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Revenge of the Sluts
Double standards are about to get singled out.
In this stunning debut, author Natalie Walton tackles privacy and relationships in the digital age.
As a lead reporter for The Warrior Weekly, Eden has covered her fair share of stories at St. Joseph's High School. And when intimate pictures of seven female students are anonymously emailed to the entire school, Eden is determined to get to the bottom of it.
In tracking down leads, Eden is shocked to discover not everyone agrees the students are victims. Some people feel the girls "brought it on themselves." Even worse, the school’s administration seems more concerned about protecting its reputation than its students.
With the anonymous sender threatening more emails, Eden finds an unlikely ally: the seven young women themselves. Banding together to find the perpetrator, the tables are about to be turned. The Slut Squad is fighting back!
In this stunning debut, author Natalie Walton tackles privacy and relationships in the digital age.
As a lead reporter for The Warrior Weekly, Eden has covered her fair share of stories at St. Joseph's High School. And when intimate pictures of seven female students are anonymously emailed to the entire school, Eden is determined to get to the bottom of it.
In tracking down leads, Eden is shocked to discover not everyone agrees the students are victims. Some people feel the girls "brought it on themselves." Even worse, the school’s administration seems more concerned about protecting its reputation than its students.
With the anonymous sender threatening more emails, Eden finds an unlikely ally: the seven young women themselves. Banding together to find the perpetrator, the tables are about to be turned. The Slut Squad is fighting back!
328 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2021
28 people are currently reading
6288 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Walton
2 books145 followersNatalie Walton is the author of REVENGE OF THE SLUTS (2.2.21). She wrote Revenge of the Sluts while working toward her degree in sociology and criminal justice.
You can find Natalie on Twitter and Instagram @nataliexwalton.
[headshot by Xander Opiyo]
You can find Natalie on Twitter and Instagram @nataliexwalton.
[headshot by Xander Opiyo]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews
December 7, 2020
I wrote the book so I stand by it being good!!
REVENGE OF THE SLUTS is recommended to anyone who is a fan of:
aspiring journalists
teen sleuths
social commentary
fighting the system
And, just as a warning, there are mentions of cyberbullying and sexual violence/revenge porn throughout the book. There is a TW in the book itself but wanted it to be here, too!
If you're interested in learning more about revenge porn and revenge porn advocacy, or if you would like access to a support hotline, we have some resources listed out here (for both inside and outside of the USA): https://www.rotsbook.com/what-is-reve...
REVENGE OF THE SLUTS will be in bookstores Feb. 2, 2021. Can't wait to hear what y'all think.
REVENGE OF THE SLUTS is recommended to anyone who is a fan of:
aspiring journalists
teen sleuths
social commentary
fighting the system
And, just as a warning, there are mentions of cyberbullying and sexual violence/revenge porn throughout the book. There is a TW in the book itself but wanted it to be here, too!
If you're interested in learning more about revenge porn and revenge porn advocacy, or if you would like access to a support hotline, we have some resources listed out here (for both inside and outside of the USA): https://www.rotsbook.com/what-is-reve...
REVENGE OF THE SLUTS will be in bookstores Feb. 2, 2021. Can't wait to hear what y'all think.
April 15, 2021
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Natalie Walton's Revenge of the Sluts (awesome title) is a totally compelling, thought-provoking high school drama and a commentary on how young women are treated for being sexually active and confident.
“It all started with a pair of boobs. More specifically, a photo of Sloane Mayer’s.”
One morning an anonymous email is sent to all students at St. Joseph’s High School. The email includes nude photos of seven female students. These are photos they took at one point and sent to someone, but they never intended them for public consumption.
The school is in an uproar. While many feel these girls have had their privacy violated and don’t understand who would do this and why, others believe that it’s the girls' own fault for taking such photos, for being sexually active. Among the worst culprits of this philosophy are many male students, who think it’s great they get these pictures from girls but don’t have any problem sharing them or other lurid details with their peers.
Eden Jeong is the executive editor of the school newspaper, and she is assigned coverage of “Nudegate.” She’s amazed at the different attitudes of people toward this scandal—even the girls themselves—and wants to get to the bottom of it. But it appears even the school doesn’t want to figure out the truth—they want it all to go away and they don’t want the paper to cover it. Eden also has to resolve her own feelings about this issue and her own fears, too.
What ensues with Revenge of the Sluts is a terrific story—a little bit of mystery and a little bit of commentary on double standards. I really thought this was great—high school drama always appeals to me—and it’s sad how skewed people’s thinking still is in this day and age.
I enjoyed being on the blog tour for Revenge of the Sluts . Storygram Tours and Wattpad Books provided me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Natalie Walton's Revenge of the Sluts (awesome title) is a totally compelling, thought-provoking high school drama and a commentary on how young women are treated for being sexually active and confident.
“It all started with a pair of boobs. More specifically, a photo of Sloane Mayer’s.”
One morning an anonymous email is sent to all students at St. Joseph’s High School. The email includes nude photos of seven female students. These are photos they took at one point and sent to someone, but they never intended them for public consumption.
The school is in an uproar. While many feel these girls have had their privacy violated and don’t understand who would do this and why, others believe that it’s the girls' own fault for taking such photos, for being sexually active. Among the worst culprits of this philosophy are many male students, who think it’s great they get these pictures from girls but don’t have any problem sharing them or other lurid details with their peers.
Eden Jeong is the executive editor of the school newspaper, and she is assigned coverage of “Nudegate.” She’s amazed at the different attitudes of people toward this scandal—even the girls themselves—and wants to get to the bottom of it. But it appears even the school doesn’t want to figure out the truth—they want it all to go away and they don’t want the paper to cover it. Eden also has to resolve her own feelings about this issue and her own fears, too.
What ensues with Revenge of the Sluts is a terrific story—a little bit of mystery and a little bit of commentary on double standards. I really thought this was great—high school drama always appeals to me—and it’s sad how skewed people’s thinking still is in this day and age.
I enjoyed being on the blog tour for Revenge of the Sluts . Storygram Tours and Wattpad Books provided me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
January 28, 2021
RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT NOVEL OF THE EFFECTS OF REVENGE PORN
If there is one part of sexism today that is steamed in victim blaming it is revenge porn. You often hear people say 'Those girls just shouldn't share those kinds of photos of themselves with anyone else'. These people completely ignore the context of the photos, the breach of trust and the effects on the victims. This story takes those things into account, and that's why this is an important novel for teens of both sexes to read.
👍 What I Liked 👍
Topic: Revenge porn is important to be able to talk about without blaming the victims. This story showed that victim blaming, but is also examined the effects it had on the girls. It provided important context.
Atticus: This story features toxic males a plenty, but also a stand up male role model - Atticus. He was vocal about his disapproval of the distribution of the photos, he stood up to the toxic guys and told them off and he defended his female friend and her choices. It was refreshing to see a guy, who didn't 'jump on the bandwagon' in public and repented in private. He was consistent all the way through.
Slut Squad: The seven girls, who had their photos shared with the entire school, banded together in a support group called the Slut Squad. While I didn't particularly liked the name, it was symbolic - every else considered them sluts for the sole reason that they had shared semi-nude pictures of themselves with someone else. Their bonding, their sisterhood and the way they supported each other was very inspirational and I hope other girls can really learn from that.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Ending: While I enjoyed the main part of the book, I did find the ending a little problematic. I understood while Walton wrote it as she did, why she chose to end it that way. I get what she was trying to do and she almost made it. But in ending it the way she did, I think she poked at another problem, that wasn't completely resolved by the ending. Almost, but not quite.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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Blog Post: 15 Books to Read if You Love Jane Austen
If there is one part of sexism today that is steamed in victim blaming it is revenge porn. You often hear people say 'Those girls just shouldn't share those kinds of photos of themselves with anyone else'. These people completely ignore the context of the photos, the breach of trust and the effects on the victims. This story takes those things into account, and that's why this is an important novel for teens of both sexes to read.
👍 What I Liked 👍
Topic: Revenge porn is important to be able to talk about without blaming the victims. This story showed that victim blaming, but is also examined the effects it had on the girls. It provided important context.
Atticus: This story features toxic males a plenty, but also a stand up male role model - Atticus. He was vocal about his disapproval of the distribution of the photos, he stood up to the toxic guys and told them off and he defended his female friend and her choices. It was refreshing to see a guy, who didn't 'jump on the bandwagon' in public and repented in private. He was consistent all the way through.
Slut Squad: The seven girls, who had their photos shared with the entire school, banded together in a support group called the Slut Squad. While I didn't particularly liked the name, it was symbolic - every else considered them sluts for the sole reason that they had shared semi-nude pictures of themselves with someone else. Their bonding, their sisterhood and the way they supported each other was very inspirational and I hope other girls can really learn from that.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Ending: While I enjoyed the main part of the book, I did find the ending a little problematic. I understood while Walton wrote it as she did, why she chose to end it that way. I get what she was trying to do and she almost made it. But in ending it the way she did, I think she poked at another problem, that wasn't completely resolved by the ending. Almost, but not quite.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
Blog ✨ Facebook ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter
Blog Post: 15 Books to Read if You Love Jane Austen
January 22, 2021
***ARC received via NetGalley***
The only thing in this bookish world I hate more than a horrible novel is a novel that's absolutely, horrendously bad until the very last pages, when it gets good.
