grumpyreading's reviews
980 reviews

Yeahhhh I didn’t like this book. While I appreciate the general idea of bringing focus away from the killer in this story, and focusing on the women and their stories, I feel like this missed the mark. Though the author doesn’t say the name Ted Bundy (or a fictionalized version of it), this book was intended to portray the victims and survivors of his crimes. While it was supposed to offer a commentary on the exploitative nature of true crime, and the people who idolize serial killers, it felt exploitative in itself. The very very graphic accounts of what was done to the victims and survivors felt unnecessary at many points for the way the story was being told, and at many points it was confusing what was fact and what was fiction. By using some facts, real names, and real details, alongside fictional details, the story was blurred, and it felt as though the author was concerned with telling the stories of real victims, but did this in a way that was not very tasteful, was potentially insensitive to the victims and their families, and that took away from their actual stories (that many have told themselves as well). 

I also felt that some of the subplots were very surface level, and added confusion or unnecessary details at best. In general, the book was very slow and there wasn’t a ton that happened, and there was nothing outstanding about the writing or the way this was told. It definitely dragged on. 

While I appreciate the intention, I feel like this book could have been told as a new story (not based on a true one) and gotten the same points across in a better way, rather than continuing to be somewhat exploitative about these crimes. The author could have focused on this theme through fiction, and could have drawn attention to accounts written by victims/survivors/families of the crimes she is portraying. 

This book was so sweet. I absolutely LOVE a time loop or time jump trope, and this one gave me everything I hoped for. The characters were loveable and relatable, the romance was sweet, and I loved seeing how their relationship blossomed. I do have a slight question about the mechanism of getting into/out of the time loop for one of our characters… but this didn’t impact my thoughts on the book at all. I adored it and felt like I was right there with them. I giggled, I smiled, and I cried. Looking forward to what Chatham Greenfield writes next! 

See some of my favourite quotes below! 

“I like that idea, that our time is important enough for mementos, even if they won’t last.” 

“We don’t wanna be mistaken for straight people.” 

“Love is still too early of a word, I know, but what we have may be big enough to fit it.” 

“An important lesson I’ve learned over the years is that telling yourself that your pain isn’t the end of the world has never stopped anyone from feeling like meteors are about to strike and the sky is about to cave in.” 

Samantha Allen’s writing is raw and intense, but also funny when it needs to be. The backdrop of the political climate as it relates to queer people in the US to tell deeply personal stories drew me in and was such an important narrative. I do think certain things are more nuanced than their portrayal here, but also understand these things weren’t the purpose of the book, and only so much can fit on these pages. While at times, the book makes you feel hurt and disgusted, Samantha Allen’s writing and the way she shares these stories leaves you feeling hopeful at the possibility of queer communities in current political climates. I think a lot of people need to read this book, and I am glad it exists now in a time when queer and trans people are at so much risk of harm due to policymakers and bigots globally. There were so many great takeaways that I think many people need to read and think about. What I felt was one of the most important quotes, that was written early on, was: “[Learning about gender affirming care options] illuminated a path forward out of a life that felt unlivable.” 

I recommend this book to everyone, and think you’ll enjoy it if you liked: Moby Dyke; Gay Bar: Why We Went Out; or The Stone Wall Reader.