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Trouble Girls
A queer YA #MeToo reimagining of Thelma & Louise with the aesthetic of Riverdale, for fans of Mindy McGinnis, Courtney Summers, and Rory Power.
When Trixie picks up her best friend Lux for their weekend getaway, she’s looking to escape for a little while, to forget the despair of being trapped in their dead-end Rust Belt town and the daunting responsibility of caring for her ailing mother. The girls are packing light: a supply of Diet Coke for Lux and her ‘89 Canon to help her frame the world in a sunnier light; half a pack of cigarettes for Trixie that she doesn’t really smoke, and a knife—one she’s just hanging on to for a friend—that she’s never used before.
But a single night of violence derails their trip and will forever change the course of the girls’ lives, as they go from ordinary high schoolers to wanted fugitives. Trying to stay ahead of the cops and a hellscape of media attention, the girls grapple with an unforgiving landscape, rapidly diminishing supplies, and disastrous decisions at every turn. As they are transformed by the media into the face of a #MeToo movement they didn’t ask to lead and the road before them begins to run out, Trixie and Lux realize that they can only rely on each other, and that the love they find together is the one thing that truly makes them free.
In rushing, powerful prose Julia Lynn Rubin takes readers on “a blistering, unapologetic thrill ride” (Emma Berquis) that will leave them haunted and reeling. Trouble Girls is “a powerful, beautifully-written gut punch” (Sophie Gonzales).
When Trixie picks up her best friend Lux for their weekend getaway, she’s looking to escape for a little while, to forget the despair of being trapped in their dead-end Rust Belt town and the daunting responsibility of caring for her ailing mother. The girls are packing light: a supply of Diet Coke for Lux and her ‘89 Canon to help her frame the world in a sunnier light; half a pack of cigarettes for Trixie that she doesn’t really smoke, and a knife—one she’s just hanging on to for a friend—that she’s never used before.
But a single night of violence derails their trip and will forever change the course of the girls’ lives, as they go from ordinary high schoolers to wanted fugitives. Trying to stay ahead of the cops and a hellscape of media attention, the girls grapple with an unforgiving landscape, rapidly diminishing supplies, and disastrous decisions at every turn. As they are transformed by the media into the face of a #MeToo movement they didn’t ask to lead and the road before them begins to run out, Trixie and Lux realize that they can only rely on each other, and that the love they find together is the one thing that truly makes them free.
In rushing, powerful prose Julia Lynn Rubin takes readers on “a blistering, unapologetic thrill ride” (Emma Berquis) that will leave them haunted and reeling. Trouble Girls is “a powerful, beautifully-written gut punch” (Sophie Gonzales).
272 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2021
51 people are currently reading
11124 people want to read
About the author
Julia Lynn Rubin
3 books179 followersJulia Lynn Rubin lives the writer's life in Brooklyn. She earned an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults at The New School in 2017, and for three years, served as a writing mentor for Girls Write Now, New York City's premiere writing program for high school girls.
Julia has been writing books, poems, and stories since first grade, and loves reading about everything from film analysis to psychology. Her short stories have appeared in publications such as the North American Review, Sierra Nevada Review, and The Lascaux Review, and she writes for a variety of online publications, including BuzzFeed, Penguin Random House (GetUnderlined.com), and Road2College.com, among others.
Julia is passionate about realism and diversity in teen literature. She hopes to one day own a French bulldog, pug, Boston terrier, or perhaps a mix of all three. She loves indie films, drag shows, and spending as much time as possible at the beach.
Julia has been writing books, poems, and stories since first grade, and loves reading about everything from film analysis to psychology. Her short stories have appeared in publications such as the North American Review, Sierra Nevada Review, and The Lascaux Review, and she writes for a variety of online publications, including BuzzFeed, Penguin Random House (GetUnderlined.com), and Road2College.com, among others.
Julia is passionate about realism and diversity in teen literature. She hopes to one day own a French bulldog, pug, Boston terrier, or perhaps a mix of all three. She loves indie films, drag shows, and spending as much time as possible at the beach.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 365 reviews
May 5, 2022
Trouble Girls is a beautifully written thrill ride, taking readers through emotional turmoil, high stakes and grunge aesthetic. Rubin sensitively explores rape culture and victim blaming through two teenage girls unfortunately all too familiar with a system that protects abusers and denies their victims justice. With an intense relationship, vivid imagery and girls fighting back, Trouble Girls will leave you breathless.
I really enjoyed this book! For me, Trouble Girls’ main strength lies in its writing. Rubin effortlessly conveys the cynical tone and character of our narrator, Trixie, a girl from small town West Virginia with a tough home life through simple, casual prose and sharp descriptions. The aesthetic and the atmosphere of the book was one of my favourite parts, though I’m not too sure how to describe it. The synopsis calls it the ‘aesthetic of Riverdale’ which I read as existing in this inbetween space of vintage aesthetic infused with modern vibrancy and pop culture. It has this blistering, run down and forgotten vibe that feels almost like falling into a dream scape at times, complemented by sharp writing and characters and the piercing urgency of conversations surrounding sexual assault. I think this line from the books most aptly describes it:
Something else I enjoyed about this book was that the characters were unapologetically messy. They’re just a couple of teenagers thrown into a situation no one is ever prepared for and they make a lot of questionable decisions and mistakes but the reader always understands their reasoning. There’s also a palpable anxiety to everything that sets you on edge and helps you feel even a fraction of what they’re feeling and connect with them. I also thought that the conversations surrounding misogyny, rape culture and homophobia were handled really sensitively and enjoyed this aspect. The horrors of what’s portrayed and discussed is well offset by the girls’ reaction and narrative of fighting back. I also really enjoyed the romance between the two main characters and the development of their relationship from best friends with what felt like a lot of dependency on Trixie’s part, to just as intense but more independent of each other and capable of standing on their own together. I also really appreciated the sex positivity of their relationship and the soft moments the two of them shared, which really offset the harshness of the rest of the story.
However, I would say that this relationship and Lux’s character could have done with some more development. In particular, I loved the concept of deconstructing the idea of a Manic Pixie Dreamgirl character through Lux, but felt that not enough was done to develop her character to make this effective. Additionally, I wouldn’t say this book dragged exactly, but I would say that the momentum was really inconsistent and there were times where it got lost. I think this also impacted the ending, in that there just wasn’t the same intensity or drive and it fell flat. This was coupled with a lack of resolution that honestly soured my experience after really loving the majority of the book.
For me, Trouble Girls was much like the sweets Trixie and Lux delight in: great while you’re reading it but leaves you feeling kind of empty afterwards. The more I reflect on this book, the less I can say it has stuck with me, despite how much I enjoyed reading it. However, much like sweets, it was an enjoyable experience and had me hooked right from the beginning with gorgeous writing. Despite my issues I did overall love Trouble Girls for its messy characters, killer aesthetic and narrative of fighting the fuck back and challenging rape culture.
I also talk about books here: youtube | instagram | twitter
*eARC received in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley*
I really enjoyed this book! For me, Trouble Girls’ main strength lies in its writing. Rubin effortlessly conveys the cynical tone and character of our narrator, Trixie, a girl from small town West Virginia with a tough home life through simple, casual prose and sharp descriptions. The aesthetic and the atmosphere of the book was one of my favourite parts, though I’m not too sure how to describe it. The synopsis calls it the ‘aesthetic of Riverdale’ which I read as existing in this inbetween space of vintage aesthetic infused with modern vibrancy and pop culture. It has this blistering, run down and forgotten vibe that feels almost like falling into a dream scape at times, complemented by sharp writing and characters and the piercing urgency of conversations surrounding sexual assault. I think this line from the books most aptly describes it:
"This is purgatory played to a soundtrack of pop music"
Something else I enjoyed about this book was that the characters were unapologetically messy. They’re just a couple of teenagers thrown into a situation no one is ever prepared for and they make a lot of questionable decisions and mistakes but the reader always understands their reasoning. There’s also a palpable anxiety to everything that sets you on edge and helps you feel even a fraction of what they’re feeling and connect with them. I also thought that the conversations surrounding misogyny, rape culture and homophobia were handled really sensitively and enjoyed this aspect. The horrors of what’s portrayed and discussed is well offset by the girls’ reaction and narrative of fighting back. I also really enjoyed the romance between the two main characters and the development of their relationship from best friends with what felt like a lot of dependency on Trixie’s part, to just as intense but more independent of each other and capable of standing on their own together. I also really appreciated the sex positivity of their relationship and the soft moments the two of them shared, which really offset the harshness of the rest of the story.
However, I would say that this relationship and Lux’s character could have done with some more development. In particular, I loved the concept of deconstructing the idea of a Manic Pixie Dreamgirl character through Lux, but felt that not enough was done to develop her character to make this effective. Additionally, I wouldn’t say this book dragged exactly, but I would say that the momentum was really inconsistent and there were times where it got lost. I think this also impacted the ending, in that there just wasn’t the same intensity or drive and it fell flat. This was coupled with a lack of resolution that honestly soured my experience after really loving the majority of the book.
For me, Trouble Girls was much like the sweets Trixie and Lux delight in: great while you’re reading it but leaves you feeling kind of empty afterwards. The more I reflect on this book, the less I can say it has stuck with me, despite how much I enjoyed reading it. However, much like sweets, it was an enjoyable experience and had me hooked right from the beginning with gorgeous writing. Despite my issues I did overall love Trouble Girls for its messy characters, killer aesthetic and narrative of fighting the fuck back and challenging rape culture.
I also talk about books here: youtube | instagram | twitter
*eARC received in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley*
November 28, 2020
"Shit like this is why I trust no man. You can’t ever tell who’s a hog or not just by looking at their face. Better to assume they all are."
This was such a thrilling read. It's the kind of book that make you feel you are a part of it.
I loved the plot, it's scary how relevant and appropriate this book is for our time. The real strength of the book lies in it's characters. I love how genuinely authentic they were. I truly felt the character's emotions. Most of the stuff they did, I could actually imagine someone doing that in real life. They made some dumb decisions which would normally make me angry but it just made them all the more endearing to me. They are not criminal masterminds and are just kids doing the best they can in the messed up situation they found themselves in. They panic, trust the wrong people, waste money on shiny things. I adore their bond and inability to give up on each other. (Lux's reason for not taking off the ring melted me.) To see them slowly lose hope and realize the gravity of their situation was the most heartbreaking thing.
The whole book is filled with so many important scenes and quotes that as a woman I found truly relatable. The contrast between how women were believing Trouble Girls and men were saying horrible things is literary what happens irl.
ARC copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a thrilling read. It's the kind of book that make you feel you are a part of it.
