47 pages 1 hour read

Emma Cline

The Girls

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2016

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Girls by Emma Cline is a contemporary literary fiction novel that delves into the life of Evie, an adult recalling her adolescence in 1969 when she became enchanted with a bohemian group led by the charismatic yet toxic Russell. Evie's desperation for belonging leads her into dangerous situations and a crushing entanglement with Suzanne, a magnetic female figure in the group. The novel explores themes of girlhood, societal manipulation, and the dark allure of cults. The narrative contains multiple references to sexual abuse and coercion.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Emma Cline’s The Girls is praised for its evocative prose and exploration of adolescence, capturing the allure and danger of a cult. Reviewers appreciate Cline's compelling portrayal of protagonist Evie Boyd's vulnerabilities and the 1960s setting. Some critics note a slow pace and underdeveloped secondary characters but generally commend the novel's haunting and immersive narrative.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Girls?

Readers who would enjoy The Girls by Emma Cline are typically fans of psychological fiction and historical contexts. If you appreciated The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides or Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi, you'll find this novel equally compelling for its exploration of youthful vulnerability and cult psychology.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Historical Fiction

Coming of Age / Bildungsroman

Psychological Fiction

Themes

Identity: Sexuality

Life/Time: Coming of Age

Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Topics

History: World