Bright Young Women: A Novel

I am a true crime lover and I found this book stunning! Knoll certainly did her research on Ted Bundy. I was very fond of how she referred to the serial killer in this novel as the defendant. Although this was my first read by her, I will be reading more.

October 2025 book - theme

Could not have read this at a better time in my life:

“I knew you would do this,” my mother declared with a sick sort of triumph. “I said to myself—maybe it’s better Ruth doesn’t come. Because I knew you would only make it about yourself. But I extended an olive branch, and now here I am, doing exactly what I knew I would spend the day doing. Comforting you, when I’m the one who needs comforting.”
I was grateful to her for giving me such a hammy display of her cruelty, which up until that point she had doled out discerningly, at a rate meant to keep me coming back for more. She had made it so easy—not just easy, but pleasurable—to walk away from her. I got on my bike, and I rode to the water, where the breeze was...

I also loved how much therapy was an aspect in this book through Tina's character. They even mentioned attachment therapy and equine therapy as modalities used for trauma survivors!!! I quite enjoyed nerding out over these things when I read them. I also loved how victim-centered the novel was. This book was never not 5 stars!

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I found the book a bit confusing as it was inspired by Ted Bundy but had too much fiction mixed with actual facts to have a good flow. I also found the court portion to be repetitive back and forth ruining the gripping shock the author created about the fictional characters. I could see what the author was trying to create but I didn't feel the excitement of a true crime or drama with this read.