I loved the plot, it's scary how relevant and appropriate this book is for our time. The real strength of the book lies in it's characters. I love how genuinely authentic they were. I truly felt the character's emotions. Most of the stuff they did, I could actually imagine someone doing that in real life. They made some dumb decisions which would normally make me angry but it just made them all the more endearing to me. They are not criminal masterminds and are just kids doing the best they can in the messed up situation they found themselves in. They panic, trust the wrong people, waste money on shiny things. I adore their bond and inability to give up on each other. (Lux's reason for not taking off the ring melted me.) To see them slowly lose hope and realize the gravity of their situation was the most heartbreaking thing.
The whole book is filled with so many important scenes and quotes that as a woman I found truly relatable. The contrast between how women were believing Trouble Girls and men were saying horrible things is literary what happens irl.
ARC copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
did-not-finish
August 9, 2021DNF @ 15%: What I read of this wasn't bad, but I think I am just not really interested in this type of story anymore.
June 12, 2021
3 Stars
I’m not exactly sure what to say about “Trouble Girls” by Julia Lynn Rubin. This is a sapphic YA contemporary reimagining (slightly) of Thelma & Louise.
Trixie and her best friend Lux are planning a weekend trip to just get away and relax by the lake. On the way they stop to at a college bar and find far more trouble than either anticipated. Afterwards, the girls flee and go on the run across the country in Trixie’s busted up car.
First off, this book has no chapters, it just continues on and makes stopping somewhat difficult. And this is a book where I needed a lot of breaks. I didn’t find it easy or fun to read at all. I found myself stressed, uncomfortable, and filled with anxiety and it only got worse the further the story went. But I also think this was done on purpose. “Trouble Girls” deals with sexual assault, victim blaming, and slut shaming to name a few. None of these should make you feel comfortable and Rubin really delivered on that point.
Another thing, both girls are seventeen and they continuously make bad decisions. I spent a lot of time yelling at my kindle with things like “please don’t do what you’re about to do” but alas, they did them anyway. At least they were consistent in their bad choices. They’re on the run and they don’t have a lot of money so sometimes they find themselves in situations where they don’t have many options. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to get by and so I understood. But it didn’t make reading it any easier and I kept getting frustrated.
This is told in Trixie’s point of view and although it’s okay for Trixie, it left a lot of problems for Lux with me. I don’t feel we ever got really deep with her and I didn’t understand her at times. She seemed wishy washy at certain points and the only things I know about her for certain is that she likes makeup and taking pictures. There is a romance between them but I just didn’t feel it. I wasn’t even certain they liked each other until about halfway into the book. They just seemed like best friends. While I appreciated their love and devotion to each other, their romantic feelings never came through in a believable manner to me. I think I would have enjoyed it more without the romance. Who has time for love when you’re on the run from the police and starring in your own #MeToo movement?
In the end, I would suggest reading other reviews. I haven’t read too many other reviews so I’m not sure where I stand with this one relative to others. I wanted to like it more than I did but overall, I was just exhausted once I was finished.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not exactly sure what to say about “Trouble Girls” by Julia Lynn Rubin. This is a sapphic YA contemporary reimagining (slightly) of Thelma & Louise.
Trixie and her best friend Lux are planning a weekend trip to just get away and relax by the lake. On the way they stop to at a college bar and find far more trouble than either anticipated. Afterwards, the girls flee and go on the run across the country in Trixie’s busted up car.
First off, this book has no chapters, it just continues on and makes stopping somewhat difficult. And this is a book where I needed a lot of breaks. I didn’t find it easy or fun to read at all. I found myself stressed, uncomfortable, and filled with anxiety and it only got worse the further the story went. But I also think this was done on purpose. “Trouble Girls” deals with sexual assault, victim blaming, and slut shaming to name a few. None of these should make you feel comfortable and Rubin really delivered on that point.
Another thing, both girls are seventeen and they continuously make bad decisions. I spent a lot of time yelling at my kindle with things like “please don’t do what you’re about to do” but alas, they did them anyway. At least they were consistent in their bad choices. They’re on the run and they don’t have a lot of money so sometimes they find themselves in situations where they don’t have many options. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to get by and so I understood. But it didn’t make reading it any easier and I kept getting frustrated.
This is told in Trixie’s point of view and although it’s okay for Trixie, it left a lot of problems for Lux with me. I don’t feel we ever got really deep with her and I didn’t understand her at times. She seemed wishy washy at certain points and the only things I know about her for certain is that she likes makeup and taking pictures. There is a romance between them but I just didn’t feel it. I wasn’t even certain they liked each other until about halfway into the book. They just seemed like best friends. While I appreciated their love and devotion to each other, their romantic feelings never came through in a believable manner to me. I think I would have enjoyed it more without the romance. Who has time for love when you’re on the run from the police and starring in your own #MeToo movement?
In the end, I would suggest reading other reviews. I haven’t read too many other reviews so I’m not sure where I stand with this one relative to others. I wanted to like it more than I did but overall, I was just exhausted once I was finished.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2021
no one's as shocked by this rating as i am, trust me. with this many elements i adore — feminism, dark vibes, morally grey sapphics on the run and more — trouble girls could've easily become an instant fave of mine. at least, that's what i expected, but unfortunately this is not the case.
if you're interested in reading my full review on my blog, be sure to click here!
what i liked:
- the main character, trixie, is really cynical. she's our point of view and i feel like julia lynn rubin perfectly captured how things go in trixie's head. the prose was just drained with her views and i can only applaud the author for this!
- julia lynn rubin really didn't beat around the bush, lol! she's blatantly honest about our patriarchy and it was so refreshing to see the truth written in a young adult book. no trying to make it seem more beautiful than it is for the audience; the author didn't hold back.
- this book is GAY! the sapphic rep was probably my favourite part of the book, even though the romance wasn't really what i wanted from it (more on that later). i just loved how unmistakably queer this was.
what i didn't like:
- about everything else...
- this is mostly due to my expectations, but i really thought this novel would dive into the trial and sexisms + the media's role in this. unfortunately, the book ended before that storyline could even begin.
- the execution of this amazing idea could've been pretty revolutionary, in my opinion. but instead it lacked a lot of depth, character and plot-wise. i hoped for a story with many layers, but we only got to see one: the one that's right at the surface.
- about the characters...i felt nothing for them to be honest. they were just there, but they didn't feel like actual people. plus, i really wanted to love the relationship between lux and trixie which i didn't, mainly because of the circumstances. i'm just feeling very empty, lol.
- at some point, lux calls trixie out on treating her like a manic pixie dream girl, which was fair. i was glad it was acknowledged but then it! didn't! change?! make it make sense, honestly.
- i don't know how else to say this but...the pacing is a mess. it ended too soon, as i already mentioned, and in key scenes everything just goes way too fast. take the stabbing scene in the very beginning as an example: i was reading there and just thinking...wait what? it felt so rushed i didn't even realise that that was it!
conclusion:
trouble girls isn't a bad book; it's just one that needed more. more depth, more story, more everything. it could've been revolutionary, but unfortunately it really did fell flat for me. it pains me to say this, but this highly anticipated release of mine scores two out of five.
thank you to the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review! this did not affect my opinions in any way.
if you're interested in reading my full review on my blog, be sure to click here!
what i liked:
- the main character, trixie, is really cynical. she's our point of view and i feel like julia lynn rubin perfectly captured how things go in trixie's head. the prose was just drained with her views and i can only applaud the author for this!
- julia lynn rubin really didn't beat around the bush, lol! she's blatantly honest about our patriarchy and it was so refreshing to see the truth written in a young adult book. no trying to make it seem more beautiful than it is for the audience; the author didn't hold back.
- this book is GAY! the sapphic rep was probably my favourite part of the book, even though the romance wasn't really what i wanted from it (more on that later). i just loved how unmistakably queer this was.
what i didn't like:
- this is mostly due to my expectations, but i really thought this novel would dive into the trial and sexisms + the media's role in this. unfortunately, the book ended before that storyline could even begin.
- the execution of this amazing idea could've been pretty revolutionary, in my opinion. but instead it lacked a lot of depth, character and plot-wise. i hoped for a story with many layers, but we only got to see one: the one that's right at the surface.
- about the characters...i felt nothing for them to be honest. they were just there, but they didn't feel like actual people. plus, i really wanted to love the relationship between lux and trixie which i didn't, mainly because of the circumstances. i'm just feeling very empty, lol.
- at some point, lux calls trixie out on treating her like a manic pixie dream girl, which was fair. i was glad it was acknowledged but then it! didn't! change?! make it make sense, honestly.
- i don't know how else to say this but...the pacing is a mess. it ended too soon, as i already mentioned, and in key scenes everything just goes way too fast. take the stabbing scene in the very beginning as an example: i was reading there and just thinking...wait what? it felt so rushed i didn't even realise that that was it!
conclusion:
trouble girls isn't a bad book; it's just one that needed more. more depth, more story, more everything. it could've been revolutionary, but unfortunately it really did fell flat for me. it pains me to say this, but this highly anticipated release of mine scores two out of five.
thank you to the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review! this did not affect my opinions in any way.
March 30, 2021
3.5 stars
I read this book a few weeks ago, and I've been contemplating since then what I wanted to say in my review. I have mixed feelings about the book, although I lean more positive than negative. You pretty much get what is advertised but I couldn't help but wonder if the author chose a different path perhaps this book could have been an outstanding read instead of just a solid, decent read.
Trixie has been dealt a bad hand when it comes to her home life. She's looking forward to a weekend getaway with her best friend, Lux. On their road trip, they make a stop at a college bar but a fun time quickly turns violent. These high school girls are now on the run. The publisher says it best when describing this book as a "queer YA #Metoo reimaging of Thelma and Louise".
I picked this book up in the late afternoon and by bedtime I had finished it. So I definitely was into the story and the characters. Given I am old enough to be the mother of Trixie and Lux, I was naturally frustrated with some of their actions as fugitives. I had to keep reminding myself not all teenagers, and let's face it many adults, are capable of making sound financial decisions.
One issue I struggled with is whether or not the story was best served as a Thelma and Louise retelling. For awhile, I had high hopes the author was headed more in The Legend of Billie Jean direction. In this #MEtoo era, I believe that's the type of story audiences would rather see play out. It became obvious towards the end of the book that key elements that made that somewhat obscure movie good, were not going to be fully developed in this story. (Sorry, for being vague as it's hard to write a review and not give away spoilers)
Don't get me wrong, I liked how this book wasn't a fluffy read and there was some substance to the story. I just think it didn't reach its full potential. By the way, fair warning there's tough subject matter so this book might not be for every reader.
I won a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway but was not obligated to post a review. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
I read this book a few weeks ago, and I've been contemplating since then what I wanted to say in my review. I have mixed feelings about the book, although I lean more positive than negative. You pretty much get what is advertised but I couldn't help but wonder if the author chose a different path perhaps this book could have been an outstanding read instead of just a solid, decent read.
Trixie has been dealt a bad hand when it comes to her home life. She's looking forward to a weekend getaway with her best friend, Lux. On their road trip, they make a stop at a college bar but a fun time quickly turns violent. These high school girls are now on the run. The publisher says it best when describing this book as a "queer YA #Metoo reimaging of Thelma and Louise".
