at Alaric House. I feel like there was a lot going on in this book but it got lost in the delivery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillans for the e-arc in exchange for my hones opinion!
First, I loved the intersex representation in our main character and the author’s note at the end. You can tell how much care was put into that aspect of the book and that earned another star from me. Unfortunately, the rest of the book fell flat for me but I will definitely be looking at this author’s other works.
I guess I thought this was be more of a traditional mystery, but it seemed to lean more towards literary fiction with a foreboding mystical element - there were a plethora of metaphors and similes about gems or diamonds or other shiny things that just got old after a while. I also didn’t like how I had to sit through the entire book of metaphors for the author to flat out plainly explain the entire point of the metaphors at the end. Like..? But the chapters were short so I feel like I could get through the book really fast, and I was interested in the dynamic between the two sisters and the dynamic between Isla and a few girls she met at Alaric House. I feel like there was a lot going on in this book but it got lost in the delivery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillans for the e-arc in exchange for my hones opinion!
July 25, 2024
This book has more adjectives for gems then it did a plot
May 8, 2024
I was very excited to see what McLemore would do with a book that leans towards horror and I quite enjoyed it, even if it is a bit heavy-handed with the imagery and how that ties into the themes.
Flawless Girls follows two sisters who have always been close and a "matched set" so to speak. They are sent to a finishing school to hopefully polish their rough edges. Isla runs away on the first night, leaving her sister Renata behind. But when her sister graduates and returns home, she is not like herself in disturbing ways, and then she disappears. In an effort to understand what happened to her sister, Isla returns to the school and begins to go through this process herself...
I've seen people compare this to a fever dream, and it does kind of have that quality. It's horrific at times, but using metaphor to unpack assumptions of what it means to be a woman or what it requires. I love how it's dealing with intersex identities, as well as people born as girls who don't fit into expectations of femininity. It's engaging, disturbing, and ultimately satisfying. Though as I said, it does kind of hit you over the head with the imagery and related metaphors. It could have been a bit more subtle, but I liked it. Interested to see how people feel about this one! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Flawless Girls follows two sisters who have always been close and a "matched set" so to speak. They are sent to a finishing school to hopefully polish their rough edges. Isla runs away on the first night, leaving her sister Renata behind. But when her sister graduates and returns home, she is not like herself in disturbing ways, and then she disappears. In an effort to understand what happened to her sister, Isla returns to the school and begins to go through this process herself...
I've seen people compare this to a fever dream, and it does kind of have that quality. It's horrific at times, but using metaphor to unpack assumptions of what it means to be a woman or what it requires. I love how it's dealing with intersex identities, as well as people born as girls who don't fit into expectations of femininity. It's engaging, disturbing, and ultimately satisfying. Though as I said, it does kind of hit you over the head with the imagery and related metaphors. It could have been a bit more subtle, but I liked it. Interested to see how people feel about this one! I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
did-not-finish
September 27, 2024DND @ 38%
I can't do this anymore... This book is pointless, aimless, and 2deep4u, and I'm not about that life.
I can't do this anymore... This book is pointless, aimless, and 2deep4u, and I'm not about that life.
December 28, 2024
This turned out to be a much more thoughtful YA book than I expected, the description didn’t do it justice. It’s a coming-of-age magical realism thriller. This is a book that gets you to think about what it means to be feminine in society, what is deemed socially acceptable for your gender, being authentic to yourself, and what that all means when you don’t fit in.
I love the use of gemstones to convey how flaws are as beautiful, if not more so, than being flawless. Becoming flawless in society means to hide parts of yourself that are deemed socially unacceptable. To become whole, you must embrace your flaws.
*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.
I love the use of gemstones to convey how flaws are as beautiful, if not more so, than being flawless. Becoming flawless in society means to hide parts of yourself that are deemed socially unacceptable. To become whole, you must embrace your flaws.
*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.
