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A review by anniefwrites
Girlhood by Melissa Febos
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Wow. You know a book is good when you want to go back and reread it right away. Melissa Febos's essay collection attributes microscopic attention to her past and finds common threads that weave together internalized misogyny, lack of agency, and stifled exploration of identity and sexuality. She has such a distinct voice and uses such inventive imagery to welcome the reader into her exhibition of vulnerability. For lack of a better word, this book is full of truth-bombs. I highlighted so much, and it's making me reflect on my own experiences as a girl growing up in a patriarchal society. An excellent read.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Death of parent, and Abandonment