I picked this book up in the late afternoon and by bedtime I had finished it. So I definitely was into the story and the characters. Given I am old enough to be the mother of Trixie and Lux, I was naturally frustrated with some of their actions as fugitives. I had to keep reminding myself not all teenagers, and let's face it many adults, are capable of making sound financial decisions.
One issue I struggled with is whether or not the story was best served as a Thelma and Louise retelling. For awhile, I had high hopes the author was headed more in The Legend of Billie Jean direction. In this #MEtoo era, I believe that's the type of story audiences would rather see play out. It became obvious towards the end of the book that key elements that made that somewhat obscure movie good, were not going to be fully developed in this story. (Sorry, for being vague as it's hard to write a review and not give away spoilers)
Don't get me wrong, I liked how this book wasn't a fluffy read and there was some substance to the story. I just think it didn't reach its full potential. By the way, fair warning there's tough subject matter so this book might not be for every reader.
I won a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway but was not obligated to post a review. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
January 24, 2022
Anger. Frustration. Despair. Anxiety. That specific horrible feeling of being a young, vulnerable girl up against an older man looking you up and down like a potential meal. The way your blood pressure spikes while reading hateful, vicious comments online in a seemingly endless echo chamber of rage and hatred.
These are just some of the feelings that inspired my novel Trouble Girls, but there are lighter feelings that guided me, too: hope, joy, love, awe. That amazing sensation of listening to your favorite song blasting from your car speakers while driving on the open road in the sunshine.
When I was in high school, I longed to become a director and screenwriter someday. I spent my weekends watching VHS tapes and DVDs rented from Blockbuster: movies both new and classic.
Thelma & Louise was one such movie, and it shook something awake inside of me. It came out in 1991, the year after I was born. Beyond the incredible direction and acting in this rare “girl buddy” film, there’s a strong Sapphic subtext between the two main characters. It was also one of the first movies to directly address the issues of rape and sexual assault. I wanted to adapt and reimagine this story for a modern, younger audience, bringing my love for both cinema and fiction together in what I hope is far more reflective of the America we live in now, subtext and all.
I truly believe that a reader sees what they need to see in every book they read. There are multiple ways to interpret this book, including the ending, and I've hidden Easter Eggs everywhere, as well as hints about possible readings. However you read this book, whatever it makes you think or feel, I'm so happy and excited to share it with you, and I hope that it resonates with you somehow. This novel took years of love and extremely hard work, many drafts, many revisions, and many nights spent agonizing over a single sentence or word. It was so worth it, and I am so honored to share it with you.
These are just some of the feelings that inspired my novel Trouble Girls, but there are lighter feelings that guided me, too: hope, joy, love, awe. That amazing sensation of listening to your favorite song blasting from your car speakers while driving on the open road in the sunshine.
When I was in high school, I longed to become a director and screenwriter someday. I spent my weekends watching VHS tapes and DVDs rented from Blockbuster: movies both new and classic.
Thelma & Louise was one such movie, and it shook something awake inside of me. It came out in 1991, the year after I was born. Beyond the incredible direction and acting in this rare “girl buddy” film, there’s a strong Sapphic subtext between the two main characters. It was also one of the first movies to directly address the issues of rape and sexual assault. I wanted to adapt and reimagine this story for a modern, younger audience, bringing my love for both cinema and fiction together in what I hope is far more reflective of the America we live in now, subtext and all.
I truly believe that a reader sees what they need to see in every book they read. There are multiple ways to interpret this book, including the ending, and I've hidden Easter Eggs everywhere, as well as hints about possible readings. However you read this book, whatever it makes you think or feel, I'm so happy and excited to share it with you, and I hope that it resonates with you somehow. This novel took years of love and extremely hard work, many drafts, many revisions, and many nights spent agonizing over a single sentence or word. It was so worth it, and I am so honored to share it with you.
May 29, 2021
cw/tw: sexual assault, mentions of past child sexual abuse, attempted sexual assault, ptsd, death, stabbing, blood, threats of violence/sexual violence, abuse, ailing parent, parental death (mentioned)
May 12, 2021
On my blog.
Rep: lesbian mc, bi li
CWs: domestic abuse, sexual assault, past child sexual abuse
Galley provided by publisher
Trouble Girls is a book that feels mostly aesthetic and not much deeper. I mean, I’m perfectly willing to accept that this might just have been me — plenty of people haven’t had this problem after all. But if we’re talking why I didn’t enjoy this book, that would be the biggest reason (and one I’ll come back to later).
The story follows Trixie and Lux as they set off on a weekend roadtrip. Only, quite rapidly, their plans go downhill after Trixie stabs a man who’s sexually assaulting Lux. And, thereafter, they go on the run from the cops and media.
As I said at the start, the book feels more of an aesthetic than anything particularly deep. I don’t quite know how to explain it, because it’s just a feeling, not something so concrete, but I think what illustrates it is this: there’s a line somewhere in the first quarter where Trixie says something along the lines of “you never know which nice-projecting men might be actual shits so you go around assuming they all are”. I hate to be defending cishet men here, but that line kind of loses any power it might have when all you’re shown is shitty men. That’s what I mean by this book is all aesthetic and no depth. It’s things like that, and how Lux is supposed to be some critique of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope but feels barely fleshed out in that respect. Add onto that the fact I actually needed to be shown a lot more than I was, particularly regarding Trixie and Lux’s feelings of powerlessness, and what led Trixie to straight up stab a guy as her first instinct. None of that felt clear to me.
And then there’s the fact that there’s no real drive to the plot thereafter. They go on the run, sure, but they never feel as though they really are. There’s the occasional part where they get to see what the media’s saying, but there’s never a hint that anyone’s near to catching them, not until the very end. All you’d need is maybe someone recognising them, or someone looking about to call the police. As such, much of the plot feels somewhat pointless, like when they pick up a hitchhiker and she… I don’t know, teaches them some things? This is what I mean by pointlessness and lack of drive. They spend about 80% of the book just dicking about on the road.
Which means the ending really falls flat. It’s not forecasted at all and it comes very abruptly, with no hint of perhaps they make it out of all this. I get that this book was supposed to be some catharsis, getting revenge on the system, on rape culture, for women. But none of it lands, because they end up arrested still. Not to mention all this sticking it to the system seems to come out of nowhere, because we’re not really shown Trixie and Lux’s powerlessness effectively. It seems more that they do it on a thoughtless whim, to have a bit of fun (not to mention none of what they do is that big? It’s just spraypaint). So as much as this book was supposed to be cathartic, in the end the only catharsis I experienced was in writing this review.
And then we get to the romance. This is another aspect I didn’t feel was effectively foreshadowed or shown, but I won’t dwell on that because the same as above applies. But once they started on it, none of it felt like I had a reason to root for them together. Perhaps this is because the book as a whole felt somewhat rushed (again linking in to not being shown a lot maybe?). There was no time for things like romance to breathe, which I get is hard because these characters are (supposedly) on the run. They can’t exactly settle down for a few days and develop the relationship in the same way a romance novel would. But on the whole, there was not really a whole lot there that suggested to me they were in love. It felt more like “oh we’re on the run together, all this adrenaline, we have to hook-up”. Which was a shame.
In the end, then, this is a book that just didn’t land for me. It had the potential, it just didn’t live up to it.
Rep: lesbian mc, bi li
CWs: domestic abuse, sexual assault, past child sexual abuse
Galley provided by publisher
Trouble Girls is a book that feels mostly aesthetic and not much deeper. I mean, I’m perfectly willing to accept that this might just have been me — plenty of people haven’t had this problem after all. But if we’re talking why I didn’t enjoy this book, that would be the biggest reason (and one I’ll come back to later).
The story follows Trixie and Lux as they set off on a weekend roadtrip. Only, quite rapidly, their plans go downhill after Trixie stabs a man who’s sexually assaulting Lux. And, thereafter, they go on the run from the cops and media.
As I said at the start, the book feels more of an aesthetic than anything particularly deep. I don’t quite know how to explain it, because it’s just a feeling, not something so concrete, but I think what illustrates it is this: there’s a line somewhere in the first quarter where Trixie says something along the lines of “you never know which nice-projecting men might be actual shits so you go around assuming they all are”. I hate to be defending cishet men here, but that line kind of loses any power it might have when all you’re shown is shitty men. That’s what I mean by this book is all aesthetic and no depth. It’s things like that, and how Lux is supposed to be some critique of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope but feels barely fleshed out in that respect. Add onto that the fact I actually needed to be shown a lot more than I was, particularly regarding Trixie and Lux’s feelings of powerlessness, and what led Trixie to straight up stab a guy as her first instinct. None of that felt clear to me.
And then there’s the fact that there’s no real drive to the plot thereafter. They go on the run, sure, but they never feel as though they really are. There’s the occasional part where they get to see what the media’s saying, but there’s never a hint that anyone’s near to catching them, not until the very end. All you’d need is maybe someone recognising them, or someone looking about to call the police. As such, much of the plot feels somewhat pointless, like when they pick up a hitchhiker and she… I don’t know, teaches them some things? This is what I mean by pointlessness and lack of drive. They spend about 80% of the book just dicking about on the road.
Which means the ending really falls flat. It’s not forecasted at all and it comes very abruptly, with no hint of perhaps they make it out of all this. I get that this book was supposed to be some catharsis, getting revenge on the system, on rape culture, for women. But none of it lands, because they end up arrested still. Not to mention all this sticking it to the system seems to come out of nowhere, because we’re not really shown Trixie and Lux’s powerlessness effectively. It seems more that they do it on a thoughtless whim, to have a bit of fun (not to mention none of what they do is that big? It’s just spraypaint). So as much as this book was supposed to be cathartic, in the end the only catharsis I experienced was in writing this review.
And then we get to the romance. This is another aspect I didn’t feel was effectively foreshadowed or shown, but I won’t dwell on that because the same as above applies. But once they started on it, none of it felt like I had a reason to root for them together. Perhaps this is because the book as a whole felt somewhat rushed (again linking in to not being shown a lot maybe?). There was no time for things like romance to breathe, which I get is hard because these characters are (supposedly) on the run. They can’t exactly settle down for a few days and develop the relationship in the same way a romance novel would. But on the whole, there was not really a whole lot there that suggested to me they were in love. It felt more like “oh we’re on the run together, all this adrenaline, we have to hook-up”. Which was a shame.
In the end, then, this is a book that just didn’t land for me. It had the potential, it just didn’t live up to it.
May 20, 2021
tw/cw: alcohol, anxiety, panic attacks, blood, graphic injuries, death, depersonalization, dementia, drugs, guilt, homelessness, misogyny, teen pregnancy, racism, white supremacy, sexual assault/rape (on-page), suicidal thoughts, teenage pregnancy, threats, tobacco use, violence
I was sucked into this dark, emotional YA thriller. It’s the epitome of secondhand anxiety and there aren’t many light moments to balance out the dread, but since this book deals with the ugly aftermath of sexual assault, I think the vibe was spot-on. I had an anxious, sick feeling in my gut the whole time I was reading this, and while that doesn’t sound like a good thing, I think it speaks to how well Rubin conveys those emotions.