March 9, 2024
2 Stars
I... think this book is an extended metaphor? This book is very difficult for me to rate, because in a lot of ways, it is immaculate. The writing is poetic, unsettling, evocative--and really, what more could you want than that? But at a certain point, I was left wanting answers, wanting something concrete to ground myself in as the story spun on, and I never got that necessary grounding. Poetic writing is only as good as the story it tells, and I think the story here could have been really good (I'm just not, ultimately, sure what the story is). I thought, in the opening chapters, that this book had the potential to be a masterpiece, but by the end, I was left feeling... just a little deflated, I guess. Take that how you will.
Anyway, I've got complicated feelings, and I'll write more on them in my full review, publishing April 12, 2024 at Gateway Reviews.
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
I... think this book is an extended metaphor? This book is very difficult for me to rate, because in a lot of ways, it is immaculate. The writing is poetic, unsettling, evocative--and really, what more could you want than that? But at a certain point, I was left wanting answers, wanting something concrete to ground myself in as the story spun on, and I never got that necessary grounding. Poetic writing is only as good as the story it tells, and I think the story here could have been really good (I'm just not, ultimately, sure what the story is). I thought, in the opening chapters, that this book had the potential to be a masterpiece, but by the end, I was left feeling... just a little deflated, I guess. Take that how you will.
Anyway, I've got complicated feelings, and I'll write more on them in my full review, publishing April 12, 2024 at Gateway Reviews.
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
December 20, 2024
one more simile about diamonds and i'm gonna end it all
3.25
3.25
November 24, 2023
A-M, you did it again. A great story about what, as women, we are forced to hide.
If you liked Ryan La Sala's The Honeys, definitely add this one to the top of your list!
If you liked Ryan La Sala's The Honeys, definitely add this one to the top of your list!
June 14, 2024
Not bad but I'll forget about it in about three hours, to be honest.
June 15, 2024
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: injury from fall, fire, prejudice against n intersex person
3.3
I'm a big fan of McLemore so I went into this fairly optimistic. However, a lot of Flawless Girls wound up feeling incredibly just okay.
I do think the concept of this book is great- I like putting a horror lens on things society says will "better" the people, specially the youths. An eerie finishing school, full of hidden chaos and secrets sounded like a winner, and the choice of viewing it through an intersex lead was so strong and interesting.
There's also a certain "Dorian Gray" vibe to the whole thing that pulled me in. Atmospherically, it hit its mark.
I have a note in my book that says "is AMM's special interest jewels because this is a lot about specific gems and faceting". In my real life, I love an info dump about something you're into- not so much in a story, nevermind one that's trying to be tense and creepy. It may not bother other people- it is thematic after all- but it was just... too much for me.
What it comes down to, for me, is that even with an interesting concept and a strong main character, this book just fell flat. Nothing, including her sister, the romance, or the horror elements, felt really expanded upon. Things sort of happen, there's imagery that, in theory, is freaky, and nothing to sink your teeth into. It just makes it feel very forgettable.
TW: injury from fall, fire, prejudice against n intersex person
3.3
I'm a big fan of McLemore so I went into this fairly optimistic. However, a lot of Flawless Girls wound up feeling incredibly just okay.
I do think the concept of this book is great- I like putting a horror lens on things society says will "better" the people, specially the youths. An eerie finishing school, full of hidden chaos and secrets sounded like a winner, and the choice of viewing it through an intersex lead was so strong and interesting.
There's also a certain "Dorian Gray" vibe to the whole thing that pulled me in. Atmospherically, it hit its mark.
I have a note in my book that says "is AMM's special interest jewels because this is a lot about specific gems and faceting". In my real life, I love an info dump about something you're into- not so much in a story, nevermind one that's trying to be tense and creepy. It may not bother other people- it is thematic after all- but it was just... too much for me.
What it comes down to, for me, is that even with an interesting concept and a strong main character, this book just fell flat. Nothing, including her sister, the romance, or the horror elements, felt really expanded upon. Things sort of happen, there's imagery that, in theory, is freaky, and nothing to sink your teeth into. It just makes it feel very forgettable.