Because, what am I supposed to do with it then? I just spent days creating a list of all the ways I'll drag it through the mud in my review once I'm done reading, and in the end...the novel redeemed itself?
So yes, the first 70% of Revenge of the Sluts was plain bad:
–The writing was amateurish
–Each and every irrelevant detail was unnecessarily described. (The MC couldn't just get home from school, it had to be all like: "I turned up the radio as a distraction and had a mostly uneventful drive home. When I reached my driveway, I dragged myself out of the car, the weight of the day piled onto my shoulders."
–There was a lot of unnecessary dialogue that sounded unnatural and clumsy
–The whole time I was wondering how can someone write so much without telling anything
–The MC was Korean, but without any representation. (Maybe it's just me, but I hate when white authors make their characters minority, solely for the purpose of "diversity".)
–Even though book blurb suggests otherwise, this novel was basically just about a girl writing an article for school paper acting like she was a journalist writing breaking news for USA Today. Absolutely ridiculous.
This easily could've been the worst book I read in 2021, but things picked up toward the end and the ending was satisfying (even though I figured the mystery out on my own).
So, yeah, somehow it gets 3 stars!
The only thing in this bookish world I hate more than a horrible novel is a novel that's absolutely, horrendously bad until the very last pages, when it gets good.
Because, what am I supposed to do with it then? I just spent days creating a list of all the ways I'll drag it through the mud in my review once I'm done reading, and in the end...the novel redeemed itself?
So yes, the first 70% of Revenge of the Sluts was plain bad:
–The writing was amateurish
–Each and every irrelevant detail was unnecessarily described. (The MC couldn't just get home from school, it had to be all like: "I turned up the radio as a distraction and had a mostly uneventful drive home. When I reached my driveway, I dragged myself out of the car, the weight of the day piled onto my shoulders."
–There was a lot of unnecessary dialogue that sounded unnatural and clumsy
–The whole time I was wondering how can someone write so much without telling anything
–The MC was Korean, but without any representation. (Maybe it's just me, but I hate when white authors make their characters minority, solely for the purpose of "diversity".)
–Even though book blurb suggests otherwise, this novel was basically just about a girl writing an article for school paper acting like she was a journalist writing breaking news for USA Today. Absolutely ridiculous.
This easily could've been the worst book I read in 2021, but things picked up toward the end and the ending was satisfying (even though I figured the mystery out on my own).
So, yeah, somehow it gets 3 stars!
February 22, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
When nude photos of a group of female students are released at a prestigious high school, the administration just wants to keep everything hush-hush. Thankfully, a team of determined journalists and the targeted girls themselves want to uncover whodunit.
I loved the investigative journalism take and kept turning the pages to see how it would all be revealed. I think sometimes Eden, our main protagonist was distracted by her own life and felt Sloane and Ronnie made more interesting characters. I liked that Natalie Walton wrote her female characters as strong and willing to confront the way they were being treated.
Publication Date 02/02/21
Goodreads review 22/02/21
#RevengeoftheSluts #NetGalley
When nude photos of a group of female students are released at a prestigious high school, the administration just wants to keep everything hush-hush. Thankfully, a team of determined journalists and the targeted girls themselves want to uncover whodunit.
I loved the investigative journalism take and kept turning the pages to see how it would all be revealed. I think sometimes Eden, our main protagonist was distracted by her own life and felt Sloane and Ronnie made more interesting characters. I liked that Natalie Walton wrote her female characters as strong and willing to confront the way they were being treated.
Publication Date 02/02/21
Goodreads review 22/02/21
#RevengeoftheSluts #NetGalley
December 25, 2020
Actual Rating 2.5
Thank you Netgalley for the review copy.
“We did the right thing for the girls. And the right thing for the girls is the right thing for everyone else.”
One day, students of St. Joseph’s High School got an email. Inside it was nudes of 7 girls, nothing is common in all of these girls except they all are seniors.
Eden is a journalist of the school’s newspaper, she wanted to get justice for all of these girls. School administration doesn’t want this news to get out and forcing journalists to not work on this topic. School is doing nothing for these girls.
I really loved the concept of the book. How it talks about the double standard of the society, How common it is to blame only girls. I really like the character of Eden and Sloane, all the other characters were bland. All the male characters sounded the same to me, I kept mixing their names, It was annoying.
I missed the point how it was the revenge of the sluts, I was expecting all girls to take revenge from their oppressors, not only or two. So I found the title kind of misleading. The big twist wasn’t that big, I kind of got the idea. So the ending wasn’t unpredictable. The pace of the book was too slow for me.
It is that type of book which had the potential but got lost somewhere.
“It’s because of them that a difficult conversation can be had. If we didn’t have people speaking out and fighting like this, we wouldn’t have progress.”
Thank you Netgalley for the review copy.
“We did the right thing for the girls. And the right thing for the girls is the right thing for everyone else.”
One day, students of St. Joseph’s High School got an email. Inside it was nudes of 7 girls, nothing is common in all of these girls except they all are seniors.
Eden is a journalist of the school’s newspaper, she wanted to get justice for all of these girls. School administration doesn’t want this news to get out and forcing journalists to not work on this topic. School is doing nothing for these girls.
I really loved the concept of the book. How it talks about the double standard of the society, How common it is to blame only girls. I really like the character of Eden and Sloane, all the other characters were bland. All the male characters sounded the same to me, I kept mixing their names, It was annoying.
I missed the point how it was the revenge of the sluts, I was expecting all girls to take revenge from their oppressors, not only or two. So I found the title kind of misleading. The big twist wasn’t that big, I kind of got the idea. So the ending wasn’t unpredictable. The pace of the book was too slow for me.
It is that type of book which had the potential but got lost somewhere.
“It’s because of them that a difficult conversation can be had. If we didn’t have people speaking out and fighting like this, we wouldn’t have progress.”
January 28, 2021
Well...this book tried, I'll give it that. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't mind blowing either.
The writing style was surprisingly well done. After all I've heard about Wattpad fics and books, I wasn't sure what to expect. I only read one other published Wattpad book which was great. So I was pleased to see the writing was done "professionally".
The pacing was strange. The beginning was okay, I LOVED the middle, and the ending was both interesting and anticlimactic.
I'm not sure how I feel about Eden. In some ways I could relate to her, as I don't much care about going out and I don't drink (she does occasionally though, but I'm pretending like it didn't happen). And yet, she was somehow still bland? She really only has one interest which is journalism and that's it. That's Eden.
Sloane is okay, even if she seems more like a typical popular-but-misunderstood story character than a real person.
There's seven girls affected by the email, but Sloane is almost all we see. There is a reason. I wish the other girls were featured more, still.
Atticus is the best character. He's protective and kind and I think he and Eden will have a happy future.
Now let's talk about the other stuff.
The girls didn't fight back, not really. They did make some statements, but that's it. I was expecting some crazy revenge scheme and nada.
Everything was resolved too quickly at the end. It also wasn't that hard to guess who was behind it all. There's too big of a clue given in the beginning. But I appreciate the effort.
I think this book is good for younger readers (despite the content) and for people who haven't read too many mysteries and/or don't mind them being pretty light.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
The writing style was surprisingly well done. After all I've heard about Wattpad fics and books, I wasn't sure what to expect. I only read one other published Wattpad book which was great. So I was pleased to see the writing was done "professionally".
The pacing was strange. The beginning was okay, I LOVED the middle, and the ending was both interesting and anticlimactic.
I'm not sure how I feel about Eden. In some ways I could relate to her, as I don't much care about going out and I don't drink (she does occasionally though, but I'm pretending like it didn't happen). And yet, she was somehow still bland? She really only has one interest which is journalism and that's it. That's Eden.
Sloane is okay, even if she seems more like a typical popular-but-misunderstood story character than a real person.
There's seven girls affected by the email, but Sloane is almost all we see. There is a reason. I wish the other girls were featured more, still.
Atticus is the best character. He's protective and kind and I think he and Eden will have a happy future.
Now let's talk about the other stuff.
The girls didn't fight back, not really. They did make some statements, but that's it. I was expecting some crazy revenge scheme and nada.
Everything was resolved too quickly at the end. It also wasn't that hard to guess who was behind it all. There's too big of a clue given in the beginning. But I appreciate the effort.
I think this book is good for younger readers (despite the content) and for people who haven't read too many mysteries and/or don't mind them being pretty light.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
December 13, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Revenge of the Sluts was a lot better than I was anticipating. I didn’t really know how this story was going to form and where it would lead, but I can say it was really good and the point the book made was powerful. This starts out with an anonymous email being sent within a high school to all of the students. In the email several of the students are featured in different states of undress and are quite obviously nude photos. The entire school erupts and no one has any clue as to who sent the photos. The girls in the email are considered “sluts” and are being made fun of and getting called names. Eden, the main character, is the editor of the school newspaper and she wants to write a piece for the paper about what happened, and she wants to know who sent the photos.
