Syndrie
A realistic novel that will likely resonate with fans of female friendship stories, "Strange Girls" is a detailed look behind the rise and decline of the relationship between two girls named Ava and Aliya. I'd say this is not just a story about friendship, but also a story about jealousy as well as the importance of communication and learning how to be honest with both yourself and with others.
The prose was smooth and insightful and I really enjoyed how down-to-earth the plot here is because it really helped the story feel more relatable. I also liked the way the split timeline was set up with Ava's chapters being our present day setting, while Aliya's chapters started in the past when the two first met and continued up through their initial falling out. I think this was a good way to offer the reader a more pragmatic understanding of the girls' relationship, whereas a chronological story would've likely not provided quite the same insights throughout.
Overall I think this was a very well-written novel — although I did find some parts of the story to drag a bit — and would absolutely recommend it to readers who enjoy more realistic, character-driven novels.
(Thank you to the publisher, Dutton, for providing me with an advance review copy for free via NetGalley! I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.)
A realistic novel that will likely resonate with fans of female friendship stories, "Strange Girls" is a detailed look behind the rise and decline of the relationship between two girls named Ava and Aliya. I'd say this is not just a story about friendship, but also a story about jealousy as well as the importance of communication and learning how to be honest with both yourself and with others.
The prose was smooth and insightful and I really enjoyed how down-to-earth the plot here is because it really helped the story feel more relatable. I also liked the way the split timeline was set up with Ava's chapters being our present day setting, while Aliya's chapters started in the past when the two first met and continued up through their initial falling out. I think this was a good way to offer the reader a more pragmatic understanding of the girls' relationship, whereas a chronological story would've likely not provided quite the same insights throughout.
Overall I think this was a very well-written novel — although I did find some parts of the story to drag a bit — and would absolutely recommend it to readers who enjoy more realistic, character-driven novels.
(Thank you to the publisher, Dutton, for providing me with an advance review copy for free via NetGalley! I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.)