July 24, 2024
(4.75) The Alarie House is set with thousands of polished stones, jewels placed into every surface. The Alarie House is full of girls who have no fear, who dance on the edges rooftops all night, and sit through etiquette classes all day. The Alarie House is built of walls made to hold secrets. The Alarie House is the same as it was when Isla Soler left years ago. It is the same as it was when Isla left her sister behind.
A thrilling allegory for the societal expectations of gender and femininity, Isla Soler takes herself back to the Alarie House to find out why her sister returned home a shadow of who she was—discovering how to save herself and the other Alarie Girls in the process.
This book was so well written, another great example of Anna-Marie McLemore’s absolute talent for writing realistic thrillers with mind-bending magic and powerful characters. I was lost in the maze of suspense that this book brings, completely unsure of what would happen next.
Read this book, and fall into the wonders and the horrors that fill the Alarie House, as numerous as the gems that its walls hold.
A thrilling allegory for the societal expectations of gender and femininity, Isla Soler takes herself back to the Alarie House to find out why her sister returned home a shadow of who she was—discovering how to save herself and the other Alarie Girls in the process.
This book was so well written, another great example of Anna-Marie McLemore’s absolute talent for writing realistic thrillers with mind-bending magic and powerful characters. I was lost in the maze of suspense that this book brings, completely unsure of what would happen next.
Read this book, and fall into the wonders and the horrors that fill the Alarie House, as numerous as the gems that its walls hold.
April 3, 2024
Flawless Girls by Anna-Marie McLemore is a bit of a thriller, a bit of a fever dream, a bit of a cautionary tale, and a whole lot of gender metaphor. In Flawless Girls, Isla attends the Alarie House girls’ finishing school to find out why the school changed her sister Renata into an emotionally and spiritually desiccated version of her former self.
The story is surreal and the writing is lush and gorgeous, with incredible imagery and deep exploration of what it means to be a girl. McLemore leaned in real hard to one particular metaphor, which I initially found clever but ultimately felt they over-explained. While this didn’t detract too much from my enjoyment of the story, I wish they had spent more of the book on interpersonal relationships and less of it explaining the metaphor.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
The story is surreal and the writing is lush and gorgeous, with incredible imagery and deep exploration of what it means to be a girl. McLemore leaned in real hard to one particular metaphor, which I initially found clever but ultimately felt they over-explained. While this didn’t detract too much from my enjoyment of the story, I wish they had spent more of the book on interpersonal relationships and less of it explaining the metaphor.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
November 10, 2024
As girls, we are taught to compartmentalize ourselves from a young age. To carry ourselves in a polite, ladylike way. But what happens when society girls are put through as much pressure as gemstones? When dividing themselves drives them to madness?
When sisters Isla and Renata are sent to the Alarie House, a prestigious finishing school for girls, Isla returns after just one day with a sickening feeling that something isn’t right there. Her sister’s letters urge her to come back, describing how wondrous it is, but when Renata returns and comes home, she seems….wrong. That very same night, Isla decides to return to Alarie House after Renata disappears, determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. What happened there? What changed her sister into a stranger?
This book was equal parts confusing and alluring. I’ve seen it described as a horror, but I feel like it’s more of a mystery at its core than anything, except for the countless screaming scenes. Still a good read, but I found myself slightly disappointed!
When sisters Isla and Renata are sent to the Alarie House, a prestigious finishing school for girls, Isla returns after just one day with a sickening feeling that something isn’t right there. Her sister’s letters urge her to come back, describing how wondrous it is, but when Renata returns and comes home, she seems….wrong. That very same night, Isla decides to return to Alarie House after Renata disappears, determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. What happened there? What changed her sister into a stranger?
This book was equal parts confusing and alluring. I’ve seen it described as a horror, but I feel like it’s more of a mystery at its core than anything, except for the countless screaming scenes. Still a good read, but I found myself slightly disappointed!
April 25, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
While this was an interesting premise, it didn’t hit all the points for me. I liked the metaphors and messages. I liked how the point was that not every girl is the same and there isn’t a perfect way to be a girl and you can’t create one. Isla and Paz were interesting as our rebel girls and I liked their characters. After the diamonds and jewels and gold for introduced to the story I was so confused. Like what did that even mean?
