Patricia Wants to Cuddle

I liked this book just fine, but I should have loved it. I guess I didn't vibe with the writing. This is satirical, but I think I might have needed that amped up a notch. 

I've read reviews that say there's only one (intentionally) likeable character, but I suppose I didn't feel that way. These characters are flawed and disingenuous, but I didn't really dislike them, other than Jeremy, AKA The Catch. I think these are women we're supposed to write off as vapid, but they're also all women with plans and agency. 

The contestants seem pretty “redeemable,” if redemption is needed – but without spoiling, we all know there's no time for all that. Still, in a book where the tone and length prohibits too much depth and growth, there are moments that still hint at more nuance and complexity.  

The flaws are very human flaws exacerbated by the reality show environment and reality show culture, and by a society that rewards certain behaviors. 

There's a love story woven through out this that we know ends in loss, and that's extremely poignant. This operates on it's own level outside of the satire. Whatever other antics, the author takes seriously the concept of sapphic women having place to belong.

I watch reality shows, but more Housewives than dating competitions, but I'm still familiar with the culture, and the way shows are discussed. It's shocking how well Samantha Allen channels those discussions, the usual suspects, the low-key combativeness and air of superiority. Unnerving. 

Our story becomes very gory toward the end, but due to the tone it's more of a detached grossness. Viscera without being visceral. The tone kept the scary at a distance, too, but that's okay. I don't presume to know what scares other people, but I think I can confidently say not too many people will be checking the locks and trembling under their covers/.

I think “Patricia” might grow on me more over time, since I dreamed about it, and that usually denotes staying power. 

This was unlike anything I've ever read before and I really enjoyed it! It took awhile to get to the actual “horror” parts, but that didn't take away from the pacing at all. 

I couldn't put this book down, it was just so good! Beautiful marriage of my reality show guilty pleasures and my love of horror. 

This wasn't a bad book per say, since it kept me entertained enough not to DNF and I had a decent time for most of it but I also wouldn't say it's good? It was interesting to have a horror novel set in a reality show; I liked how we got POVs in each of the girls heads to be able to see their own ambitions and pasts beyond what they put on for the camera. Honestly it felt like that aspect was what covered most of the book; it didn't seem like the horror came in until almost the very end, not that I minded.

My main problem was that this book felt kind of...rushed? I don't know if it's because of how short it was or how the author wrote or the pacing but I just feel like all the carnage at the end was very abrupt and unsatisfying. Like all of a sudden all these people are dying and I'm just kinda like “...Okay then? I guess?”. Nothing at the end of the book felt like it had enough proper buildup to have it end in that way, especially all the choices Renee makes.

I guess I'm on the fence about this one. This didn't make me angry or upset but I just didn't like where it went.