Plain Bad Heroines may be one of the most unique books of the year, and its premise goes perfectly with spooky season!
This story flows back and forth between past and present. The past takes us to Brookhants School for Girls in the early 1900s, where two young girls mysteriously die and strange happenings continue to occur long after. In the present, we follow three modern women, all involved in the making of a movie covering the haunted history of Brookhants.
*I received this book for free from the publisher (William Morrow Books) in exchange for an honest review.
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Plain Bad Heroines: My Thoughts
First off, it’s important to note that this book is long: about 600 pages in total. When you first start reading, it takes a moment to settle into the rhythm of this book. (The first 150 or so pages start off a little slow.) But once you get past that mark: this story is truly an experience. It picks up in a whirlwind of spooky sapphic vibes!
It’s incredibly unique and imaginative. You’ll probably never read another book quite like it again. It’s difficult to put into words, but I’d describe it as a time-hopping horror (part Gothic, part modern), peppered with tongue-in-cheek humor.
It was so atmospheric, I felt like I was there experiencing the story instead of just reading it. And it must have gotten under my skin (in a good way), because I found myself thinking about it a lot even when I wasn’t reading it.
Sure, it could have done with a bit more editing length-wise. But I do think the longer length helped solidify the characters and the setting’s sordid history.
I recommend Plain Bad Heroines if you’re looking for a spooky, atmospheric read (as long as you’re willing to have a little patience with it)!
Rating: 4.25 (out of 5) stars
Publication date: October 20th, 2020
Looking for more great book recommendations? Check out my list of my most-anticipated October 2020 book releases!