The point of this book about slut shaming and revenge porn is phenomenal. I loved how the author was super honest in writing and was realistic. I actually felt like this could have happened at my own high school growing up. The characters all felt super real and I couldn’t help but feel for what happened to the girls. I really loved Sloane, one of the girls whose nude was leaked. She didn’t let this stop her from living her life. She is super okay with her sexuality and isn’t afraid to say what is on her mind. I really enjoyed the mystery of this book as well. A classic kind of whodunit in a high school, which it always super intriguing to me.
While the middle was a little slow paced and I didn’t know where it was going at some points, it was still a really amazing book. I thought the ending could have been stronger, especially with all that the author leads with. I really think this is a super powerful book, and really points out how it is so wrong to slut shame. How it is wrong to think it was the girl’s fault for sending photos. How girls are always considered sluts, but the guys are considered cool for hooking up with so many girls.
Revenge of the Sluts was a lot better than I was anticipating. I didn’t really know how this story was going to form and where it would lead, but I can say it was really good and the point the book made was powerful. This starts out with an anonymous email being sent within a high school to all of the students. In the email several of the students are featured in different states of undress and are quite obviously nude photos. The entire school erupts and no one has any clue as to who sent the photos. The girls in the email are considered “sluts” and are being made fun of and getting called names. Eden, the main character, is the editor of the school newspaper and she wants to write a piece for the paper about what happened, and she wants to know who sent the photos.
The point of this book about slut shaming and revenge porn is phenomenal. I loved how the author was super honest in writing and was realistic. I actually felt like this could have happened at my own high school growing up. The characters all felt super real and I couldn’t help but feel for what happened to the girls. I really loved Sloane, one of the girls whose nude was leaked. She didn’t let this stop her from living her life. She is super okay with her sexuality and isn’t afraid to say what is on her mind. I really enjoyed the mystery of this book as well. A classic kind of whodunit in a high school, which it always super intriguing to me.
While the middle was a little slow paced and I didn’t know where it was going at some points, it was still a really amazing book. I thought the ending could have been stronger, especially with all that the author leads with. I really think this is a super powerful book, and really points out how it is so wrong to slut shame. How it is wrong to think it was the girl’s fault for sending photos. How girls are always considered sluts, but the guys are considered cool for hooking up with so many girls.
December 11, 2020
Someone uses St Joe's student list serve to email the entire student body explicit pictures of seven female students - all of which are over the age of 18. There is no legal recourse - the police aren't interested. The school's administration downplays the seriousness of the situation to deter donations - the bulk of the student body are children of wealthy families. The administration offers walk-in counseling to those impacted, not just the seven young women. They want to push it away as quietly as possible, regardless of the impact on their students.
Eden is assigned this story from her Editor in Chief, Ronnie. Eden tries to interview the young women, though many just want to hide in a corner. But not Sloane - Sloane has been very open with her sexuality, living her life on her terms with confidence. Eden becomes driven to represent the voices of these young women. Slowly they build trust - allowing Eden to hear their feelings, life long impacts on their young lives, all because they trusted the wrong person with explicit photos.
I strongly believe this is an important book - high school young women are targeted and shamed, not just for expressing their sexuality but also for trusting the wrong people with photos of their bodies. The males aren't punished or ridiculed. But the young women live with the error for the rest of their lives. This opens the discussion regarding trust, autonomy, human rights, privacy. It also exposes schools' unwillingness to address the issue, support their students or become involved.
This topic will not become obsolete. If anything has technology and our children grow, it will become even more prevalent issue.
Eden is assigned this story from her Editor in Chief, Ronnie. Eden tries to interview the young women, though many just want to hide in a corner. But not Sloane - Sloane has been very open with her sexuality, living her life on her terms with confidence. Eden becomes driven to represent the voices of these young women. Slowly they build trust - allowing Eden to hear their feelings, life long impacts on their young lives, all because they trusted the wrong person with explicit photos.
I strongly believe this is an important book - high school young women are targeted and shamed, not just for expressing their sexuality but also for trusting the wrong people with photos of their bodies. The males aren't punished or ridiculed. But the young women live with the error for the rest of their lives. This opens the discussion regarding trust, autonomy, human rights, privacy. It also exposes schools' unwillingness to address the issue, support their students or become involved.
This topic will not become obsolete. If anything has technology and our children grow, it will become even more prevalent issue.
December 11, 2020
The premise of this book was enticing.
It all starts with an email. An email everybody at the school received. In it, many pictures of different students, all in some form of undress. There is no clue as to who the sender is, but everyone is talking about it. Eden is a senior, and the editor of the school newspaper. When she sees the email she feels upset, and now she is determined to get to the bottom of it all. Since no one is doing anything, Eden and the students in the pictures join forces to solve the mystery.
First of all, I've read many reviews about the use of the word "slut" in the book. I understand why it might be uncomfortable, but I do believe it was necessary. In real life, that word is used all the time even now, and I feel like in the book the girls try to take the word back, diminish its power. I liked that.
The writing was not bad to me, I think it was good for a debut novel.
The only problem I found in the book was that the ending was predictable, and Eden felt to me a little too plain. It makes sense to have her as the narrator, but I wish she had a bit more of a personality.
My favorite character was Sloane. I loved her attitude towards her sexuality, and I think she's one of the strongest characters in the book. I loved the fact that the girls took action, decided to raise their voice and didn't let the scandal end their lives, but rather learned from it and changed the perspective, the taboos, and the prejudices that exist around sexuality.
In conclusion, I think this book is a strong start for the author. I like her potential and I'm looking forward to reading more of her book in the future.
* I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
It all starts with an email. An email everybody at the school received. In it, many pictures of different students, all in some form of undress. There is no clue as to who the sender is, but everyone is talking about it. Eden is a senior, and the editor of the school newspaper. When she sees the email she feels upset, and now she is determined to get to the bottom of it all. Since no one is doing anything, Eden and the students in the pictures join forces to solve the mystery.
First of all, I've read many reviews about the use of the word "slut" in the book. I understand why it might be uncomfortable, but I do believe it was necessary. In real life, that word is used all the time even now, and I feel like in the book the girls try to take the word back, diminish its power. I liked that.
The writing was not bad to me, I think it was good for a debut novel.
The only problem I found in the book was that the ending was predictable, and Eden felt to me a little too plain. It makes sense to have her as the narrator, but I wish she had a bit more of a personality.
My favorite character was Sloane. I loved her attitude towards her sexuality, and I think she's one of the strongest characters in the book. I loved the fact that the girls took action, decided to raise their voice and didn't let the scandal end their lives, but rather learned from it and changed the perspective, the taboos, and the prejudices that exist around sexuality.
In conclusion, I think this book is a strong start for the author. I like her potential and I'm looking forward to reading more of her book in the future.
* I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
December 10, 2020
This book: SLAPS. The characters are well-developed, the mystery is engaging, and the social commentary around slutshaming and revenge porn is discussed with a lot of thought and nuance while still maintaining the readability of YA. Natalie Walton is the next superstar of YA feminist fiction.
p.s. saw another reviewer saying this isn’t a book, it’s a revolution and.... sis u right
p.s. saw another reviewer saying this isn’t a book, it’s a revolution and.... sis u right
June 19, 2021
➵ actually, two-and-a-half stars.
Despite being a predictable mystery and disappointing through an overtly descriptive writing, Revenge of the Sluts brings important themes of slut shaming, revenge porn, and toxic masculinity to a plot where high school girls are brought to the crossroad of judgement when their nudes are leaked through an anonymous email. Majorly centred around Eden, the executive editor of the school newspaper who is assigned to cover this incident, the social commentary on a scandal like this is well exposed. Having said that, the ability to hook falters and the author's choice to write the character of Eden as a Korean-American doesn't sit well with me, as a reader, for the diversity points it seems to collect without any substance.
24.06.2020 high school mystery books are kinda my weakness.
Despite being a predictable mystery and disappointing through an overtly descriptive writing, Revenge of the Sluts brings important themes of slut shaming, revenge porn, and toxic masculinity to a plot where high school girls are brought to the crossroad of judgement when their nudes are leaked through an anonymous email. Majorly centred around Eden, the executive editor of the school newspaper who is assigned to cover this incident, the social commentary on a scandal like this is well exposed. Having said that, the ability to hook falters and the author's choice to write the character of Eden as a Korean-American doesn't sit well with me, as a reader, for the diversity points it seems to collect without any substance.
↣ an early digital copy received via netgalley
24.06.2020 high school mystery books are kinda my weakness.
November 10, 2020
I really enjoyed this - looking at things like victim shaming, revenge “porn”, and the scary realities that come along with living in modern life - EVERYTHING is digital, accessible and no longer private.
I loved the cast of strong, and interesting female characters and their interactions.