The story is told from the first-person POV of Trixie Denton, a high schooler who waitresses at a diner and cares for her single mother with dementia. Trixie has been sexually assaulted in the past and the “hog men” who frequent the diner bring up those terrible memories. Trixie’s two sources of light are Judy, the spunky grandmotherly figure who also waitresses at the diner, and Lux Leesburg, her longtime best friend and crush. When Trixie and Lux plan a weekend getaway, they’re looking forward to some time off, but a horrible event en route turns their lives upside down and prompts them to go on the run.
Rubin does a great job of weaving feelings of dread throughout the novel. Trixie appears to suffer from panic attacks/PTSD and depersonalization, and she often has intense feelings that things are “off” about a situation. Trixie and Lux meet lots of people during their journey, and Trixie’s waffling between feelings of trust and distrust left me on the edge of my seat. It was also heartbreaking to witness Trixie and Lux missing the kind people they leave behind: both in their hometown (Judy, Trixie’s mom, Lux’s family) and along their journey.
Trixie and Lux are both very flawed and neither is always likable. While they are oftentimes frustrating, I found their portrayal realistic and important. They actually act like teenagers, from the way they speak to their mannerisms to the way they don’t make the wisest decisions. We get to see how horrible situations might affect teenagers, might make them scared and not know where to turn to, might make them think the only way out is to dig themselves deeper and deeper into a hole of destruction.
There is also a friends-to-lovers romance between the girls, but this isn’t one of those books that focuses on relationship buildup and falling in love. Trixie and Lux are implied to be already in love at the beginning of the novel, and the main focuses are their leaning on each other, supporting each other, and finally recognizing their feelings for each other.
There’s also discussion of how the girls’ disastrous night impacts the whole country, as people are divided on who to believe and support. There’s some focus on activism from the local university’s WOC-led Intersectional Feminist Union, and likewise there are people who hate their activism and want to bring assault survivors down (be forewarned that the misogynistic comments in this book are very disturbing and might be too much for some readers). Trixie and Lux also acknowledge that they have privilege as white girls, which was good to see.
I would have liked to have seen more from the ending, and I while I’m not mad that the girls made a bunch of reckless decisions, I thought that some of their narrow escapes were quite convenient. There is also the question of whether certain aspects of the book are playing into harmful narratives (ex: queer women hate men and/or were abused by men, cops can be saviors), but after some deliberation, I don't personally feel like this story is broadcasting those messages.
Buddy read with Hsinju!. Check out her review here for a different interpretation.
I received an ARC from Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was sucked into this dark, emotional YA thriller. It’s the epitome of secondhand anxiety and there aren’t many light moments to balance out the dread, but since this book deals with the ugly aftermath of sexual assault, I think the vibe was spot-on. I had an anxious, sick feeling in my gut the whole time I was reading this, and while that doesn’t sound like a good thing, I think it speaks to how well Rubin conveys those emotions.
The story is told from the first-person POV of Trixie Denton, a high schooler who waitresses at a diner and cares for her single mother with dementia. Trixie has been sexually assaulted in the past and the “hog men” who frequent the diner bring up those terrible memories. Trixie’s two sources of light are Judy, the spunky grandmotherly figure who also waitresses at the diner, and Lux Leesburg, her longtime best friend and crush. When Trixie and Lux plan a weekend getaway, they’re looking forward to some time off, but a horrible event en route turns their lives upside down and prompts them to go on the run.
Rubin does a great job of weaving feelings of dread throughout the novel. Trixie appears to suffer from panic attacks/PTSD and depersonalization, and she often has intense feelings that things are “off” about a situation. Trixie and Lux meet lots of people during their journey, and Trixie’s waffling between feelings of trust and distrust left me on the edge of my seat. It was also heartbreaking to witness Trixie and Lux missing the kind people they leave behind: both in their hometown (Judy, Trixie’s mom, Lux’s family) and along their journey.
Trixie and Lux are both very flawed and neither is always likable. While they are oftentimes frustrating, I found their portrayal realistic and important. They actually act like teenagers, from the way they speak to their mannerisms to the way they don’t make the wisest decisions. We get to see how horrible situations might affect teenagers, might make them scared and not know where to turn to, might make them think the only way out is to dig themselves deeper and deeper into a hole of destruction.
There is also a friends-to-lovers romance between the girls, but this isn’t one of those books that focuses on relationship buildup and falling in love. Trixie and Lux are implied to be already in love at the beginning of the novel, and the main focuses are their leaning on each other, supporting each other, and finally recognizing their feelings for each other.
There’s also discussion of how the girls’ disastrous night impacts the whole country, as people are divided on who to believe and support. There’s some focus on activism from the local university’s WOC-led Intersectional Feminist Union, and likewise there are people who hate their activism and want to bring assault survivors down (be forewarned that the misogynistic comments in this book are very disturbing and might be too much for some readers). Trixie and Lux also acknowledge that they have privilege as white girls, which was good to see.
I would have liked to have seen more from the ending, and I while I’m not mad that the girls made a bunch of reckless decisions, I thought that some of their narrow escapes were quite convenient. There is also the question of whether certain aspects of the book are playing into harmful narratives (ex: queer women hate men and/or were abused by men, cops can be saviors), but after some deliberation, I don't personally feel like this story is broadcasting those messages.
Buddy read with Hsinju!. Check out her review here for a different interpretation.
I received an ARC from Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2021
A queer Thelma & Louise that doesn't live up to its potential
High school best friends Trixie and Lux are headed for a much-needed weekend getaway. Trixie needs to forget about her depressing waitress job, where all the men are "hogs" and her sick mom, and Lux needs to escape her overbearing dad. But a horrific night of violence changes everything and Trixie and Lux find themselves fugitives, running away from their tiny West Virginia town and everything they've ever known. Before they know it, they are wanted by the police, their faces splashed across social media. The girls are scared and horrified--on an unplanned road trip where the only thing they can count on is each other.
The premise of this book sounded amazing -- a queer "Thelma & Louise." Unfortunately, it all fell apart for me. Rather than being a #MeToo rallying cry, this was a depressing and stressful read, featuring two teens who make a bunch of stupid and ill-fated decisions.
I definitely understand the overall idea for TROUBLE GIRLS and even why Trixie and Lux run, afraid that no one will believe their story. But the choices they make along the way--spending their money on junk, not trusting each other, stealing and lying... and everything else. It's maddening. They do not act like two smart girls on the run, but two idiots who do not believe in one another. Trixie's infatuation with Lux clouds everything, and Lux comes across as this adored princess with no real personality of her own.
We're (eventually) told a bit of Trixie's backstory, including why we have to read the word "hog" in what feels like every other darn sentence, but the character development here is severely lacking. Trixie has a sick mom and a dark secret. Lux... likes makeup and her camera? I think this story would have would worked so much more if we knew how and why these two teens ticked. Why, exactly, was Trixie so in love with Lux? How exactly did Lux feel back? There's a weird switch that turns at some point in the book, and it made no sense to me. If you're going to give me a queer story, give me queer characters who truly feel for one another and whose love is based in reality.
Trixie and Lux's story is supposed to have a #MeToo angle to it, and it does, in some ways, but this was not a #MeToo anthem to me. It's two girls running away, trying to figure out maps on the back roads, and making poor decisions as they flee what they've done. While, again, I understand why they run, the story I wanted to read was Trixie and Lux returning to Blue Bottle and fighting along side the Intersectional Feminist Union and the other women they supposedly "rally" with a few misplaced social media posts. It was these women and Judy, Trixie's co-worker back home, whose life I wanted to know about--I would have enjoyed that book much more!
Overall, this book can tug at your heart strings, but also frustrate you to no end. There was much to its overall premise, but most of it did not work for me. 2.5 stars (Trigger warning: sexual assault, rape)
I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for TROUBLE GIRLS on 6/1/2021!
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ PaperBackSwap ~ Smashbomb
High school best friends Trixie and Lux are headed for a much-needed weekend getaway. Trixie needs to forget about her depressing waitress job, where all the men are "hogs" and her sick mom, and Lux needs to escape her overbearing dad. But a horrific night of violence changes everything and Trixie and Lux find themselves fugitives, running away from their tiny West Virginia town and everything they've ever known. Before they know it, they are wanted by the police, their faces splashed across social media. The girls are scared and horrified--on an unplanned road trip where the only thing they can count on is each other.
The premise of this book sounded amazing -- a queer "Thelma & Louise." Unfortunately, it all fell apart for me. Rather than being a #MeToo rallying cry, this was a depressing and stressful read, featuring two teens who make a bunch of stupid and ill-fated decisions.
I definitely understand the overall idea for TROUBLE GIRLS and even why Trixie and Lux run, afraid that no one will believe their story. But the choices they make along the way--spending their money on junk, not trusting each other, stealing and lying... and everything else. It's maddening. They do not act like two smart girls on the run, but two idiots who do not believe in one another. Trixie's infatuation with Lux clouds everything, and Lux comes across as this adored princess with no real personality of her own.
We're (eventually) told a bit of Trixie's backstory, including why we have to read the word "hog" in what feels like every other darn sentence, but the character development here is severely lacking. Trixie has a sick mom and a dark secret. Lux... likes makeup and her camera? I think this story would have would worked so much more if we knew how and why these two teens ticked. Why, exactly, was Trixie so in love with Lux? How exactly did Lux feel back? There's a weird switch that turns at some point in the book, and it made no sense to me. If you're going to give me a queer story, give me queer characters who truly feel for one another and whose love is based in reality.
Trixie and Lux's story is supposed to have a #MeToo angle to it, and it does, in some ways, but this was not a #MeToo anthem to me. It's two girls running away, trying to figure out maps on the back roads, and making poor decisions as they flee what they've done. While, again, I understand why they run, the story I wanted to read was Trixie and Lux returning to Blue Bottle and fighting along side the Intersectional Feminist Union and the other women they supposedly "rally" with a few misplaced social media posts. It was these women and Judy, Trixie's co-worker back home, whose life I wanted to know about--I would have enjoyed that book much more!
Overall, this book can tug at your heart strings, but also frustrate you to no end. There was much to its overall premise, but most of it did not work for me. 2.5 stars (Trigger warning: sexual assault, rape)
I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for TROUBLE GIRLS on 6/1/2021!
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ PaperBackSwap ~ Smashbomb
January 10, 2021
Trixie and her best friend, Lux, are off for a weekend of partying and camping, a brief escape from the bitter realities of life in their small town and Trix’s ailing mother. But when a stop at a nightclub turns violent, the girls are suddenly fleeing across the country from police and a media storm. Their lives have been changed forever, so the girls decide to make the most of it, branding themselves the Trouble Girls and leaving a trail of crime in their wake. I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at St. Martin’s Press. Trigger warnings: death, rape mention, pedophilia mention, sexual assault, trauma, guns, robbery/theft, violence, slurs, blood.
