A review by keegan_leech
I Fear My Pain Interests You by Stephanie LaCava

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

What an unusual book. I'm still thinking about it weeks later, so it's certainly something I would recommend, but it's hard to say what I found appealing about it.

I saw one review describe it as a deconstruction of a "sad girl genre" that I suppose I really enjoy (Fleabag was one example). And I did enjoy the way that it used a kind of deliberate emotional detachment that's present in many other stories I like to very different effect.

I'd recommend it if you think you'd enjoy an unusual, morbid story about being fucked up by your toxic parents and your subsequent toxic relationships. Although I'd add the caveat (or the extra recommendation, depending on who you are) that it's also an unsettling book, to some degree throughout the book, and then very much so as something happens right at the end.

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