I always enjoy a high school whodunnit and this one did not disappoint.
I think fans of Karen M. McManus One Of Us Is Lying would really enjoy this book.
A solid 4 stars and a very promising debut!
I loved the cast of strong, and interesting female characters and their interactions.
I always enjoy a high school whodunnit and this one did not disappoint.
I think fans of Karen M. McManus One Of Us Is Lying would really enjoy this book.
A solid 4 stars and a very promising debut!
November 9, 2020
"There's nothing wrong with sending photos," Sloane said. "You sent the picture to someone who consented to receiving it and you're an adult, so you didn't do anything bad or wrong. And that applies to all of you equally. The only person to blame here is the person who sent the email."
What a powerful, relevant story. Revenge Porn. It seems to be the dirty words no one wants to talk about, adults and high school students alike. And too often, we wrong and get mad at the person who is "sending" the photo and don't think about the words like consent and adults and the agreement made when you send them. This book shines a light on this and makes the reader weigh it, like the MC does. You have to grapple with the pain and frustration of the girls who have been betrayed and yet, feel guilty. The adults in their worlds also have to struggle with the appropriate response and what, legally, anyone can do. It was such an eye opening story, one with so much insight into the students and the ever-changing digital world we live in. So well done, I'm really glad I read it.
An e-ARC was provided to me by Natalie Walton and Wattpad Books via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
What a powerful, relevant story. Revenge Porn. It seems to be the dirty words no one wants to talk about, adults and high school students alike. And too often, we wrong and get mad at the person who is "sending" the photo and don't think about the words like consent and adults and the agreement made when you send them. This book shines a light on this and makes the reader weigh it, like the MC does. You have to grapple with the pain and frustration of the girls who have been betrayed and yet, feel guilty. The adults in their worlds also have to struggle with the appropriate response and what, legally, anyone can do. It was such an eye opening story, one with so much insight into the students and the ever-changing digital world we live in. So well done, I'm really glad I read it.
An e-ARC was provided to me by Natalie Walton and Wattpad Books via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
March 17, 2021
CW: sexual violence (revenge porn/non consensual pornography) and cyber bullying
Thank you Raincoast Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I liked the book, and I think it’s going to be an important resource for schools/librarians for sure when finding fiction books on this topic.
I appreciate the story and the relevant/important themes it explores. I just think at times the dialogue read a little younger than what I would expect. Other than that, the characters were interesting. I just wish that there was something more, but I don’t know what.
There’s no doubt that this is a book that needs to get in the hands of younger teens who can handle to subject matter. I think as a school resource/reference title, yes. It’s a good one!
Thank you Raincoast Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I liked the book, and I think it’s going to be an important resource for schools/librarians for sure when finding fiction books on this topic.
I appreciate the story and the relevant/important themes it explores. I just think at times the dialogue read a little younger than what I would expect. Other than that, the characters were interesting. I just wish that there was something more, but I don’t know what.
There’s no doubt that this is a book that needs to get in the hands of younger teens who can handle to subject matter. I think as a school resource/reference title, yes. It’s a good one!
November 16, 2020
2.5 stars
The idea behind this story is great, girls have compromising pictures leaked at school then decide to stand up to their bullies. I love stories where girls are strong and fight against their oppressors. The issue I had was that it didn't feel like the girls fought back that much, I think they had two protests and that's about it. The story focused on reporter Eden as she tried to tell the story and stand up to her principal. I was hoping to see more girls band together, more guys getting what they deserved for sharing nude pictures, more policy changes at school but that didn't really happen.
There's the hint that there could be romance, but nothing comes of it and I was a bit sad. Eden and Atticus would make a good couple, he's a guy who actually stands up to his friends and doesn't let them treat girls like crap. The world needs more good guys like him.
Eden does go through some changes, she realizes that she and other girls don't deserve to be shamed and stands up for her principles. I liked the articles and that she befriended some of the girls who were singled out. The story had good bones, just didn't execute well.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The idea behind this story is great, girls have compromising pictures leaked at school then decide to stand up to their bullies. I love stories where girls are strong and fight against their oppressors. The issue I had was that it didn't feel like the girls fought back that much, I think they had two protests and that's about it. The story focused on reporter Eden as she tried to tell the story and stand up to her principal. I was hoping to see more girls band together, more guys getting what they deserved for sharing nude pictures, more policy changes at school but that didn't really happen.
There's the hint that there could be romance, but nothing comes of it and I was a bit sad. Eden and Atticus would make a good couple, he's a guy who actually stands up to his friends and doesn't let them treat girls like crap. The world needs more good guys like him.
Eden does go through some changes, she realizes that she and other girls don't deserve to be shamed and stands up for her principles. I liked the articles and that she befriended some of the girls who were singled out. The story had good bones, just didn't execute well.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
November 22, 2020
* I got this book from netgalley in exhange for a honest review *
This was actually more interesting and likable than i thought it would be. I was very unsure if i would like it at all. But i actually got some Veronica Mars Vibe going on here and i dig that show even though it ended some years ago and the 4th season i haven`t seen because i`ve spoiled it to myself and i do not wanna watch THAT particular happening. If you have seen it, you know. Anyway, it was really interesting to follow. I kind of suspected a couple of people after a while - but the author also made me sort of frame a certain asshole. It kept me intruiged and entertained for all the pages. So i was wrong. I really really liked it! I also really liked Eden and Atticus. if the author decides to write more about St.Joseph and the characters there i hope they get more "screentime" even though they had some...because their chemestry was so nice and not made overly cute in a way? just slowly took place but it did not overpower the things happening in the book.
This was actually more interesting and likable than i thought it would be. I was very unsure if i would like it at all. But i actually got some Veronica Mars Vibe going on here and i dig that show even though it ended some years ago and the 4th season i haven`t seen because i`ve spoiled it to myself and i do not wanna watch THAT particular happening. If you have seen it, you know. Anyway, it was really interesting to follow. I kind of suspected a couple of people after a while - but the author also made me sort of frame a certain asshole. It kept me intruiged and entertained for all the pages. So i was wrong. I really really liked it! I also really liked Eden and Atticus. if the author decides to write more about St.Joseph and the characters there i hope they get more "screentime" even though they had some...because their chemestry was so nice and not made overly cute in a way? just slowly took place but it did not overpower the things happening in the book.
January 14, 2021
Set around the scandal of revenge porn in a Massachusetts high school and seen through the eyes of a student journalist investigating the story, Revenge Of The Sluts examines the toxicity and solidarity between teenagers, powered along by an engaging plot.
This is the first YA book I've read that has hit me with the realisation that I am now a completely different generation to the characters. In this story, the pace of change of technology since I was their age has created a chasm, with different high school problems on either side of it.
HOWEVER. This did not detract from the reading experience. There were more than enough universal experiences to allow for an older reader to relate strongly, and feel fiercely protective of the characters. I also felt myself assigning people from my school days into each of the roles, which made it feel more real and shocking. Not everyone in the book agrees that the girls whose nudes are leaked are victims, however the book itself never paints them as bearing any fault and places it solely on the people who share intimate photos around without consent.
The mystery unfolds in a really well-paced way, and although one of my earliest suspicions about the person being the leak – the core "whodunnit" of the story – ended up being correct, it was still up in the air for a long time and kept me second guessing myself.
I found myself early on being shocked that Massachusetts does not have any laws against revenge porn when the subjects are over 18, but then reminded myself that England and Wales have only had laws on this since 2015!
This feels like an important topic for many high schoolers to read, as a refreshingly open look at a topic that is still taboo.
This is the first YA book I've read that has hit me with the realisation that I am now a completely different generation to the characters. In this story, the pace of change of technology since I was their age has created a chasm, with different high school problems on either side of it.
HOWEVER. This did not detract from the reading experience. There were more than enough universal experiences to allow for an older reader to relate strongly, and feel fiercely protective of the characters. I also felt myself assigning people from my school days into each of the roles, which made it feel more real and shocking. Not everyone in the book agrees that the girls whose nudes are leaked are victims, however the book itself never paints them as bearing any fault and places it solely on the people who share intimate photos around without consent.
The mystery unfolds in a really well-paced way, and although one of my earliest suspicions about the person being the leak – the core "whodunnit" of the story – ended up being correct, it was still up in the air for a long time and kept me second guessing myself.
I found myself early on being shocked that Massachusetts does not have any laws against revenge porn when the subjects are over 18, but then reminded myself that England and Wales have only had laws on this since 2015!
This feels like an important topic for many high schoolers to read, as a refreshingly open look at a topic that is still taboo.
May 4, 2021
“I'm not interested in talking about my feelings. None of them are particularly good or flattering, and frankly, talking about them is embarrassing.”
I love the title and it’s what made me want to read it in the first place, but throughout the book there’s really not much revenge at all until the very end. It’s a cool concept, a smart idea having the main character be the school journalist trying to find the truth (just like us, the readers) and a super important theme, but not as well executed as I’d hoped, with some very cringe dialogues and one-dimensional characters that unfortunately make the book seem a bit too amateurish.
