A story about female empowerment during a dystopian future was just the story I needed right now. This story doesn’t just center around one female though, but a group of young women, fighting to liberate themselves from being abused, used, and neglected by those who hold power. These young women have taken the reins for themselves and dive deep to see just how far they are willing to go for their freedom. I was hooked to this book from start to finish and I cannot wait to see what happens next. This is a sequel, so if you haven’t read the first of this story, you might want to pick up Girls With Sharp Sticks first. It’s simply stunning, you definitely don’t want to miss it. I will warn you that both of these stories have triggering material in them. Although nothing is specifically depicted, the characters do recall memories of abuse and trauma. If you’re sensitive to these topics, you might approach this book with some caution. However, I do still recommend this book, because I feel like it is a very strong read!
Girls With Razor Hearts picks up just after the ending of Girls With Sharp Sticks. Mena and her friends have escaped Innovations Academy to find that the real world is no less cruel than what they experienced within the academy walls. Despite the trauma the girls have experienced, they’re fuelled to seek revenge on those who did them harm, and ultimately take down the corporation that took them prisoner. They start by enrolling in Stoneridge Prep, where the girls are hoping to identify the son of an investor with links to the corporation. Their mission is to take the corporation down from within, with help from Leandra, who’s proven herself to be a double agent, and Winston Weeks who’s gone from academy investor to rogue agent. The girls are wondering if they are simply trading one form of control for another…along with a voice that keeps sneaking into Mena’s thoughts. The voice whispers about extreme ideas that are both exciting and frightening to Mena, but as they face new questions about their past and future existence…they’ll have to start figuring out what it means to be girls with razor hearts.
This story is fast paced from the beginning, which was exciting for me. If you’re still not sure, but love fast paced stories, you’ll be hooked in the first thirty pages. More importantly, Suzanne Young continues to deliver those insane plot twists from the first book. There were definitely some shocking reveals in this sequel that I’m excited to see others read. It definitely helped build up anticipation for the third book. The plot in this book continues to keep you on your toes, and it seems like nowhere is safe for these girls. Mena is trying to figure out if the voice in her head is a sign that she’s more broken than she already is, all the while also trying to keep it together long enough to take down the establishment that abused her for so long.
Mena continues to be the primary perspective in this book, although reader’s will be delighted to see a new voice come into play at the end. Mena does quite a bit of character development in both good and bad ways. She’s trying very hard to figure out how to play a game where someone else holds all the cards, she’s hearing the voice of someone who might be after more than just liberation, and trying to keep someone she’s interested safe by cutting off communication. There are so many important conversations going on, that it was a bit confusing at times, trying to keep up with all the things going on in Mena’s head. However, she had some stellar badass moments.
Suzanne Young tackles a lot of “-isms” in this book, which was definitely commendable. Sexism, racism, and classism are all subjects that come up frequently in this book. There are also scenes that deal with homophobia, bullying, and PTSD. I can’t speak to the representation of some of these, but what I can say is that at times it felt like there were a lot of messages that were trying to be handled at one time. I do appreciate the willingness to give platforms to these important subjects, and I think that once the third book is out things will be more cohesive. There were some generalisations made that I feel are driving one of the main plot points of this book, and I would love to talk about it more, but you have to read this book! I’d love to discuss it further with someone.
I loved the focus on the girls in this story, while still making a little time for romance. Respectful, consensual romance. On both sides. If you’re not big on romance, it’s definitely not a significant part of the story, and it doesn’t take away from anything that it’s there. I can also see some other relationships forming, and I’m very curious as to how that is going to play out in the next book. I certainly hope it plays out for the better. *fingers crossed*
With such a fast pace, I finished this book in a few hours of a day. If you’re finding yourself with more time on your hands, I definitely recommend adding this to your tbr list. While there are a few mixed messages, it’s a worthy read full of thrills and plot twists that will drive you to turn the page until the very end. This is an 8/10 for me! Add it to your TBR!
Girls With Razor Hearts is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
It’s time to fight back in this second novel in a thrilling, subversive near future series from New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Young about a girls-only private high school that is far more than it appears to be.
Make me a girl with a razor heart…
It’s been weeks since Mena and the other girls of Innovations Academy escaped their elite boarding school. Although traumatized by the violence and experimentations that occurred there, Mena quickly discovers that the outside world can be just as unwelcoming and cruel. With no one else to turn to, the girls only have each other—and the revenge-fueled desire to shut down the corporation that imprisoned them.
The girls enroll in Stoneridge Prep, a private school with suspect connections to Innovations, to identify the son of an investor and take down the corporation from the inside. But with pressure from Leandra, who revealed herself to be a double-agent, and Winston Weeks, an academy investor gone rogue, Mena wonders if she and her friends are simply trading one form of control for another. Not to mention the woman who is quite literally invading Mena’s thoughts—a woman with extreme ideas that both frighten and intrigue Mena.
And as the girls fight for freedom from their past—and freedom for the girls still at Innovations—they must also face new questions about their existence…and what it means to be girls with razor hearts.