The cover is eye catching and I really want to read more Anna-Marie Mclemore because their stories seem so interesting. I just can’t find ones that I’m heavily invested it.
While this was an interesting premise, it didn’t hit all the points for me. I liked the metaphors and messages. I liked how the point was that not every girl is the same and there isn’t a perfect way to be a girl and you can’t create one. Isla and Paz were interesting as our rebel girls and I liked their characters. After the diamonds and jewels and gold for introduced to the story I was so confused. Like what did that even mean?
The cover is eye catching and I really want to read more Anna-Marie Mclemore because their stories seem so interesting. I just can’t find ones that I’m heavily invested it.
July 24, 2025
Mini blurb: An intersex teen rejoins the refinement school she once fled in hope to get answers about her sister who graduated there, but she winds up entangled in a web of further questions and mysteries, and will have to decide what kind of girl she wants to be.
***
Luscious, evocative (though the gemstone metaphor gets a bit too heavy-handed at times), surreal yet painfully rooted in reality (despite the story being clearly set in an undefined past, the discourse on femininity is, alas, timeless), loaded with beautiful, yet unsettling imagery, Flawless Girls is part mystery, part modern fable, part coming-of-age narrative, part sibling relationship exploration, all around fever dream. It's not as much a "plot" book as it is a "vibes" book, so if you need a little more meat in your reading, you'll probably be disappointed. But the intersex rep and the social commentary about the female experience/gender expectations are spot-on, as is the gem symbolism. If you're a fan of Nova Ren Suma (especially A Room Away from the Wolves), by any means pick this one up.
Note: as a rule, I review every book that I rate 4 stars and above in full, unless it's a novella or an anthology. But since this is a book that mostly relies on atmosphere, it felt easy to summarise its contents (and my opinions) in a few sentences, so I took the mini-review route.
***
Luscious, evocative (though the gemstone metaphor gets a bit too heavy-handed at times), surreal yet painfully rooted in reality (despite the story being clearly set in an undefined past, the discourse on femininity is, alas, timeless), loaded with beautiful, yet unsettling imagery, Flawless Girls is part mystery, part modern fable, part coming-of-age narrative, part sibling relationship exploration, all around fever dream. It's not as much a "plot" book as it is a "vibes" book, so if you need a little more meat in your reading, you'll probably be disappointed. But the intersex rep and the social commentary about the female experience/gender expectations are spot-on, as is the gem symbolism. If you're a fan of Nova Ren Suma (especially A Room Away from the Wolves), by any means pick this one up.
Note: as a rule, I review every book that I rate 4 stars and above in full, unless it's a novella or an anthology. But since this is a book that mostly relies on atmosphere, it felt easy to summarise its contents (and my opinions) in a few sentences, so I took the mini-review route.
September 8, 2024
This is a book I would have written at 15 and thought was the most revolutionary piece of literature that ever was. Stupidly heavy-handed but too illogical to be of value.
January 3, 2025
I thought this book was pretty good. I found the narrative a bit confusing, but the characters were well developed and I loved the intrigue going on in the ladie's finishing school.
It was difficult for me to determine where the action was actually taking place. They talked about latina girls, but didn't mention anywhere in South America so I'm not sure if it takes place in a real location or not. The secrets going on in the school appear to be supernatural or paranormal in nature, at least the way I was interpreting the story.
I did really appreciate the relationship between the two sisters, Isla and Renata. Renata seemed to be fully taken in by the school, and returns home different, and strange. Isla returns to the school after leaving it behind to try and figure out what happened to her sister.
I listened to some of this book in audible format as well. The narration was excellent and I would recommend listening to other books by that narrator. I liked the book too, so I will try another book by this author.
I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.
It was difficult for me to determine where the action was actually taking place. They talked about latina girls, but didn't mention anywhere in South America so I'm not sure if it takes place in a real location or not. The secrets going on in the school appear to be supernatural or paranormal in nature, at least the way I was interpreting the story.