Eden especially, as the narrator, was way too one-dimensional for my taste, and I think the book would’ve benefited with having a shared POV with Sloane, who was by far the best character and one of the most affected by Nudegate.
The final reveal was also very predictable and therefore, anti-climatic, though I get what the author was trying to do. I wish I could give it at least a 3 (if only for the potential and the cool title), but with books like Moxie, The Nowhere Girls and The Female of the Species out there, that tackle similar issues with so much more depth, I can't go over a 2.5
I love the title and it’s what made me want to read it in the first place, but throughout the book there’s really not much revenge at all until the very end. It’s a cool concept, a smart idea having the main character be the school journalist trying to find the truth (just like us, the readers) and a super important theme, but not as well executed as I’d hoped, with some very cringe dialogues and one-dimensional characters that unfortunately make the book seem a bit too amateurish.
Eden especially, as the narrator, was way too one-dimensional for my taste, and I think the book would’ve benefited with having a shared POV with Sloane, who was by far the best character and one of the most affected by Nudegate.
The final reveal was also very predictable and therefore, anti-climatic, though I get what the author was trying to do. I wish I could give it at least a 3 (if only for the potential and the cool title), but with books like Moxie, The Nowhere Girls and The Female of the Species out there, that tackle similar issues with so much more depth, I can't go over a 2.5
July 28, 2020
REVENGE OF THE SLUTS addresses questions surrounding slut shaming and sex crimes in the digital age. If you're looking for an excellent mystery, strong female characters, and thought provoking social commentary wrapped up in an accessible, fun book, I'd highly recommend this story!
February 3, 2021
3.5*
Whenever you see a book that was first published on Wattpad now being traditionally published, it can be quite offputting. It especially makes you a bit weary of the way the book is written and the writing style in general. However, with Revenge of the Sluts that weariness is not necessary. The book is written in a very easy-to-read way and especially doesn’t have too many words trying to say somthing instead of showing it, like a lot of Wattpad books do. Even more, it sometimes could’ve used a bit more adjectives and other ‘extra’ words, because the writing sometimes felt a bit too dry and to-the-point.
It sometimes reads a bit like a news article, which might’ve been done intentionally since journalism is such a big aspect in this book. Our main character writes for her schoolpaper and the whole story is seen through her eyes, so you really see a journalism related point of view, which is a nice switch up because that doesn’t occur often. That point of view can be very relatable if you’re a journalism student or in journalism yourself. On top of that it’s always interesting to read about the importantce of extracurricular activities in the US and how much time American students spend on those things, especially as someone who’s not from the US.
Another thing that was really nice about the main character and her background was that she actually had an ex-boyfriend, which is once again not something you come across often in YA contemorary, especially not since she is more of a shy girl. It was also just really well done in general that there wasn’t a romance storyline for the main character, because this was not her story, it was the story of the girls whose explicit photos got leaked. So a possible romance storyline would’ve brought down the actual messages the book wants to get across. So kuddos to author for that!
And in general it’s just always nice to see girls fight back. This really was an import story to tell, because the leaking of personal photos unfortunately happens way too often. The story was told in such a respectful way and brought a lot of talking points to the table. I think that young teens can learn a lot from reading this book.
However, Revenge of the Sluts was not a perfect book. Where the main character was quite atypical for a YA contemporary, a lot of the other characters felt like caricatures of characters you constantly come across in YA. Take Luke as an example. He was exactly like any other male school bully I’ve come across in YA books and films. And that’s always a pity.
On top of that some relationships felt very underdevelopped. There are a lot of important characters in this book, so to have all of their individual relationships well written, is a hard task. But there were just some relationships where it really bothered me how underdevelopped they were. Take Jeremy and Eden (the MC) as an example. At a certain point in the book Jeremy really wants Eden to go to a house party with him and his boyfriend. He does all he can to convince her, but as a reader you just don’t understand why he cares so much for the fact that Eden needs to come to this party with him. In short: some relationships and actions were just a bit unbelievable.
Let’s finish off with the ending of the book. That ending was also not fully satisfying, unfortunately. Throughout the entire book Eden and her friends are trying to discover Eros’s identiy, the person who leaked the photos of the girls. However, in the end it was not surprising at all who Eros was. From about a third of the way through the book I had already guessed an important part of Eros’s identity, the part that was supposed to be the most ‘shocking’. On top of that the ending wrapped up a bit too quickly, we discover who Eden is and there’s an immediate confrontation and the book ended. It would’ve been better to have that part go a bit more slowly.
However, I’d still highly recommend this book if you’re into YA feminist fiction, and especially if you’re maybe a bit younger than me, and actually fall within the targeted audience of the book.
I received an e-arc of this book through Netgalley, but that doesn’t influence my opinion or anything written in this review. Thanks to the publisher and author for gifting me a copy.
Whenever you see a book that was first published on Wattpad now being traditionally published, it can be quite offputting. It especially makes you a bit weary of the way the book is written and the writing style in general. However, with Revenge of the Sluts that weariness is not necessary. The book is written in a very easy-to-read way and especially doesn’t have too many words trying to say somthing instead of showing it, like a lot of Wattpad books do. Even more, it sometimes could’ve used a bit more adjectives and other ‘extra’ words, because the writing sometimes felt a bit too dry and to-the-point.
It sometimes reads a bit like a news article, which might’ve been done intentionally since journalism is such a big aspect in this book. Our main character writes for her schoolpaper and the whole story is seen through her eyes, so you really see a journalism related point of view, which is a nice switch up because that doesn’t occur often. That point of view can be very relatable if you’re a journalism student or in journalism yourself. On top of that it’s always interesting to read about the importantce of extracurricular activities in the US and how much time American students spend on those things, especially as someone who’s not from the US.
Another thing that was really nice about the main character and her background was that she actually had an ex-boyfriend, which is once again not something you come across often in YA contemorary, especially not since she is more of a shy girl. It was also just really well done in general that there wasn’t a romance storyline for the main character, because this was not her story, it was the story of the girls whose explicit photos got leaked. So a possible romance storyline would’ve brought down the actual messages the book wants to get across. So kuddos to author for that!
And in general it’s just always nice to see girls fight back. This really was an import story to tell, because the leaking of personal photos unfortunately happens way too often. The story was told in such a respectful way and brought a lot of talking points to the table. I think that young teens can learn a lot from reading this book.
However, Revenge of the Sluts was not a perfect book. Where the main character was quite atypical for a YA contemporary, a lot of the other characters felt like caricatures of characters you constantly come across in YA. Take Luke as an example. He was exactly like any other male school bully I’ve come across in YA books and films. And that’s always a pity.
On top of that some relationships felt very underdevelopped. There are a lot of important characters in this book, so to have all of their individual relationships well written, is a hard task. But there were just some relationships where it really bothered me how underdevelopped they were. Take Jeremy and Eden (the MC) as an example. At a certain point in the book Jeremy really wants Eden to go to a house party with him and his boyfriend. He does all he can to convince her, but as a reader you just don’t understand why he cares so much for the fact that Eden needs to come to this party with him. In short: some relationships and actions were just a bit unbelievable.
Let’s finish off with the ending of the book. That ending was also not fully satisfying, unfortunately. Throughout the entire book Eden and her friends are trying to discover Eros’s identiy, the person who leaked the photos of the girls. However, in the end it was not surprising at all who Eros was. From about a third of the way through the book I had already guessed an important part of Eros’s identity, the part that was supposed to be the most ‘shocking’. On top of that the ending wrapped up a bit too quickly, we discover who Eden is and there’s an immediate confrontation and the book ended. It would’ve been better to have that part go a bit more slowly.
However, I’d still highly recommend this book if you’re into YA feminist fiction, and especially if you’re maybe a bit younger than me, and actually fall within the targeted audience of the book.
I received an e-arc of this book through Netgalley, but that doesn’t influence my opinion or anything written in this review. Thanks to the publisher and author for gifting me a copy.
February 8, 2021
* I’ve got this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review*
What can I say, except that I was pleasantly surprised by this story.
I was hooked by it from the first page and read this book way past my bedtime. It’s one of those stories where you tell yourself “just one more chapter”.
I find it very important to talk about topics like slut-shaming, cyber bullying from the young days. And in my opinion these topics were covered in this story very well. It infuriates me, that there is still such a huge difference between how women and men are treated in similar situations. Somehow men always wins.
Off course there were some parts that made me give this book 4 stars instead of 5. Firstly I think it could have been a little bit shorter and secondly the ending was a little bit rushed.
So, do I recommend this book? YES, without a doubt.
What can I say, except that I was pleasantly surprised by this story.
I was hooked by it from the first page and read this book way past my bedtime. It’s one of those stories where you tell yourself “just one more chapter”.
I find it very important to talk about topics like slut-shaming, cyber bullying from the young days. And in my opinion these topics were covered in this story very well. It infuriates me, that there is still such a huge difference between how women and men are treated in similar situations. Somehow men always wins.