I liked the premise of Trouble Girls, but it never quite came together for me. There are a number of problems, but I think the one that troubles me most is its lack of message. The description calls up the #metoo movement, but that turns out to be somewhat misleading. Trouble Girls never evolves into a movement of any kind because Trixie and Lux don’t actually stand for anything. They’re angry about things like poverty and sexism–things we have every right to be angry about–but aside from a couple social media messages and some graffiti, they don’t do anything about them. Trixie notes that a couple girls from college campuses are leading the charge, girls who suffer even more hate because they’re women of color, and she’s right. Those are the girls doing something, the ones I want to read a story about. I have no idea what the major takeaway of Trix and Lux’s story is supposed to be.
Instead of launching a movement or developing any sort of belief system or agenda, the plot of the novel is actually just the two girls running from town to town, making tourist stops, and trying to survive by stealing what they need. I was sympathetic to them at times, but at others it’s clear they’re teenage girls who have no idea how to get by in the world and are alarmingly short-sighted about their options. It grows repetitive quickly, with few events that advance the plot or the character development in any significant way. The characterization is rather poor too. Trixie’s entire personality seems to be a burning hatred for all men (difficult to read at times–sexism is real and vicious, but thinking of all men as “hogs” is also sexist, however justified it might be) and a love for Lux that occasionally comes off as creepy or predatory. Lux’s personality is… I’m not sure. Pink hair and bubblegum? She’s a manic pixie dream girl who doesn’t seem to have any motivation outside of a baffling commitment to Trixie and their life of crime. The girls run out of options around the same time as the plot runs out of steam, and the ending fails to resolve much of anything.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
I liked the premise of Trouble Girls, but it never quite came together for me. There are a number of problems, but I think the one that troubles me most is its lack of message. The description calls up the #metoo movement, but that turns out to be somewhat misleading. Trouble Girls never evolves into a movement of any kind because Trixie and Lux don’t actually stand for anything. They’re angry about things like poverty and sexism–things we have every right to be angry about–but aside from a couple social media messages and some graffiti, they don’t do anything about them. Trixie notes that a couple girls from college campuses are leading the charge, girls who suffer even more hate because they’re women of color, and she’s right. Those are the girls doing something, the ones I want to read a story about. I have no idea what the major takeaway of Trix and Lux’s story is supposed to be.
Instead of launching a movement or developing any sort of belief system or agenda, the plot of the novel is actually just the two girls running from town to town, making tourist stops, and trying to survive by stealing what they need. I was sympathetic to them at times, but at others it’s clear they’re teenage girls who have no idea how to get by in the world and are alarmingly short-sighted about their options. It grows repetitive quickly, with few events that advance the plot or the character development in any significant way. The characterization is rather poor too. Trixie’s entire personality seems to be a burning hatred for all men (difficult to read at times–sexism is real and vicious, but thinking of all men as “hogs” is also sexist, however justified it might be) and a love for Lux that occasionally comes off as creepy or predatory. Lux’s personality is… I’m not sure. Pink hair and bubblegum? She’s a manic pixie dream girl who doesn’t seem to have any motivation outside of a baffling commitment to Trixie and their life of crime. The girls run out of options around the same time as the plot runs out of steam, and the ending fails to resolve much of anything.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
dnf
June 2, 2021dnf @ 24%
as a huge thelma and louise fan, i had high expectations for trouble girls, but this contemporary reimagining just fell flat for me. i found the writing so clunky and heavy-handed that despite the incredibly high-stakes storyline and serious themes, i was never able to connect with either trixie or lux—and even their supposed connection felt forced. i do appreciate what the author was trying to do, but all in all this one was a disappointment for me.
i received an arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
as a huge thelma and louise fan, i had high expectations for trouble girls, but this contemporary reimagining just fell flat for me. i found the writing so clunky and heavy-handed that despite the incredibly high-stakes storyline and serious themes, i was never able to connect with either trixie or lux—and even their supposed connection felt forced. i do appreciate what the author was trying to do, but all in all this one was a disappointment for me.
i received an arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2021
Buddy read with Gabriella! I encourage you to check out her 4-star review instead.
This book is well-written and I did like the social commentary-ness of Trouble Girls, but I don’t know... maybe Thelma & Louise just isn’t meant to be retold in YA in almost its entirety.
Trixie Denton (~17) and Lux Leesburg (~17) go on a weekend getaway but accidentally get entangled with a crime. Now, they are on the run and the road trip stretches into days and weeks.
I… am not sure what I just read.
I appreciate the points this book is making, including the main theme of sexual assault and some mentions of racism, homophobia, etc., but other than that, the somewhat unnecessary descriptions included to build the scenes made me very uncomfortable. Especially some insults other characters throw around. They felt somewhat gratuitous even though, at the same time, I understand why they were included.
The book is full of panic attacks and anxious energy, and yet, I never really felt enough connection to the main characters to care for them. I liked that the romance subplot is full of chemistry, but other than that, Trixie and Lux just move from town to town, meeting a lot of random people on their way. And I didn’t feel like I know them at all, even when it is told in Trixie’s first-person point of view.
Had the story been told from Lux’s POV, we might have been able to learn more about the both of them. Alas, I spent most of the time waiting for the ending of the story and when I reached it, I was disappointed. Like the movie, which I have not seen, it is somewhat open-ended. I love a good open ending, but in Trouble Girls, I finished the book wondering why I road-tripped with them for almost 300 pages.
I should reiterate that Rubin wrote the story well, but I personally couldn’t get into it. Perhaps, if you are a Thelma & Louise fan, you will love this YA retelling.
Content warnings: murder, panic attack, dementia, sexual assault (including rape), blood, homophobia, smoking (underage), brief suicidal thoughts, mention of overdose, homophobia, misogyny, mention of teen pregnancy, mention of trans rejection, mention of racism
I received a digital review copy from Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is well-written and I did like the social commentary-ness of Trouble Girls, but I don’t know... maybe Thelma & Louise just isn’t meant to be retold in YA in almost its entirety.
Trixie Denton (~17) and Lux Leesburg (~17) go on a weekend getaway but accidentally get entangled with a crime. Now, they are on the run and the road trip stretches into days and weeks.
I… am not sure what I just read.
I appreciate the points this book is making, including the main theme of sexual assault and some mentions of racism, homophobia, etc., but other than that, the somewhat unnecessary descriptions included to build the scenes made me very uncomfortable. Especially some insults other characters throw around. They felt somewhat gratuitous even though, at the same time, I understand why they were included.
The book is full of panic attacks and anxious energy, and yet, I never really felt enough connection to the main characters to care for them. I liked that the romance subplot is full of chemistry, but other than that, Trixie and Lux just move from town to town, meeting a lot of random people on their way. And I didn’t feel like I know them at all, even when it is told in Trixie’s first-person point of view.
Had the story been told from Lux’s POV, we might have been able to learn more about the both of them. Alas, I spent most of the time waiting for the ending of the story and when I reached it, I was disappointed. Like the movie, which I have not seen, it is somewhat open-ended. I love a good open ending, but in Trouble Girls, I finished the book wondering why I road-tripped with them for almost 300 pages.
I should reiterate that Rubin wrote the story well, but I personally couldn’t get into it. Perhaps, if you are a Thelma & Louise fan, you will love this YA retelling.
Content warnings: murder, panic attack, dementia, sexual assault (including rape), blood, homophobia, smoking (underage), brief suicidal thoughts, mention of overdose, homophobia, misogyny, mention of teen pregnancy, mention of trans rejection, mention of racism
I received a digital review copy from Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2021
*Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*
I thought Trouble Girls would be something like Promising Young Woman meets Thelma & Louise but unfortunately it didn’t meet my expectations.
Trixie and Lux are two girls from a small town in West Virginia, who desperately need to get away for the weekend to escape their difficult lives. However, in their attempt to have fun things go sideways and they end up committing a crime and running away across the country.
I think the idea was quite interesting and appealing but this book has a lot of wasted potential: the plot gets monotonous and boring after a few pages, the main characters are so naïve and immature that it’s a bit hard to connect with them and also, the book is filled with YA clichés and it felt like I had already read it before.
Another thing that made me a bit reluctant to like this book was the style of the prose: the language used in the book feels very colloquial and simple and not very literary, and while that’s fine for some readers, to me it felt like the book was written for Wattpad. Once again, this is totally fine and I often like books that read like fanfiction but I just didn’t connect with this one.
If you are looking for an easy read, a sapphic teenage romance and runaway criminals on a road trip, this might be your book. The fact that it didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for you!
TW: domestic abuse, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, violence.
Rep: (L)GBT – Main characters
I thought Trouble Girls would be something like Promising Young Woman meets Thelma & Louise but unfortunately it didn’t meet my expectations.
Trixie and Lux are two girls from a small town in West Virginia, who desperately need to get away for the weekend to escape their difficult lives. However, in their attempt to have fun things go sideways and they end up committing a crime and running away across the country.
I think the idea was quite interesting and appealing but this book has a lot of wasted potential: the plot gets monotonous and boring after a few pages, the main characters are so naïve and immature that it’s a bit hard to connect with them and also, the book is filled with YA clichés and it felt like I had already read it before.
Another thing that made me a bit reluctant to like this book was the style of the prose: the language used in the book feels very colloquial and simple and not very literary, and while that’s fine for some readers, to me it felt like the book was written for Wattpad. Once again, this is totally fine and I often like books that read like fanfiction but I just didn’t connect with this one.
If you are looking for an easy read, a sapphic teenage romance and runaway criminals on a road trip, this might be your book. The fact that it didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for you!
TW: domestic abuse, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, violence.
Rep: (L)GBT – Main characters
April 20, 2021
one of my favorite movies of all time is Thelma and Louise. While the stories are similar and this has been modernized to include internet, cell phones and pop music.. it just dragged. Of course the conflict happens at the beginning, but reading about their time on the run was boring as hell. You can only read about them shoplifting and missing their mama and family for a little bit before you get annoyed.
I also feel that the #metoo message was lost. There were protest mentioned but then it was followed my endless sentences of slut shaming and violence.
I also feel that the #metoo message was lost. There were protest mentioned but then it was followed my endless sentences of slut shaming and violence.
July 2, 2020
Thelma and Louise meets Natural Born Killers--incisive, unflinching, and beautifully written. I read it in one night and it took a full weekend to sink in. This book packs an emotional punch! Set aside time for this one--you won't want to put it down until you know how it ends (it's worth it).
June 9, 2021
i…am not sure what i just read.
May 21, 2021
3.5/5
Thank you to Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Very much a feminist and queer re-imagining of Thelma & Louise. I was super excited for this book, but alas it wasn't exactly what I expected. Ultimately I still enjoyed this one and I hope we get more books like this with queer characters.