I did really appreciate the relationship between the two sisters, Isla and Renata. Renata seemed to be fully taken in by the school, and returns home different, and strange. Isla returns to the school after leaving it behind to try and figure out what happened to her sister.
I listened to some of this book in audible format as well. The narration was excellent and I would recommend listening to other books by that narrator. I liked the book too, so I will try another book by this author.
I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.
August 9, 2024
3.5 stars
I enjoy the way McLemore writes so poetically, they create some beautiful and vivid images and bring me into the story fully. This was so easy to fall into and I immediately needed to know more about what was going on in the finishing school.
For a while, I wasn't sure exactly what was going on. Is this a spell or curse? Is someone controlling the girls? I wanted to know and powered through this to find out, and ended up not really loving the answer. Also, I still don't see how it fits completely and have a couple questions.
I thought the setting was kind of ambiguous as well, so I couldn't tell how far in the past everything was. I understand the author wanting this to be a bit open to interpretation, but a bit more world building might have helped.
This was intriguing for sure and I may re-read one day to really pay attention to all the metaphors and gem descriptions closer.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for the copy.
I enjoy the way McLemore writes so poetically, they create some beautiful and vivid images and bring me into the story fully. This was so easy to fall into and I immediately needed to know more about what was going on in the finishing school.
For a while, I wasn't sure exactly what was going on. Is this a spell or curse? Is someone controlling the girls? I wanted to know and powered through this to find out, and ended up not really loving the answer. Also, I still don't see how it fits completely and have a couple questions.
I thought the setting was kind of ambiguous as well, so I couldn't tell how far in the past everything was. I understand the author wanting this to be a bit open to interpretation, but a bit more world building might have helped.
This was intriguing for sure and I may re-read one day to really pay attention to all the metaphors and gem descriptions closer.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for the copy.
August 30, 2024
This is just creepy enough to feel like horror without going all-out. It still feels like McLemore's familiar magical realism but with the horror aspects dialed up. The atmosphere and writing and vibes are immaculate. The plot is a little confusing still, but it was an immersive read and I had trouble putting it down, even if I wasn't sure what was happening for the last quarter.
I LOVED the commentary throughout on what it means to be a perfect girl and what striving for that does to someone and how that was tied together in the end. Having Isla, an intersex girl, as POV character and Bas, a lesbian, as love interest, eternally perplexed by the other girls' - including her beloved sister's - drive for perfection really helped sell the themes.
The audiobook was well narrated and enhanced the reading experience.
*Thanks to Feiwel and Friends for providing an early copy for review.
I LOVED the commentary throughout on what it means to be a perfect girl and what striving for that does to someone and how that was tied together in the end. Having Isla, an intersex girl, as POV character and Bas, a lesbian, as love interest, eternally perplexed by the other girls' - including her beloved sister's - drive for perfection really helped sell the themes.
The audiobook was well narrated and enhanced the reading experience.
*Thanks to Feiwel and Friends for providing an early copy for review.
May 29, 2024
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Flawless Girls follows the Soler sisters, whose experiences at the mysterious Alarie House finishing school draws them into a twisty mystery.
Anna-Marie McLemore's latest is a mystical literary venture that, for me, was so much more about vibes than anything else. The book examines womanhood and femininity in some really interesting and engaging ways, and though its metaphors can be heavy-handed at times, I did find this approach incredibly thought-provoking. McLemore always breaks down gender in interesting, nuanced ways, and I feel like that skill is on full display in Flawless Girls. This, combined with the overall brief length of the book, made for a quick read which, though flawed, will be one I think back on frequently.
Flawless Girls follows the Soler sisters, whose experiences at the mysterious Alarie House finishing school draws them into a twisty mystery.
Anna-Marie McLemore's latest is a mystical literary venture that, for me, was so much more about vibes than anything else. The book examines womanhood and femininity in some really interesting and engaging ways, and though its metaphors can be heavy-handed at times, I did find this approach incredibly thought-provoking. McLemore always breaks down gender in interesting, nuanced ways, and I feel like that skill is on full display in Flawless Girls. This, combined with the overall brief length of the book, made for a quick read which, though flawed, will be one I think back on frequently.