Off course there were some parts that made me give this book 4 stars instead of 5. Firstly I think it could have been a little bit shorter and secondly the ending was a little bit rushed.
So, do I recommend this book? YES, without a doubt.
October 19, 2020
Revenge of the Sluts is truly one of those books that sticks with you. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all, but that was what made it so amazing. By confronting so many difficult issues, it provokes discussion on topics that need to be discussed.
Revenge of the Sluts follows Eden, a reporter at her school’s newspaper. After a school-wide email is sent out with six different girls’ nudes, she decides that they deserve justice. Despite facing censorship, legal loopholes, and close minded peers and parents, she follows the story until its end.
I loved every one of the characters. You have no idea how much I felt for the girls who got exposed. I haven’t had to deal with anything like them, but I’ve witnessed the double standards revolving around females, and their refusal to accept the label of sluts for being proud of their bodies was everything I wanted. I loved how the author didn’t shame them for sending pictures, she placed the blame on those who shared them.
Every one of the characters was so tough and strong, but Sloan was by far my favorite. Watching her stand up for herself was amazing, and the way she brought together the rest of the girls was touching. I loved the way she defied the email, owned her sexuality, and led the charge.
I liked having a journalist as a main character. Before reading, I had honestly expected us to have one of the so called sluts as our narrator, but having someone simply looking in allowed for so much more exploration of the problems in the story.
The plot kept me entertained the entire time. It was somewhat hard to read at times because of the subject matter, but loved it. I was somewhat disappointed by the identity of Eros, but it confronted even more issues within society. (jealousy, society’s expectations, societal pressures)
When reading this, I honestly expected a romance to pop up. Thankfully, it didn’t. While it might’ve added some light spots to this book, it would’ve detracted from the confrontation of peer pressure, jealousy, and society’s expectations. I loved seeing Eden and Atticus develop a bond, but I was so happy that it was mainly a side story.
Female friendship!!! So many books foster rivalry between females, whether it be over males, or simple jealousy. I loved watching every one of the “sluts” bond over what they were facing, and confront Eros’s accusations. It was touching because every one of them was different, but the emails brought them all together.
While this definitely wasn’t something that I usually read, I really loved this. I feel like, friendship is something that is always ignored in books, and it’s spotlight in this book was what made me love it. I would definitely recommend this!
Thanks to Netgalley and Natalie Walton for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Revenge of the Sluts follows Eden, a reporter at her school’s newspaper. After a school-wide email is sent out with six different girls’ nudes, she decides that they deserve justice. Despite facing censorship, legal loopholes, and close minded peers and parents, she follows the story until its end.
I loved every one of the characters. You have no idea how much I felt for the girls who got exposed. I haven’t had to deal with anything like them, but I’ve witnessed the double standards revolving around females, and their refusal to accept the label of sluts for being proud of their bodies was everything I wanted. I loved how the author didn’t shame them for sending pictures, she placed the blame on those who shared them.
Every one of the characters was so tough and strong, but Sloan was by far my favorite. Watching her stand up for herself was amazing, and the way she brought together the rest of the girls was touching. I loved the way she defied the email, owned her sexuality, and led the charge.
I liked having a journalist as a main character. Before reading, I had honestly expected us to have one of the so called sluts as our narrator, but having someone simply looking in allowed for so much more exploration of the problems in the story.
The plot kept me entertained the entire time. It was somewhat hard to read at times because of the subject matter, but loved it. I was somewhat disappointed by the identity of Eros, but it confronted even more issues within society. (jealousy, society’s expectations, societal pressures)
When reading this, I honestly expected a romance to pop up. Thankfully, it didn’t. While it might’ve added some light spots to this book, it would’ve detracted from the confrontation of peer pressure, jealousy, and society’s expectations. I loved seeing Eden and Atticus develop a bond, but I was so happy that it was mainly a side story.
Female friendship!!! So many books foster rivalry between females, whether it be over males, or simple jealousy. I loved watching every one of the “sluts” bond over what they were facing, and confront Eros’s accusations. It was touching because every one of them was different, but the emails brought them all together.
While this definitely wasn’t something that I usually read, I really loved this. I feel like, friendship is something that is always ignored in books, and it’s spotlight in this book was what made me love it. I would definitely recommend this!
Thanks to Netgalley and Natalie Walton for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
February 21, 2021
Full Review: https://rueisreadingcorner.blogspot.c...
4.5/5
Eden is a senior in high school the executive editor for her school newspaper, the Warrior Weekly. Most events that have happened aren't really eye-catching so she mainly covers basic things like sports interviews. This all changes one morning when nude photos of seven girls are sent to the entire student body by a person who goes by "Eros". It quickly becomes a hot topic in school and the "perfect" school is no more.
The school doesn't seem to be helping very much with the situation so Eden decides to try and help. After attending a gathering with the victims, who call themselves the Slut Squad, she realizes how much of an impact this has been on all of them. She's determined to get to the bottom of who and why they sent the email.
This book was better than my expectations. From the synopsis, it sounded like a teenage detective-like story which of course reminded me of my all time favorite, Nancy Drew so I had to pick it up.
I loved all the characters! Even though there were a lot of them, the author did an excellent job making each of them unique in their own way. My favorite character was definitely Salone because of the way she stood up for herself. Not only does standing up for oneself take guts, but it also takes a tremendous amount of courage to do so. Even though she was also impacted by the email, she often led the others and comforted them which I found very admirable.
The author touches on a hard topic but does it in a way that makes the reader think in depth a lot more about it. In my opinion, I think part of that is what makes this book such a great read. Revenge of the Sluts is a great debut novel and I'm looking forward to what the author has to write next!
**Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for sending me an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!**
4.5/5
Eden is a senior in high school the executive editor for her school newspaper, the Warrior Weekly. Most events that have happened aren't really eye-catching so she mainly covers basic things like sports interviews. This all changes one morning when nude photos of seven girls are sent to the entire student body by a person who goes by "Eros". It quickly becomes a hot topic in school and the "perfect" school is no more.
The school doesn't seem to be helping very much with the situation so Eden decides to try and help. After attending a gathering with the victims, who call themselves the Slut Squad, she realizes how much of an impact this has been on all of them. She's determined to get to the bottom of who and why they sent the email.
This book was better than my expectations. From the synopsis, it sounded like a teenage detective-like story which of course reminded me of my all time favorite, Nancy Drew so I had to pick it up.
I loved all the characters! Even though there were a lot of them, the author did an excellent job making each of them unique in their own way. My favorite character was definitely Salone because of the way she stood up for herself. Not only does standing up for oneself take guts, but it also takes a tremendous amount of courage to do so. Even though she was also impacted by the email, she often led the others and comforted them which I found very admirable.
The author touches on a hard topic but does it in a way that makes the reader think in depth a lot more about it. In my opinion, I think part of that is what makes this book such a great read. Revenge of the Sluts is a great debut novel and I'm looking forward to what the author has to write next!
**Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wattpad Books for sending me an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!**
January 22, 2021
3.8/5 ☆
This book opens for multiple important discussions that should be had. Everyone can learn something from the social commentary presented in this book. The themes and issues that are being tackled are highly relevant, and I do believe anyone can find some guidance in this book. Today, revenge porn and nudes play a big role in the life of a lot of teenagers, and this book may give more insight into the consequences and aftermath of actions.
When the nudes of seven girls were sent to all the students of St. Joe High School, the reporter for the school paper, Eden Jeong, finds herself looking for answers. Why would someone send intimate photos to the entire school? At the same time, the seven victims find themselves in the spotlight of humiliation, shame, and blame by their fellow peers. While the school's administration is more concerned about protecting their reputation, the girls strive to get to the bottom of it all and change the way victims (especially hate crimes) are being treated.
I may be a bit biased. I read this book a couple of years ago on Wattpad, and will also declare this book as one of the few gems Wattpad has to offer. On a platform like Wattpad, it may be hard to find "good" and well-written books, and this book shone in comparison to other works one can find on the platform. So yeah, I really enjoyed this book at the time.
Now that I am reading this from a critical perspective, I will admit that the writing is alright, but pacing a bit slow. Moreover, the plot can sometimes be a bit boring. Then why did I rate this book 4 stars?
Well, the message and social commentary really captured my interest. I really loved how it addresses the double standards we experience today, slut-shaming, cencorism, and revenge porn. Both victims of revenge porn and bystanders can learn much from this. Especially how to grow as well as how to support each other. Moreover, this book felt quite empowering, as the seven girls stood up against the hate they were receiving and demanded change.
In conclusion, this book felt a tiny bit nostalgic to me. I remember waiting weeks after weeks for an update and a new chapter of this book on Wattpad, and now it will be a published book! Woah. Anyway, looking aside from that, I believe this book is quite important and we all can learn something from it.
Over and out. -Nora<3
(Moreover, I would also like to say that Eden Jeong is a Korean character. I am not Korean, so it's not my place to judge the representation. However, I do recommend listening to Korean reviewers concerning the representation. I will say that Eden's heritage and race does not play a big role in this book, but I thought it was important to address this.)