Trouble Girls is about Trixie and Lux, two small town girls who are headed on a well deserved vacation. They stop in a college town bar and when Lux is almost sexually assaulted, Trixie stabs the guy. The two flee and later find out that he died.
This started out really great, but as soon as Trixie and Lux thought that $2000 and some change was going to last them an indefinite amount of time, I might have checked out a little bit. It didn't feel realistic for these two girls. While they are teenagers, both of them had extra responsibilities at home that forced them to grow up more than a normal teenager. Lux takes care of her young brother and Trixie is the primary caregiver for her mother who is sick with either Alzheimer's or dementia and is losing memories. These two definitely knew the value of money and I couldn't reconcile it with their seemingly frivolous attitude at first.
Eventually they did come back to the real world and were like shit we don't have much money now. Besides writing some blog posts, the connection to the #MeToo movement seemed a bit vague. Yes other stuff happens elsewhere in the world after Trixie & Lux's situation is broadcast, but it didn't really feel like the two girls had a direct say in it. I guess I had expected a more direct connection.
Then there's the ending which was quite a mess? Open-ended endings are hit or miss for me and this one was sadly a miss. I just did not understand this ending.
I wanted to like this one more than I did, but the naivete of the girls and some of the unrealistic events kept me from connecting with this one as much as I wanted to.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Very much a feminist and queer re-imagining of Thelma & Louise. I was super excited for this book, but alas it wasn't exactly what I expected. Ultimately I still enjoyed this one and I hope we get more books like this with queer characters.
Trouble Girls is about Trixie and Lux, two small town girls who are headed on a well deserved vacation. They stop in a college town bar and when Lux is almost sexually assaulted, Trixie stabs the guy. The two flee and later find out that he died.
This started out really great, but as soon as Trixie and Lux thought that $2000 and some change was going to last them an indefinite amount of time, I might have checked out a little bit. It didn't feel realistic for these two girls. While they are teenagers, both of them had extra responsibilities at home that forced them to grow up more than a normal teenager. Lux takes care of her young brother and Trixie is the primary caregiver for her mother who is sick with either Alzheimer's or dementia and is losing memories. These two definitely knew the value of money and I couldn't reconcile it with their seemingly frivolous attitude at first.
Eventually they did come back to the real world and were like shit we don't have much money now. Besides writing some blog posts, the connection to the #MeToo movement seemed a bit vague. Yes other stuff happens elsewhere in the world after Trixie & Lux's situation is broadcast, but it didn't really feel like the two girls had a direct say in it. I guess I had expected a more direct connection.
Then there's the ending which was quite a mess? Open-ended endings are hit or miss for me and this one was sadly a miss. I just did not understand this ending.
I wanted to like this one more than I did, but the naivete of the girls and some of the unrealistic events kept me from connecting with this one as much as I wanted to.
June 14, 2021
EDIT: read this review on my blog now!!!
A reimagined Thelma & Louise with the aesthetic of Riverdale was truly all I needed to hear—this book hooked me with that and that alone. But I think I may have set my expectations too high as a result, because no one is as shocked as I am that this book didn’t work for me.
I wish I could say that the pacing and actual structure of Trouble Girls didn’t negatively impact my reading experience as much as it did, but the total lack of chapters took a toll. I’ve explained in reviews before how much I hate skimming, but I skimmed so much of this book because it just simply couldn’t hold my attention, but I wanted to reach its ending so badly. After the initial incident that kicks off the story, little to nothing actually happens. Two girls take off on the road, outrunning a violent act against a would-be rapist, and the plot subsequently becomes as aimless as Trixie and Lux’s journey itself. And despite the promise of a cops-hot-on-their-tail, propulsive thriller, it never felt like they were running away from much at all. It was missing true drive, and the prose couldn’t hold the concept’s weight.
And much of that is due in part to the romance between Trixie and Lux, unfortunately. The Manic Pixie Dream Girl problem presented itself quickly, and when it was actively addressed, I was elated and ready for something deeper between the two girls and within the two girls as individuals to establish itself. But the MPDG problem was never actually overcome. Considering that this story is based almost solely around Trixie and Lux’s developing relationship as they try to escape, I was expecting their bond to naturally anchor the text. Instead, it felt decidedly unmoored. I never got a good sense of them as individuals nor as partners in any sense of the word. While I was glad to see an overtly “Sapphic” novel like this, I wish more had been done with Trixie and Lux.
And finally, I had issues with Rubin’s exploration of rape culture. As happy as I was to see it fleshed out on the page and actively explored (major props to the use of raw, realistic, plain and oft-violent language when it came to the online abuse Trixie and Lux received/discovered), it felt somewhat empty and hollow. The prose itself bordered on trite and patronizing, and it wasn’t lost on me that activists of color were placed at the forefront of Rubin’s sociopolitical commentary, became vessels for it, yet never held significant space. It felt—to me—that they were used as props. We need to be having these conversations about rape culture in YA, we need to be having them about weaponized feminism, but for as much as I wanted to cheer on the violent and unforgiving challenge of rape culture, I also wish there had been an ending that drove home the necessity of that. The ending fell awfully flat. There was something very seriously lacking in all this that I’ve been struggling to put my finger on. It felt a lot like Promising Young Woman.
Overall, I’m just not sure what to really say, comprehensively, about this book. I feel a bit speechless. I loved the aesthetic, but it felt more committed to aesthetic at times than it did plot and character. I wanted to cheer on the rape culture commentary, but I struggled with its use. The writing hooked me quickly, but it lost me just as quickly too. I feel strange even rating this book, because I’m so stunned that it didn’t work out. I think Trouble Girls was ultimately just not a book for me the way I was so certain it would be.
OG REVIEW: this is the promising young woman of books.
A reimagined Thelma & Louise with the aesthetic of Riverdale was truly all I needed to hear—this book hooked me with that and that alone. But I think I may have set my expectations too high as a result, because no one is as shocked as I am that this book didn’t work for me.
I wish I could say that the pacing and actual structure of Trouble Girls didn’t negatively impact my reading experience as much as it did, but the total lack of chapters took a toll. I’ve explained in reviews before how much I hate skimming, but I skimmed so much of this book because it just simply couldn’t hold my attention, but I wanted to reach its ending so badly. After the initial incident that kicks off the story, little to nothing actually happens. Two girls take off on the road, outrunning a violent act against a would-be rapist, and the plot subsequently becomes as aimless as Trixie and Lux’s journey itself. And despite the promise of a cops-hot-on-their-tail, propulsive thriller, it never felt like they were running away from much at all. It was missing true drive, and the prose couldn’t hold the concept’s weight.
And much of that is due in part to the romance between Trixie and Lux, unfortunately. The Manic Pixie Dream Girl problem presented itself quickly, and when it was actively addressed, I was elated and ready for something deeper between the two girls and within the two girls as individuals to establish itself. But the MPDG problem was never actually overcome. Considering that this story is based almost solely around Trixie and Lux’s developing relationship as they try to escape, I was expecting their bond to naturally anchor the text. Instead, it felt decidedly unmoored. I never got a good sense of them as individuals nor as partners in any sense of the word. While I was glad to see an overtly “Sapphic” novel like this, I wish more had been done with Trixie and Lux.
And finally, I had issues with Rubin’s exploration of rape culture. As happy as I was to see it fleshed out on the page and actively explored (major props to the use of raw, realistic, plain and oft-violent language when it came to the online abuse Trixie and Lux received/discovered), it felt somewhat empty and hollow. The prose itself bordered on trite and patronizing, and it wasn’t lost on me that activists of color were placed at the forefront of Rubin’s sociopolitical commentary, became vessels for it, yet never held significant space. It felt—to me—that they were used as props. We need to be having these conversations about rape culture in YA, we need to be having them about weaponized feminism, but for as much as I wanted to cheer on the violent and unforgiving challenge of rape culture, I also wish there had been an ending that drove home the necessity of that. The ending fell awfully flat. There was something very seriously lacking in all this that I’ve been struggling to put my finger on. It felt a lot like Promising Young Woman.
Overall, I’m just not sure what to really say, comprehensively, about this book. I feel a bit speechless. I loved the aesthetic, but it felt more committed to aesthetic at times than it did plot and character. I wanted to cheer on the rape culture commentary, but I struggled with its use. The writing hooked me quickly, but it lost me just as quickly too. I feel strange even rating this book, because I’m so stunned that it didn’t work out. I think Trouble Girls was ultimately just not a book for me the way I was so certain it would be.
OG REVIEW: this is the promising young woman of books.
May 26, 2021
All I know is, I'd still be me, and I'd still want to love every part of someone just like Lux.
3.5 stars. I'm trying to figure out if I'd have liked this more or less if I'd ever seen/knew more than the bare basics about the movie Thelma and Louise. Would I have gotten more out of it, to see all the parallels? Or would all the similarities have frustrated me?
I don't know. But I did enjoy this. Mostly? It's the story of two girls who end up on the run after what was supposed to be a weekend getaway turns bloody. This is an extremely anxiety-inducing book, especially from the perspective of an adult who's just so worried and scared for these girls, and so angry about all the ugliness and hate that surrounds them. They make a lot of bad decisions, but it's all very realistic; they're scared teenagers, and they're panicking, and they don't have any experience with things like this. It's still very nerve-wracking, seeing it all play out, and that anxiety wasn't exactly enjoyable, as a reader?
But that's a bit of the point. This isn't meant to be an easy read. Trixie and Lux's story is a condemnation of rape culture and misogyny; a close-lensed look at the suffering and PTSD that can come with being a queer teenage girl. Trixie and Lux aren't always likeable, but there's something very cathartic about their rage, and the way they refuse to be cowed. I really loved their burgeoning romance; everything about Trixie's feelings and insecurities and the way it was described felt so authentic and real and my heart just hurt for them. Another thing I especially liked was Rubin's writing and craftsmanship; she really succeeded in creating the perfect atmosphere and characters.
I'm not quite satisfied with this though. At times it was a bit... essentialist? In its commentary and discussion? And idk, it's very possible to write a story about rape culture and the violence that men inflict upon women and the ways it's ingrained in the fabric of society without going there. IDK. I also didn't love the whole "hog" thing, though there are story reasons for it, and I understand. It was used a lot, and started to border on fatphobic, when she used it on random side characters. And the ending didn't feel very satisfying to me. It either needed to end some time before or after that moment, for me to really feel a sense of completion. (There were also a bunch of typos, but I'm assuming that's just an arc issue.)
Definitely a compelling read, one that shouldn't be approached lightly.
Content warnings:
☆ Review copy provided via NetGalley.
June 9, 2021
I'm really torn on this one - 2 stars rounded up for the love story.
I liked a lot of things about this story. I liked the reality of life on the run - being dirty, breaking out, being hungry, sleeping weird hours and some of the odd people you are forced to align yourself with. I loved the love story - their shared history, their fierce protectiveness, their handholding and being there for each other.
