The blurb for Bright Little Girls was so enticing and after finishing the book, I can say that this plot had great potential.

But gahhh, I struggled so much. Time slowed at the outset while I tried to get involved and become invested. I kept waiting for the pull.…but the draw was elusive. And it didn’t change as I pushed forward. No excitement, anticipation, no emotions really.

And the way the story was told didn’t offer much help. Timelines alternated between past & present, but not with an easy fluidity. The narrator was a clever choice and I appreciated that, but I had no connection with her. Maybe I wasn’t supposed to, idk. Maybe she was simply telling the story for us, but knowing her backstory, I felt like I should’ve been empathetic as a reader to her circumstances. But I really didn’t care that much.

Same for Eliane and Jett. They were impossible to bond with. I think they were supposed to come off as deep, intriguing and intellectual. But annoying & egotistical are better suited descriptives. In the synopsis, El is painted as an old soul, broken and brilliant, alluring, someone readers will love to follow. I wholeheartedly disagree, especially with ‘brilliant’ and ‘alluring’. I found her self-absorbed, garrulous and vexing. Her obsession with Zelda seemed unnecessary and desperate. It didn’t offer the kind of insight that lends to flourishing feelings. I didn’t care for her more or understand her better via her Zelda fixation. I was categorically unmoved.

In the end, the SK’s identity is finally revealed, but unfortunately, it was anticlimactic.

It might just be me though. Obviously my main issue was the utter disconnect from the MC’s which I couldn’t control and certainly couldn’t force. The story has great bones though and I’m sure there’s many readers who will enjoy it.

Thank you NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for this arc in exchange for review. I am always grateful.

Pub date: 3.13.2025.