June 10, 2024
I struggle with Anna-Marie McLemore's books bc like, they are such a beautiful writer and their prose is always so lovely, but the magical realism just doesn't like, hit for me ? Like I just can't wrap my head around like what...exactly....is happening????
I felt like with this book I came closer than usual to understanding it. The gems are a great metaphor.
Anyway 5 stars for having a cool character named Renata who is beloved by all 😌
I felt like with this book I came closer than usual to understanding it. The gems are a great metaphor.
Anyway 5 stars for having a cool character named Renata who is beloved by all 😌
February 28, 2025
3.5 rounded up
June 29, 2024
McLemore’s writing is excellent, excellent but this is too short and it doesn’t land quite as it would were the story longer and more fleshed out. Too bad because Soler sisters are a delight
February 8, 2024
gorgeously tense horrormance which, however, does require a decent chunk of suspension of disbelief. tysm for the ARC!
May 23, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me an early review copy!
While a departure from McLemore's usual style, it is full of their themes. Flawless Girls is the tale of Isla, a seventeen year old who is a little difficult. When she and her sister Renata are originally sent to the Alarie House, Isla doesn't make it a night before escaping, but Renata finishes her term and comes home, very much different from the sister Isla knows.
It's during Renata's return, while Isla is trying to recreate a prank the sisters pulled, that Renata snaps and flees their grandma's house. In an effort to understand exactly what she saw when Renata almost attacked her, Isla returns to Alarie House.
This felt way more creepy than McLemore's usual books, and as above, the prose wasn't as purple as they usually deliver (which I LOVE, McLemore is one of my favorite current writers), but the themes were the same. In fact in the author's note at the end, McLemore talks about how Isla would have access to more information today to understand her body more, but how McLemore also used their experience growing up to temper Isla's.
I really enjoyed the symbolism, and it did take me a second to catch onto the gems being everywhere and how that impacted the girls finishing at the House. When the Alarie sisters were explaining the gems, it was actually an apt and still accurate metaphor for how society wants most women to behave.
This was so beautiful and full of so many memorable characters, but I'm also so glad McLemore wrote this book with these themes!
While a departure from McLemore's usual style, it is full of their themes. Flawless Girls is the tale of Isla, a seventeen year old who is a little difficult. When she and her sister Renata are originally sent to the Alarie House, Isla doesn't make it a night before escaping, but Renata finishes her term and comes home, very much different from the sister Isla knows.
It's during Renata's return, while Isla is trying to recreate a prank the sisters pulled, that Renata snaps and flees their grandma's house. In an effort to understand exactly what she saw when Renata almost attacked her, Isla returns to Alarie House.
This felt way more creepy than McLemore's usual books, and as above, the prose wasn't as purple as they usually deliver (which I LOVE, McLemore is one of my favorite current writers), but the themes were the same. In fact in the author's note at the end, McLemore talks about how Isla would have access to more information today to understand her body more, but how McLemore also used their experience growing up to temper Isla's.
I really enjoyed the symbolism, and it did take me a second to catch onto the gems being everywhere and how that impacted the girls finishing at the House. When the Alarie sisters were explaining the gems, it was actually an apt and still accurate metaphor for how society wants most women to behave.
This was so beautiful and full of so many memorable characters, but I'm also so glad McLemore wrote this book with these themes!
January 29, 2024
I really liked the writing, and I thought that it was really entertaining to read, but if I tried to think about anything beyond the events of the book, including the time period in which the book took place, a lot of the book tended to fall apart. It’s also pretty hard to tell whether the events are meant to be metaphorical or real, as there are an excess of gem metaphors, but a lot of real gems in the book as well.
The intersex representation was really great though, it’s very rare to see that in historical fiction or fantasy.
The intersex representation was really great though, it’s very rare to see that in historical fiction or fantasy.
March 1, 2024
“Girls knew how to wound quietly, without anyone noticing.”