I also liked how the hog story and the fear after being attacked was handled. It's a rough topic and I thought this one was gritty and dark and true.
But for all these parts of the story I liked, there are a lot of slow parts. A lot of inner turmoil and driving, driving, driving. I wish I'd felt a bit more connected so the tortured thinking drew me in instead of leaving me wondering when something would happen. It was okay, I liked a lot of it, but didn't love it.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
I liked a lot of things about this story. I liked the reality of life on the run - being dirty, breaking out, being hungry, sleeping weird hours and some of the odd people you are forced to align yourself with. I loved the love story - their shared history, their fierce protectiveness, their handholding and being there for each other.
I also liked how the hog story and the fear after being attacked was handled. It's a rough topic and I thought this one was gritty and dark and true.
But for all these parts of the story I liked, there are a lot of slow parts. A lot of inner turmoil and driving, driving, driving. I wish I'd felt a bit more connected so the tortured thinking drew me in instead of leaving me wondering when something would happen. It was okay, I liked a lot of it, but didn't love it.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
February 9, 2021
(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through NetGalley. Content warning for violence against women, including rape and sexual assault. Caution: this review contains some vague spoilers.)
"Shit like this is why I trust no man. You can’t ever tell who’s a hog or not just by looking at their face. Better to assume they all are."
It's the end of junior year, and lifelong BFFs Trixie Denton and Lux Leesburg are planning a road trip to Fever Lake for the long weekend. But their plans go sideways when they make a pit stop at a local Pinesborough State (West Virginia) University bar. Trixie walks into the bathroom, just in time to catch a "bearded frat hog" sexually assaulting Lux. Trixie stabs him in the gut - and then in the crotch, for good measure - and the pair flee into the night.
Convinced that the cops won't believe that Trixie acted in self defense, the girls hatch a half-baked plan to keep on running: leave their constricting, hardscrabble lives behind for some place better - Austin, Santa Fe, or California. Disappear into the American West, as it were (or as if this was the 1860s).
Only problem is, the authorities quickly link their disappearance to the murder of Bryce Grimaldi, "son of local Pinesborough State University president, Weston Grimaldi," one of the richest and most well-respected old money men in the area. While his frat brothers rage and mourn the senseless death of an upstanding college student, a promising young man with his whole life ahead of him, the women unlucky enough to share Bryce's orbit paint a different picture: Bryce was a well-known sexual predator (surprise! /s). As Trixie and Lux traverse their way across the United State, a #MeToo movement ignites on the Pinesborough State campus.
As much as I wanted to love the fuck out of TROUBLE GIRLS, the story just fell flat for me. For starters, the writing was ... not my bag? This feels like an unpolished first draft at best.
The story is told from Trixie's perspective, and her voice just rubs me the wrong way (I love pie as much as Dean Winchester, but she uses pie as a metaphor entirely too often). I never felt like I got to know Trixie, or at least not beyond her childhood trauma (which explains the whole "hog men" thing, btw). Trixie is more or less defined by two things: her past sexual abuse, and her love for Lux. And Lux? She has pink hair and a vintage Canon camera, and that about sums up her personality.
In an ideal rape revenge romcom, I would have been rooting for these two crazy girls to get together, but it's difficult to muster up excitement for a romance - even a queer one! - when you couldn't care less about its participants. It was meh at best.
They also make a lot of outrageously stupid decisions - and no, I don't include running among them (the justice system is anything but for sexual assault survivors, and Weston Grimaldi and his $$$$ further stack the deck against our antiheroes). Rather, they waste their small reserve of cash on crap no one needs, like costume jewelry and touristy trinkets. They zero in on California as their escape, as though it's in a different country (or parallel universe) than where they murdered a man.
And so much of the poor decision making is fueled by their dysfunctional relationship, and Trixie's almost pathological desire not to upset Lux. The whole thing is uncomfortable and even embarrassing at times. Lux comes off like a petulant child; sometimes it feels as if the pair are treating their flight as an extended road trip.
I'm a sucker for a good rape revenge story, but TROUBLE GIRLS ain't it. The marketing team compares it to THELMA & LOUISE - but TROUBLE GIRLS lacks the tragic, fuck the world denouement of THELMA & LOUISE, ending not in a bang but a whimper. Likewise, it's missing the interrogation of rape culture and compelling protagonist that make Mindy McGinnis's THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES one of my all-time favorite rape revenge stories.
I kept waiting for TROUBLE GIRLS to find its LEGEND OF BILLIE JEAN moment - especially as Rubin teases us with scenes of Trixie and Lux following the media coverage of their case, and occasionally chiming in on the message boards themselves. To wit:
"But know there are girls like us, waiting in the wings. Girls with knives on their fingers and razor blades for teeth. Girls, like me, who will gut you like a fish the minute you try and lay a hand on one of us ever again. You won’t know who it is until it happens. By then, it’ll be too late, the knife too deep in your intestines, the smile too bright on the girl’s face."
I'm not alone in thinking this is a battle cry, right? But for all her piss and vinegar, all her “Let’s go light some shit on fire" posturing, the most Trixie can manage is...stomping on some Confederate lawn flags and slashing the tires of a group of racist bikers. Like, babe, you're a hunter now! Let's go bag some hog men!
Even as she realizes that she started something BIG, Trixie doesn't even have the courtesy of engaging with the Intersectional Feminist Union directly - you know, those black and brown girls who she left to fight the Grimaldis and hog boys on their own. At least have their backs with an online confirmation that Bryce was a rapist! Seems like that would have been a little more useful than empty threats posted on Neanderthal message boards.
I don't know, there's just so much wrong with this story. Chalk it up as my first major disappointment of 2021.
If you're looking for a good rape revenge book, might I suggest:
- THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES by Mindy McGinnis
- THE SWALLOWS by Lisa Lutz
- THEY NEVER LEARN by Layne Fargo
- THE NOWHERE GIRLS by Amy Reed
- VIGILANTE by Kady Cross
- & of course, Stieg Larsson's MILLENNIUM series.
"Shit like this is why I trust no man. You can’t ever tell who’s a hog or not just by looking at their face. Better to assume they all are."
It's the end of junior year, and lifelong BFFs Trixie Denton and Lux Leesburg are planning a road trip to Fever Lake for the long weekend. But their plans go sideways when they make a pit stop at a local Pinesborough State (West Virginia) University bar. Trixie walks into the bathroom, just in time to catch a "bearded frat hog" sexually assaulting Lux. Trixie stabs him in the gut - and then in the crotch, for good measure - and the pair flee into the night.
Convinced that the cops won't believe that Trixie acted in self defense, the girls hatch a half-baked plan to keep on running: leave their constricting, hardscrabble lives behind for some place better - Austin, Santa Fe, or California. Disappear into the American West, as it were (or as if this was the 1860s).
Only problem is, the authorities quickly link their disappearance to the murder of Bryce Grimaldi, "son of local Pinesborough State University president, Weston Grimaldi," one of the richest and most well-respected old money men in the area. While his frat brothers rage and mourn the senseless death of an upstanding college student, a promising young man with his whole life ahead of him, the women unlucky enough to share Bryce's orbit paint a different picture: Bryce was a well-known sexual predator (surprise! /s). As Trixie and Lux traverse their way across the United State, a #MeToo movement ignites on the Pinesborough State campus.
As much as I wanted to love the fuck out of TROUBLE GIRLS, the story just fell flat for me. For starters, the writing was ... not my bag? This feels like an unpolished first draft at best.
The story is told from Trixie's perspective, and her voice just rubs me the wrong way (I love pie as much as Dean Winchester, but she uses pie as a metaphor entirely too often). I never felt like I got to know Trixie, or at least not beyond her childhood trauma (which explains the whole "hog men" thing, btw). Trixie is more or less defined by two things: her past sexual abuse, and her love for Lux. And Lux? She has pink hair and a vintage Canon camera, and that about sums up her personality.
In an ideal rape revenge romcom, I would have been rooting for these two crazy girls to get together, but it's difficult to muster up excitement for a romance - even a queer one! - when you couldn't care less about its participants. It was meh at best.
They also make a lot of outrageously stupid decisions - and no, I don't include running among them (the justice system is anything but for sexual assault survivors, and Weston Grimaldi and his $$$$ further stack the deck against our antiheroes). Rather, they waste their small reserve of cash on crap no one needs, like costume jewelry and touristy trinkets. They zero in on California as their escape, as though it's in a different country (or parallel universe) than where they murdered a man.
And so much of the poor decision making is fueled by their dysfunctional relationship, and Trixie's almost pathological desire not to upset Lux. The whole thing is uncomfortable and even embarrassing at times. Lux comes off like a petulant child; sometimes it feels as if the pair are treating their flight as an extended road trip.
I'm a sucker for a good rape revenge story, but TROUBLE GIRLS ain't it. The marketing team compares it to THELMA & LOUISE - but TROUBLE GIRLS lacks the tragic, fuck the world denouement of THELMA & LOUISE, ending not in a bang but a whimper. Likewise, it's missing the interrogation of rape culture and compelling protagonist that make Mindy McGinnis's THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES one of my all-time favorite rape revenge stories.
I kept waiting for TROUBLE GIRLS to find its LEGEND OF BILLIE JEAN moment - especially as Rubin teases us with scenes of Trixie and Lux following the media coverage of their case, and occasionally chiming in on the message boards themselves. To wit:
"But know there are girls like us, waiting in the wings. Girls with knives on their fingers and razor blades for teeth. Girls, like me, who will gut you like a fish the minute you try and lay a hand on one of us ever again. You won’t know who it is until it happens. By then, it’ll be too late, the knife too deep in your intestines, the smile too bright on the girl’s face."
I'm not alone in thinking this is a battle cry, right? But for all her piss and vinegar, all her “Let’s go light some shit on fire" posturing, the most Trixie can manage is...stomping on some Confederate lawn flags and slashing the tires of a group of racist bikers. Like, babe, you're a hunter now! Let's go bag some hog men!
Even as she realizes that she started something BIG, Trixie doesn't even have the courtesy of engaging with the Intersectional Feminist Union directly - you know, those black and brown girls who she left to fight the Grimaldis and hog boys on their own. At least have their backs with an online confirmation that Bryce was a rapist! Seems like that would have been a little more useful than empty threats posted on Neanderthal message boards.
I don't know, there's just so much wrong with this story. Chalk it up as my first major disappointment of 2021.
If you're looking for a good rape revenge book, might I suggest:
- THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES by Mindy McGinnis
- THE SWALLOWS by Lisa Lutz
- THEY NEVER LEARN by Layne Fargo
- THE NOWHERE GIRLS by Amy Reed
- VIGILANTE by Kady Cross
- & of course, Stieg Larsson's MILLENNIUM series.
