Title: Gone Girl

Author: Gillian Flynn

Publisher: Broadway Books

Release Date: April 22nd, 2014

Pages: 415

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

A quick disclaimer: this book contains mature content and I wouldn’t suggest it to anyone under 17. Maybe 19 if you’re on the more sensitive side.

I was in love with this book, and I really wasn’t expecting to be. I had loved the movie, which that is one thing — you can have watched the movie when it came out, like I had, and then feel completely shocked by everything happening. Obviously, if you watch it all the time, you may expect everything, but I was totally caught off guard. The actions and motives are so horrendous and shocking that it’s hard to normalize it.

This was also the most thought-provoking novel I have ever read. No other book had ever had me so reflective. Not in the whole kidnapping part, but in how Amy felt. Saying I was reflecting over a phycological thriller may sound bad, but hear me out.

The highlighted part will contain spoilers. The spoilers will end after the highlighted part.

One thing that kept coming back to me was the “cool-girl” topic that Amy frequently referenced in the end of the novel. The “cool-girl” topic was that to be a g truly cool girl to a guy, you must become everything they ever wanted — which is practically a male in a hot girl body. Depending on the kind of guy you like, it might mean turning into a football-obsessed, beer-chugging, nacho-devouring size two or into a video game professional eternally wearing crop tops.

I liked one comment she made on it, which was when will men take it upon themselves to like everything we like to be considered a “cool-guy”?

Now if you find a great guy, you won’t have to put on such a persona, you should never had to do that (especially if you actually love each other), but there are SO many girls who try to be the “cool-girl.”

The “cool-girl” is also different from the girlfriend who will occasionally make football foods during a sports party ad wear the jersey to be festive. That’s just a cute girlfriend.

The “cool-girl” will never expect anything of the guy.

That topic is what really had me thinking because it’s just so incredibly true. I couldn’t stop thinking of that Friends episode where Phoebe, Monica, and Rachel were in love with that book about being your own wind-keeper because men are stealing our wind.

Honestly, just read the book — it explains it all much better than I can.

Ok, now onto the non-spoilery part.

I love them. They’re all so vicious and secretive. Every character played such a critical part in the novel and had a deep history within the plot.

I really wanted to hate Nick, but I just couldn’t. Yes, he was an awful, terrible husband, but wow.

It was actually really frustrating watching everything play out. It makes you wonder about real cases where things like that could actually happen with the false accusations and incriminating evidence on innocent people.

The plot was also stunning. I could not imagine keeping track of everything the way Flynn did. If there is anything to admire about this book, it is how thoughtful and twisted it is. Every small thing plays a pivotal role.

I couldn’t praise this book enough. I recommend this book to everyone probably 17 and up because it is very mature with mature content.

Please let me know what you thought about this book or movie, I would genuinely be interested. Especially let me know your thoughts on the “cool-girl” topic.

Thanks for reading,

Taylor . x