------
DISCLAIMER: I received a DRC from Wattpad Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
TW//cyberbullying, sexual violence/revenge porn, victim-blaming, fatphobia
This book opens for multiple important discussions that should be had. Everyone can learn something from the social commentary presented in this book. The themes and issues that are being tackled are highly relevant, and I do believe anyone can find some guidance in this book. Today, revenge porn and nudes play a big role in the life of a lot of teenagers, and this book may give more insight into the consequences and aftermath of actions.
When the nudes of seven girls were sent to all the students of St. Joe High School, the reporter for the school paper, Eden Jeong, finds herself looking for answers. Why would someone send intimate photos to the entire school? At the same time, the seven victims find themselves in the spotlight of humiliation, shame, and blame by their fellow peers. While the school's administration is more concerned about protecting their reputation, the girls strive to get to the bottom of it all and change the way victims (especially hate crimes) are being treated.
I may be a bit biased. I read this book a couple of years ago on Wattpad, and will also declare this book as one of the few gems Wattpad has to offer. On a platform like Wattpad, it may be hard to find "good" and well-written books, and this book shone in comparison to other works one can find on the platform. So yeah, I really enjoyed this book at the time.
Now that I am reading this from a critical perspective, I will admit that the writing is alright, but pacing a bit slow. Moreover, the plot can sometimes be a bit boring. Then why did I rate this book 4 stars?
Well, the message and social commentary really captured my interest. I really loved how it addresses the double standards we experience today, slut-shaming, cencorism, and revenge porn. Both victims of revenge porn and bystanders can learn much from this. Especially how to grow as well as how to support each other. Moreover, this book felt quite empowering, as the seven girls stood up against the hate they were receiving and demanded change.
In conclusion, this book felt a tiny bit nostalgic to me. I remember waiting weeks after weeks for an update and a new chapter of this book on Wattpad, and now it will be a published book! Woah. Anyway, looking aside from that, I believe this book is quite important and we all can learn something from it.
Over and out. -Nora<3
(Moreover, I would also like to say that Eden Jeong is a Korean character. I am not Korean, so it's not my place to judge the representation. However, I do recommend listening to Korean reviewers concerning the representation. I will say that Eden's heritage and race does not play a big role in this book, but I thought it was important to address this.)
------
DISCLAIMER: I received a DRC from Wattpad Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
TW//cyberbullying, sexual violence/revenge porn, victim-blaming, fatphobia
February 3, 2021
Thank you to Wattpad Books for sending me an ARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
CW: sexual violence (revenge porn/nonconsensual pornography) and cyber bullying
These CWs are taken straight out of the front of the book.
4/5
This was a really good book. I thought the author did a really great job of handling and presenting a difficult topic.
It jumps right in with the book starting as an email is sent out to all of the students and faculty at St. Joe’s high school. In the email are 7 different nude photos of girls who go to the school. This sparks a scandal, referred to as “Nudegate”, with the school not doing much of anything, the newspaper trying to cover the story, and the girls who had their photos leaked wanting answers and actions.
Our main character in the book is Eden, and she’s the executive editor for the school newspaper. When the email gets sent out, Eden is put in charge of covering the story as it unfolds. Eden was a really good narrator, and I appreciated the way that she followed the story while still sympathizing with the girls, and remembering that they are human.
I thought the story was really interesting and compelling. I wanted to know who Eros was, and I wanted to know what the connection between the girls was. I thought the ending was really satisfying.
The story moved at a good pace, and the characters were easy to relate to. I liked a lot of the characters that were introduced. I would have liked a little bit more about who the characters were because they felt almost as if they were hitting one note and couldn’t do anything else. We didn’t learn more than was necessary for any of the characters, but it made them feel a little flat at times.
Overall, I thought this was a really well-done book. I’d recommend this one to fans of YA contemporary.
CW: sexual violence (revenge porn/nonconsensual pornography) and cyber bullying
These CWs are taken straight out of the front of the book.
4/5
This was a really good book. I thought the author did a really great job of handling and presenting a difficult topic.
It jumps right in with the book starting as an email is sent out to all of the students and faculty at St. Joe’s high school. In the email are 7 different nude photos of girls who go to the school. This sparks a scandal, referred to as “Nudegate”, with the school not doing much of anything, the newspaper trying to cover the story, and the girls who had their photos leaked wanting answers and actions.
Our main character in the book is Eden, and she’s the executive editor for the school newspaper. When the email gets sent out, Eden is put in charge of covering the story as it unfolds. Eden was a really good narrator, and I appreciated the way that she followed the story while still sympathizing with the girls, and remembering that they are human.
I thought the story was really interesting and compelling. I wanted to know who Eros was, and I wanted to know what the connection between the girls was. I thought the ending was really satisfying.
The story moved at a good pace, and the characters were easy to relate to. I liked a lot of the characters that were introduced. I would have liked a little bit more about who the characters were because they felt almost as if they were hitting one note and couldn’t do anything else. We didn’t learn more than was necessary for any of the characters, but it made them feel a little flat at times.
Overall, I thought this was a really well-done book. I’d recommend this one to fans of YA contemporary.
January 25, 2021
Man, I am so glad I was an adult and out of college before cell phones and social media became such a powerful thing. Nowadays, there's cyber bullying, nudes everywhere and quick judgment from keyboard warriors/trolls. Now imagine you're a teenage girl, in high school and all of the sudden the nudes you sent privately to your boyfriend are now included in an email with six other girls. It's already hard enough trying to get through high school unscathed but this absolutely crosses a line. (Anyone, if you absolutely feel the urge to send a nude photo, it is absolutely your right, but do yourself a favor and don't include your face or any distinguishing marks if you can help it.)
I feel like I didn't *quite* get what I expected to based on the title and synopsis. It's an important subject matter to talk about. The double standard and what is ok and not ok depending on your assigned gender. WHY? I don't think it's something that'll go away anytime soon. This is an easy read in terms of the writing is good and I enjoyed having this in a relatable story... and one that's necessary to put out there. However, I was a bit disappointed with the reveal for several reasons but I won't spoil this for anyone. For me, I felt it kinda stripped back what I*thought* the intention was.
Sexuality does need to be discussed more and society's view of how people should act based on whatever factor is annoying and hurtful so I appreciate this book tackling such an important topic.
★★★☆
I feel like I didn't *quite* get what I expected to based on the title and synopsis. It's an important subject matter to talk about. The double standard and what is ok and not ok depending on your assigned gender. WHY? I don't think it's something that'll go away anytime soon. This is an easy read in terms of the writing is good and I enjoyed having this in a relatable story... and one that's necessary to put out there. However, I was a bit disappointed with the reveal for several reasons but I won't spoil this for anyone. For me, I felt it kinda stripped back what I*thought* the intention was.
Sexuality does need to be discussed more and society's view of how people should act based on whatever factor is annoying and hurtful so I appreciate this book tackling such an important topic.
★★★☆
November 23, 2020
Primero que nada, thank you NetGalley and Wattpad Books for providing me with an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, if this a road Wattpad is taking now, I’m all in. This book tackles slut-shaming and revenge porn. It’s sole mission is to talk about it and discuss it pulling no stops and pocking its finger in uncomfortable places. I really appreciate that. The book has a message and carries it through with all its strenght. Sometimes other characters won’t get it as easily and the book goes and reprimands them for it. And this goes for our main protagonist sometimes.
At the end of the novel there’s this sort of twist where I thought we were falling a bit into girl-hate territory. Unfortunately, that scene turned the book in what it was denouncing. However, in that scene the fight actually leads to a character basically yelling at slut-shaming and why it’s wrong. That’s the thing about this book, even though sometimes the dialogue in this brand of stories can be very unrealistic, I’ve heard people say what some of these characters say.
Secondly, even though on one hand I feel like I cannot talk a lot about the pacing because I sat down and finished the book in three hours, on the other hand I do think the middle chunk of the book was a bit slow for what it was trying to do. The investigation maybe got stuck, we were repeting information we, the readers, already knew. Maybe we were supposed to spend time with a lot of characters in order to get to know and develop them. However, that leads me to my next point.
Lastly, the book still lacks a lot of character-development. The reader might leave invested, not for their love for the characters, but because of the message and how these characters are treated unfairly.
In conclusion, I would recommend this book despites its flaws. It has a lot going for. I love what it tries to do, despite me not fully loving the execution. I still think everyone should give it a try and question themselves. 3 stars <3
//
En primer lugar, si este es un camino que Wattpad está tomando ahora, estoy totalmente de acuerdo. Este libro aborda el slut-shaming y como se propagan las fotos intimas para tomar venganza de alguien. Su única misión es hablar de ello y discutirlo sin parar, aunque sea incomodo. Realmente aprecio eso. El libro tiene un mensaje y lo transmite con toda su fuerza. A veces, otros personajes no lo entenderán tan fácilmente y el libro los reprende por ello. Y esto se aplica a veces a nuestro protagonista principal.