November 1, 2024
Overview:
Trouble Girls is an exhilarating read that captivates from the start with its engaging narrative and dynamic characters. The story revolves around two teenage girls, a fierce friendship, and the tumultuous events that lead them to embrace their rebellious sides in a quest for freedom and self-discovery. The author skillfully weaves together themes of identity, friendship, and the struggle against societal norms, creating a vibrant backdrop that draws readers in.
The pacing of the book is well-executed, allowing moments of tension to build while also providing brief respites for character development. The plot is thrilling and rich, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the characters navigate their challenges. The emotional stakes feel high, and the camaraderie between the protagonists is both relatable and inspiring. Rubin’s writing style is engaging, making it easy to connect with the characters’ journeys.
However, my enjoyment took a hit with the ending. While I appreciate a good cliffhanger, this particular conclusion felt abrupt and left me yearning for more resolution. The story didn’t feel complete, and I was left with an overwhelming sense of dissatisfaction. As a reader, I felt that a few additional pages could have provided the closure needed to wrap up the narrative threads more satisfactorily.
Despite this drawback, Trouble Girls is a compelling read that I highly recommend. I am genuinely hoping for a sequel to continue exploring the lives of these characters and their story. The strong foundation laid in this book makes me eager to see where their journeys will lead next, as I believe there is so much more to uncover. Overall, this book is an exciting ride that is definitely worth the read, just be prepared for an ending that might leave you wanting more.
Trouble Girls is an exhilarating read that captivates from the start with its engaging narrative and dynamic characters. The story revolves around two teenage girls, a fierce friendship, and the tumultuous events that lead them to embrace their rebellious sides in a quest for freedom and self-discovery. The author skillfully weaves together themes of identity, friendship, and the struggle against societal norms, creating a vibrant backdrop that draws readers in.
The pacing of the book is well-executed, allowing moments of tension to build while also providing brief respites for character development. The plot is thrilling and rich, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the characters navigate their challenges. The emotional stakes feel high, and the camaraderie between the protagonists is both relatable and inspiring. Rubin’s writing style is engaging, making it easy to connect with the characters’ journeys.
However, my enjoyment took a hit with the ending. While I appreciate a good cliffhanger, this particular conclusion felt abrupt and left me yearning for more resolution. The story didn’t feel complete, and I was left with an overwhelming sense of dissatisfaction. As a reader, I felt that a few additional pages could have provided the closure needed to wrap up the narrative threads more satisfactorily.
Despite this drawback, Trouble Girls is a compelling read that I highly recommend. I am genuinely hoping for a sequel to continue exploring the lives of these characters and their story. The strong foundation laid in this book makes me eager to see where their journeys will lead next, as I believe there is so much more to uncover. Overall, this book is an exciting ride that is definitely worth the read, just be prepared for an ending that might leave you wanting more.
April 14, 2021
What a stunning, sucker punch of a novel. It was a devastatingly beautiful love letter to angry girls and queer girls everywhere. This book filled a niche for me that I didn't know I was missing: the angry girls, the messy girls, the girls who make actual mistakes with incredibly high stakes in the contemporary world, and this book provided that for me. It was thrilling to read and you latched onto the characters right away and were with them every mile of their journey. I also loved the discussions of feminism and activism laced throughout the novel. It was very interesting to see how Trixie and Lux's actions grew beyond themselves and started a movement, even when they were more removed from the movement than the activists at the college who were leading the charge were. I also just adored the poetry of Trixie and Lux's love for each other. I can't wait for this book to come out so I can share it with my friends. I'll definitely be recommending this to the older end of the YA age range, just because of the trigger warnings that will need to go along with it. (like for real please check the trigger warnings before you read.) Overall, a fantastic read that I couldn't put down.
July 2, 2021
TROUBLE GIRLS by Julia Lynn Rubin is a fierce YA novel! This book is a reimagining of the movie Thelma & Louise about two teenage girls, Trixie and Lux, who escape their small town after a violent night.
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I really appreciated the content warning at the front of the book stating that this book contains off-page sexual assault and on-page violence as well as support resource information. There are several intense issues and situations in this book that could make it difficult to read.
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I really enjoyed the queer representation and the strong bond between the two girls. This was one wild ride of a book!
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Thank you to Wednesday Books for my gifted review copy!
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I really appreciated the content warning at the front of the book stating that this book contains off-page sexual assault and on-page violence as well as support resource information. There are several intense issues and situations in this book that could make it difficult to read.
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I really enjoyed the queer representation and the strong bond between the two girls. This was one wild ride of a book!
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Thank you to Wednesday Books for my gifted review copy!
February 26, 2021
3.5 stars
Trouble Girls is thought-provoking, road-trip thriller and queer love story about high schoolers turned fugitives is written great. I just wished it had epilogue but overall, it was well-written and I highly recommend it.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Trouble Girls is thought-provoking, road-trip thriller and queer love story about high schoolers turned fugitives is written great. I just wished it had epilogue but overall, it was well-written and I highly recommend it.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2021
A queer, modern day Thelma & Louise for the YA market. Trouble Girls had me hooked from the very first paragraph. In a couple of sentences Julia Lynn Rubin had set the tone for the entire story. I instantly knew Trixie’s voice and her outlook on the world. The journey that Trixie and Lux go on isn’t a scene for scene recreation of the movie so the plot still kept me on the edge of my seat.
I personally loved how harsh and messy this book was at times. I can see how those things won’t appeal to all readers. Trixie and Lux constantly make bad decisions. However I do think that is understandable since they’re young, on the run, and in way over their heads. They’re willing to do whatever is necessary to try and protect one another.
The ending of the book had my heart racing. I was anxious to find out if the story was going to end like the movie or not. I can see people wanting more from the ending, but I’m personally satisfied with where it left off. This is a dark book that won’t be for all readers, but I definitely recommend it to people who enjoy hard-hitting YA books.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I personally loved how harsh and messy this book was at times. I can see how those things won’t appeal to all readers. Trixie and Lux constantly make bad decisions. However I do think that is understandable since they’re young, on the run, and in way over their heads. They’re willing to do whatever is necessary to try and protect one another.
The ending of the book had my heart racing. I was anxious to find out if the story was going to end like the movie or not. I can see people wanting more from the ending, but I’m personally satisfied with where it left off. This is a dark book that won’t be for all readers, but I definitely recommend it to people who enjoy hard-hitting YA books.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2020
“I don’t know when it started, really. It crept up on me slowly, like a soothing lullaby that lulled me into dreams of always her.”
Parts of this book were really difficult for me to read personally. But that’s because the way this story was written every high and low felt insanely realistic even more so as a survivor. Lux & Trixie took me on a devastating and thrilling journey and I’m really glad I stuck it out till the end.
TW // sexual assault , ptsd in relation to sexual assault
Parts of this book were really difficult for me to read personally. But that’s because the way this story was written every high and low felt insanely realistic even more so as a survivor. Lux & Trixie took me on a devastating and thrilling journey and I’m really glad I stuck it out till the end.
TW // sexual assault , ptsd in relation to sexual assault
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June 4, 2021This had so much potential but uh... no.
Trouble Girls is about two girls named Trixie and Lux. They were supposed to have a fun weekend getaway but after Lux gets assaulted by a man at a bar, Trixie kills him. As they go on the run, they have only each other and money that is going fast.
The summary for this book gassed it up, HARD. It goes through all this shit about how they are the queens of the #Metoo movement while it namedrops the hashtag multiple times like this is some epic feminism badass book but this was fucking trash?? There is no epic road trip / on the run with cops after their every move. They go online once to see how people are seeing them and to talk some shit to gross dudes but that's it?? They watch the news a few times but besides that, they are completely unbothered and their journey has NO fucking goal.
They aren't on some quest- they are on the most boring road trip ever with petty crime to survive every now and then. MAYBE if there was actually a sense of urgency and they were actually hiding from the cops?? But no the entire trip is stupid as hell as they shoplift jewelry from Walmart and rob a gas station for $90. Our greatest heroes!!
This could have been SUCH a banger. Trixie literally kills a rapist, fuck yeah sis do it again. That scene was so rushed though it was WEIRD?? Like hol up this is literally the most important thing the book will do maybe we should think about this some more. The pacing in the entire book was just so bad. So many unimportant scenes were dragged out while things that could have been were just there and gone. When they turned on the news for five seconds so we could get a shot of what was happening only for it to be like okay enough of that let's read about the girls stealing chips.
Then the book just said we're going to start a conversation about important things like rape culture and fighting misogyny but then we are gonna go be dumb and have no depth to ANY of this.
Trixie and Lux, yikes. First I hate their names second I hate them. Lux tells off Trixie for treating her like a manic pixie dream girl and then the book does nothing after that so I wonder why they even bothered to say it. The romance was not good either. There was never any build up or even them stopping for a second to talk about their relationship. Trixie is in love with her from the beginning and after being on the run they are both like oh well okay I guess we'll make out and suddenly be girlfriends.
It's funny because this isn't the first book I read with this concept but while this one was slightly gayer, they were both bad.
Trouble Girls is about two girls named Trixie and Lux. They were supposed to have a fun weekend getaway but after Lux gets assaulted by a man at a bar, Trixie kills him. As they go on the run, they have only each other and money that is going fast.
The summary for this book gassed it up, HARD. It goes through all this shit about how they are the queens of the #Metoo movement while it namedrops the hashtag multiple times like this is some epic feminism badass book but this was fucking trash?? There is no epic road trip / on the run with cops after their every move. They go online once to see how people are seeing them and to talk some shit to gross dudes but that's it?? They watch the news a few times but besides that, they are completely unbothered and their journey has NO fucking goal.
They aren't on some quest- they are on the most boring road trip ever with petty crime to survive every now and then. MAYBE if there was actually a sense of urgency and they were actually hiding from the cops?? But no the entire trip is stupid as hell as they shoplift jewelry from Walmart and rob a gas station for $90. Our greatest heroes!!
This could have been SUCH a banger. Trixie literally kills a rapist, fuck yeah sis do it again. That scene was so rushed though it was WEIRD?? Like hol up this is literally the most important thing the book will do maybe we should think about this some more. The pacing in the entire book was just so bad. So many unimportant scenes were dragged out while things that could have been were just there and gone. When they turned on the news for five seconds so we could get a shot of what was happening only for it to be like okay enough of that let's read about the girls stealing chips.
Then the book just said we're going to start a conversation about important things like rape culture and fighting misogyny but then we are gonna go be dumb and have no depth to ANY of this.
Trixie and Lux, yikes. First I hate their names second I hate them. Lux tells off Trixie for treating her like a manic pixie dream girl and then the book does nothing after that so I wonder why they even bothered to say it. The romance was not good either. There was never any build up or even them stopping for a second to talk about their relationship. Trixie is in love with her from the beginning and after being on the run they are both like oh well okay I guess we'll make out and suddenly be girlfriends.
It's funny because this isn't the first book I read with this concept but while this one was slightly gayer, they were both bad.
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