This is a dark exploration of high school relationships, small-town dynamics, and vigilante justice. As my book club noted, there is a sort of universality to this story that makes it feel like it could just as easily have taken place in the eighties or seventies, in a small town absolutely anywhere in this country. Readers sensitive to violence or language may want to approach with caution.

Incredibly amazing novel that attaches you to everyone you meet. Alex Craft is one of the most brilliant characters I've ever met. The structure, the relationships, the responses she has are so crazy yet realistic at the same time. The friendship that blossoms hit close to home, and made me wish I had friends similar to this. The controversial topic is discussed a lot through out the book so I understand why some people don't like it, but it didn't bother me. This is such an underrated book that everyone needs to read, it changed my life.

Female of the Species is a hard-hitting book with engaging characters that examines the insidious reach of rape culture through the microcosm of a small town high school. Well-written and thought-provoking, this is a book that stays with you long after you read the last page.

Mindy McGinnis is a genius when it comes to telling a story about teens. All of the dialogue and the inner monologues and the descriptions were spot on. The Female of the Species is an incredibly dark, but beautiful story about navigating the later teen years and really discovering the things that matter in life. It impossible to not love each of the characters because of their flaws - the flaws are what bring them all together and help them teach other what's important in their lives. What a fantastic novel. But don't forget your tissues when you pick up this one.

Gritty and Realistic. An excellent illustration of the toxicity of rape culture.

This bittersweet mystery/realistic fiction was completely mind-blowing! Alex Craft has gone through the extremes of every stage of grief, but she is working towards getting past what happened to her sister--trying to fit in and find love, but she's harboring a huge, deadly secret. As I was reading, I was skeptical of how the author could actually finish the story so that it was fair and made sense. McGinnis accomplished this and more. The ending is exactly how the story had to end--it was tragic, poetic, and beautiful. This one is a must-read!

Well-written, dark and in-your-face. I LOVED it and am appalled by it at the same time. Alex has this darkness inside her that reminds me of Dexter. I wanted this story to end a chapter or two before it did, but know that the complexities of the character relationships could not have come to a better conclusion. Mysterious and fascinating read!

It is not quite a fun book as I thought, though lots of part of the book made me laugh so hard. Such a great and powerful story based on a high school in a small town, yet be able to avoid any "common boring" stories and teenage dramas. All the characters are well built, so vivid. The author made me love all the main characters in this book. The story especially emphasized how strong and resilient girls or women can be. Such strongness not only impace on themselves and help them to move on, but also influence their friends, boys or girls, to learn from the reality and act on it. Alex is such a different character.

Surprisingly dark treatment of the usual YA fare. Alternating chapters by different narrators.

Very dark and gritty, but an important reflection on modern rape culture.