“Flawless Girls,” by Anna-Marie McLemore
This book was very strange, not bad, just very strange. The entire book I was just thinking that these girls are high the entire time. It is a very poetic sort of book about looking beyond the top layers on yourself and society sort of book. It was marketed as a horror romance YA book, but I would not say it romance at all, at least not enough for it to be one of its genre’s. The horror aspect is more psychological than spooky horror. 3 out of 5 stars.
Thank you for the ARC.
“Flawless Girls,” by Anna-Marie McLemore
This book was very strange, not bad, just very strange. The entire book I was just thinking that these girls are high the entire time. It is a very poetic sort of book about looking beyond the top layers on yourself and society sort of book. It was marketed as a horror romance YA book, but I would not say it romance at all, at least not enough for it to be one of its genre’s. The horror aspect is more psychological than spooky horror. 3 out of 5 stars.
Thank you for the ARC.
June 16, 2024
I liked the parts that made sense to me ¯\_(..)_/¯
February 1, 2025
Not sure how I feel about this one. I liked the messaging and the representation, but it just didn't hit the way I was expecting. I think I just wasn't the intended audience. There is nothing subtle about this book. It is very heavy handed with its messaging. From the metaphor to the monologues. This is a YA book and I think I would have enjoyed it more if I were a preteen or teenager. But as an adult, the messaging is just a bit too on the nose for me to ever truly get engaged.
As for the characters, I thought they were fine. I was surprised by Isla's lack of subtlety while trying to discover the secrets of Alaries House. Did not expect her to just walk up to people and ask them "what's wrong with this place?" But again, that's just a common factor of this book. It is very direct and to the point in the way it handles the plot and messaging. But I did appreciate the intersex representation. Anna-Marie does a great job of showing how Isla feels like she can never be "feminine enough."
I also appreciated the inclusion of lesbian characters and lesbian relationship, as it fit in well with the themes of being "feminine enough," but the relationship just kind of fell flat for me. Isla and Paz don't really interact that much in the story and for most of their interactions Isla either has no interest in, or actively dislikes, Paz. Oh well though, even though the relationship wasn't developed it wasn't bad, just kind of bland.
Despite my rating, I don't think this book was bad. I feel like I am just the wrong audience for it.
As for the characters, I thought they were fine. I was surprised by Isla's lack of subtlety while trying to discover the secrets of Alaries House. Did not expect her to just walk up to people and ask them "what's wrong with this place?" But again, that's just a common factor of this book. It is very direct and to the point in the way it handles the plot and messaging. But I did appreciate the intersex representation. Anna-Marie does a great job of showing how Isla feels like she can never be "feminine enough."
I also appreciated the inclusion of lesbian characters and lesbian relationship, as it fit in well with the themes of being "feminine enough," but the relationship just kind of fell flat for me. Isla and Paz don't really interact that much in the story and for most of their interactions Isla either has no interest in, or actively dislikes, Paz. Oh well though, even though the relationship wasn't developed it wasn't bad, just kind of bland.
Despite my rating, I don't think this book was bad. I feel like I am just the wrong audience for it.
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August 14, 2024This book reminded me of the experience that I’ve had while reading books by Mona Awad, in the way that it felt like a fever dream and I can never recount what happened while reading the story. At the very beginning of the book, the Soler sisters attend this Alarie finishing school because of the respect that it will give them from others in society. (Essentially.) Things go south in the middle of the night for Isla Soler, so she dips—meanwhile, Renata Soler finishes out her time at the school/house. However, when Renata comes back home, something is different about her.
This description is what drew me in to the book. However, after giving it a good try, I couldn’t do it anymore. 😭 I’ve been thinking that I’m just not smart enough for this type of novel, but I’d be surprised if anyone truly understands this.
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Anna-Marie McLemore for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
This description is what drew me in to the book. However, after giving it a good try, I couldn’t do it anymore. 😭 I’ve been thinking that I’m just not smart enough for this type of novel, but I’d be surprised if anyone truly understands this.
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Anna-Marie McLemore for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
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