Al final de la novela hay una especie de giro en el que pensé que estábamos cayendo un poco en el territorio del girl hate. Desafortunadamente, esa escena convirtió al libro en lo que estaba denunciando. Sin embargo, en esa escena, la pelea en realidad lleva a un personaje que básicamente le grita qué es slut-shaming y por qué está mal. Eso es lo que pasa con este libro, aunque a veces el diálogo en este tipo de historias puede ser muy poco realista, he escuchado a personas decir lo que dicen algunos de estos personajes.
En segundo lugar, aunque, por un lado, siento que no puedo hablar mucho sobre el ritmo porque me senté y terminé el libro en tres horas, por otro lado, creo que la parte central del libro fue un poco lenta para lo que era. estaba tratando de hacer. La investigación quizás se atascó, estábamos repitiendo información que nosotros, los lectores, ya sabíamos. Tal vez se suponía que debíamos pasar tiempo con muchos personajes para conocerlos y desarrollarlos. Sin embargo, eso me lleva al siguiente punto.
Por último, el libro todavía carece de mucho desarrollo de personajes. El lector puede dejar invertido, no por su amor por los personajes, sino por el mensaje y cómo estos personajes son tratados injustamente.
En conclusión, recomendaría este libro a pesar de sus defectos. Tiene mucho que ofrecer. Me encanta lo que intenta hacer, a pesar de que no me encanta la ejecución. Sigo pensando que todos deberían intentarlo y cuestionarse a sí mismos. 3 estrellas <3
As a lead reporter for The Warrior Weekly, Eden has covered her fair share of stories at St. Joseph's High School. And when intimate pictures of seven female students are anonymously emailed to the entire school, Eden is determined to get to the bottom of it.
In tracking down leads, Eden is shocked to discover not everyone agrees the students are victims. Some people feel the girls "brought it on themselves." Even worse, the school’s administration seems more concerned about protecting its reputation than its students.
With the anonymous sender threatening more emails, Eden finds an unlikely ally: the seven young women themselves. Banding together to find the perpetrator, the tables are about to be turned. The Slut Squad is fighting back!
First of all, if this a road Wattpad is taking now, I’m all in. This book tackles slut-shaming and revenge porn. It’s sole mission is to talk about it and discuss it pulling no stops and pocking its finger in uncomfortable places. I really appreciate that. The book has a message and carries it through with all its strenght. Sometimes other characters won’t get it as easily and the book goes and reprimands them for it. And this goes for our main protagonist sometimes.
At the end of the novel there’s this sort of twist where I thought we were falling a bit into girl-hate territory. Unfortunately, that scene turned the book in what it was denouncing. However, in that scene the fight actually leads to a character basically yelling at slut-shaming and why it’s wrong. That’s the thing about this book, even though sometimes the dialogue in this brand of stories can be very unrealistic, I’ve heard people say what some of these characters say.
Secondly, even though on one hand I feel like I cannot talk a lot about the pacing because I sat down and finished the book in three hours, on the other hand I do think the middle chunk of the book was a bit slow for what it was trying to do. The investigation maybe got stuck, we were repeting information we, the readers, already knew. Maybe we were supposed to spend time with a lot of characters in order to get to know and develop them. However, that leads me to my next point.
Lastly, the book still lacks a lot of character-development. The reader might leave invested, not for their love for the characters, but because of the message and how these characters are treated unfairly.
In conclusion, I would recommend this book despites its flaws. It has a lot going for. I love what it tries to do, despite me not fully loving the execution. I still think everyone should give it a try and question themselves. 3 stars <3
//
Como reportera principal de The Warrior Weekly, Eden ha cubierto bastantes historias en St. Joseph's High School. Y cuando las fotos íntimas de siete estudiantes se envían anónimamente por correo electrónico a toda la escuela, Eden está decidida a llegar al fondo de la cuestión.
Al rastrear pistas, Eden se sorprende al descubrir que no todos están de acuerdo en que los estudiantes sean víctimas. Algunas personas sienten que las chicas "se lo buscaron". Peor aún, la administración de la escuela parece más preocupada por proteger su reputación que a sus estudiantes.
Con el mensajero anónimo amenazando con más correos electrónicos, Eden encuentra un aliado poco probable: las siete chicas. Al unirse para encontrar al perpetrador, las tornas están a punto de cambiar.
En primer lugar, si este es un camino que Wattpad está tomando ahora, estoy totalmente de acuerdo. Este libro aborda el slut-shaming y como se propagan las fotos intimas para tomar venganza de alguien. Su única misión es hablar de ello y discutirlo sin parar, aunque sea incomodo. Realmente aprecio eso. El libro tiene un mensaje y lo transmite con toda su fuerza. A veces, otros personajes no lo entenderán tan fácilmente y el libro los reprende por ello. Y esto se aplica a veces a nuestro protagonista principal.
Al final de la novela hay una especie de giro en el que pensé que estábamos cayendo un poco en el territorio del girl hate. Desafortunadamente, esa escena convirtió al libro en lo que estaba denunciando. Sin embargo, en esa escena, la pelea en realidad lleva a un personaje que básicamente le grita qué es slut-shaming y por qué está mal. Eso es lo que pasa con este libro, aunque a veces el diálogo en este tipo de historias puede ser muy poco realista, he escuchado a personas decir lo que dicen algunos de estos personajes.
En segundo lugar, aunque, por un lado, siento que no puedo hablar mucho sobre el ritmo porque me senté y terminé el libro en tres horas, por otro lado, creo que la parte central del libro fue un poco lenta para lo que era. estaba tratando de hacer. La investigación quizás se atascó, estábamos repitiendo información que nosotros, los lectores, ya sabíamos. Tal vez se suponía que debíamos pasar tiempo con muchos personajes para conocerlos y desarrollarlos. Sin embargo, eso me lleva al siguiente punto.
Por último, el libro todavía carece de mucho desarrollo de personajes. El lector puede dejar invertido, no por su amor por los personajes, sino por el mensaje y cómo estos personajes son tratados injustamente.
En conclusión, recomendaría este libro a pesar de sus defectos. Tiene mucho que ofrecer. Me encanta lo que intenta hacer, a pesar de que no me encanta la ejecución. Sigo pensando que todos deberían intentarlo y cuestionarse a sí mismos. 3 estrellas <3
October 15, 2020
This book, wow. Its a very deep book and makes you really want to take a good look in the mirror. High school is never easy but being in the middle of a nude scandle is something no one deserves. People are fast to blame the person in the photo but never look past it. All they see is a naked body. This made makes you look past the naked body and more to the person. And also makes you look to the person who sended them out. Unexpected friendschips for life get build while the slut squat tries to deal with the trauma of the scandal. Will they find out who sended the photos out? Will they make them pay?
November 17, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Revenge of the Sluts was pretty interesting. In a world of double standards.. oh wait, we live in that world currently. Scratch that. Whether we've lived through this or knew someone that went through it, this book revolved around compromising pictures being leaked.
Now me? Never been through this and it didn't happen to anyone that I know of when I was in school. YET, I do know that this happens a lot to celebrities. So, I was trying to picture how they felt when it happened while reading this book.
Honestly, I felt so bad for these girls that were being slut shamed throughout the book. Of course people talk and the people talking were the guys bragging about all the action that they get. Oh man, so many characters made me angry and I just wanted them to be slapped around for a little bit.
The whole mystery part wasn't that hard to solve and trust me - I am a HORRIBLE detective. I will admit that I'm pretty happy that I started to figure everything out before the big reveal. I will also state that I am damn proud that they girls got their revenge. Yeah, it sucked that the whole world basically knew their business but this school sucked ass. It was like they didn't care what the girls were going through.
Don't even get me started on some of the parents either.
Long story short, people suck and if you are sending something private to a loved one - don't share it. Please don't be a dick and talk about it or show other people. It is for your eyes only. Or maybe - don't ask for any compromising photos in general.
Revenge of the Sluts was pretty interesting. In a world of double standards.. oh wait, we live in that world currently. Scratch that. Whether we've lived through this or knew someone that went through it, this book revolved around compromising pictures being leaked.
Now me? Never been through this and it didn't happen to anyone that I know of when I was in school. YET, I do know that this happens a lot to celebrities. So, I was trying to picture how they felt when it happened while reading this book.
Honestly, I felt so bad for these girls that were being slut shamed throughout the book. Of course people talk and the people talking were the guys bragging about all the action that they get. Oh man, so many characters made me angry and I just wanted them to be slapped around for a little bit.
The whole mystery part wasn't that hard to solve and trust me - I am a HORRIBLE detective. I will admit that I'm pretty happy that I started to figure everything out before the big reveal. I will also state that I am damn proud that they girls got their revenge. Yeah, it sucked that the whole world basically knew their business but this school sucked ass. It was like they didn't care what the girls were going through.
Don't even get me started on some of the parents either.
Long story short, people suck and if you are sending something private to a loved one - don't share it. Please don't be a dick and talk about it or show other people. It is for your eyes only. Or maybe - don't ask for any compromising photos in general.
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