Youthjuice is killing me
Look I never DNF books, the only book I have ever DNF was Ottessa Moshfegh's "Homesick for another World", but this book is grinding on my patience.
The prose is straight purple, useless meandering that insists upon itself over and over, its like Bradbury but worse. I was already struggling with the poor writing and honestly unoriginal plot, and then it severely pissed me off.
I have dermatillomania, I was diagnosed as a child and I've suffered my whole life with it, and I was surprised to see it appear in this book. This is. THE WORST. representation I have ever seen.
She has something a lot of people struggle with - myself included - she bites her hands to the point of severe damage and she hides her scarring under gloves. I get that, I vibe with that, hell I was reading the book with my ring finger practically degloved, so its nice to see rep even if its shit.
But then. But fricken then. She puts this serum on it and it fully disappears, alongside HER FRICKEN MENTAL ILLNESS.
Not only is it a pretty disturbing and sensationalist description of dermatillomania that made me uncomfortable (whatever its a horror book but it made me feel a little ashamed for my illness) but also shes fucking cured instantly, the whole book is about superficial fixes why does she stop having her urges????
Not only is it a massive plot hole, but as someone who suffers from the illness I'm not a fan.
I won't DNF this book, but its only to leave a very negative review.