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Knockout Queen
Knockout Queen | Rufi Thorpe
7 posts | 9 read | 3 to read
"Full of verve... Revelatory." --Los Angeles TimesA dazzling and darkly comic novel of love, violence, and friendship in the California suburbs Bunny Lampert is the princess of North Shore⁠--beautiful, tall, blond, with a rich real-estate-developer father and a swimming pool in her backyard. Michael⁠⁠--with a ponytail down his back and a septum piercing⁠--lives with his aunt in the cramped stucco cottage next door. When Bunny catches Michael smoking in her yard, he discovers that her life is not as perfect as it seems. At six foot three, Bunny towers over their classmates. Even as she dreams of standing out and competing in the Olympics, she is desperate to fit in, to seem normal, and to get a boyfriend, all while hiding her father's escalating alcoholism. Michael has secrets of his own. At home and at school Michael pretends to be straight, but at night he tries to understand himself by meeting men online for anonymous encounters that both thrill and scare him. When Michael falls in love for the first time, a vicious strain of gossip circulates and a terrible, brutal act becomes the defining feature of both his and Bunny's futures⁠⁠--and of their friendship. With storytelling as intoxicating as it is intelligent, Rufi Thorpe has created a tragic and unflinching portrait of identity, a fascinating examination of our struggles to exist in our bodies, and an excruciatingly beautiful story of two humans aching for connection.
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Readergrrl
Knockout Queen | Rufi Thorpe
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Pickpick

I‘m not 💯 sure how I feel about this novel. Yes, inappropriate relationships between a teen and his older lovers, a teen girl and her volleyball coach, violence, alcoholism, but none was gratuitous and, in fact, was the basis for their very messed up lives. Yet it was a love story at its heart, between an almost-out teen and his giant (6‘3”) neighbor in the throes of mean girl HS drama. Michael and Bunny will stay with me for long time! 4/5⭐️

Readergrrl @cwarnier I just mailed this off to you! Thanks for the read! I‘ve talked a lot about this book to my friends and some of my HS seniors. I‘m not satisfied with the ending, but maybe that‘s the point! 3y
62 likes1 comment
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Cinfhen
Knockout Queen | Rufi Thorpe
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Mehso-so

This started out SO STRONG!! I was literally laughing out loud and was pulled between deep happiness and deep sadness. But then the book turned dark and I wasn‘t really expecting the last third. It just felt like a different book and ultimately disappointed me. Also personal quibble, I felt like the timeline didn‘t add up - the author gave years but it didn‘t match to both plot developments and real world events. Those small details niggled me.

TrishB Great review 👍🏻 3y
BarbaraBB Oh I had this one stacked because of @Megabooks and @KarenUK, Should I unstack? (edited) 3y
See All 9 Comments
Cinfhen I‘m not sure what you‘ll make of this book @BarbaraBB but I‘m adding it to your bday box 😘 3y
Megabooks I LOVED this! Sorry we‘re not syncing up anymore. ☹️😢 @BarbaraBB I‘m glad you‘re getting a gifted copy, and I hope you enjoy it more. (Cindy, you‘re so kind and generous!) 3y
BarbaraBB That is so sweet! I really would like to know what I think now that my two peers have a different opinion! @Megabooks 3y
Cinfhen It was such a good beginning @Megabooks but i wasn‘t prepared for that ending. I know @KarenUK loved it too @BarbaraBB I‘ll be curious to hear your thoughts (edited) 3y
Reviewsbylola Definitely a dark book, but so good. 3y
Cinfhen I don‘t know why I didn‘t care for this book @Reviewsbylola it was a disappointment after @Megabooks and @KarenUK both RATED it so high 3y
83 likes9 comments
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cwarnier
Knockout Queen | Rufi Thorpe
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#lmpbc @Readergrrl @hes7 @TheAromaofBooks
Started this gem today! Gorgeous day for sitting by the river.

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y
19 likes1 comment
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MelKelsey
Knockout Queen | Rufi Thorpe
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Pickpick

Book 135 A book about friendship, growing up, coming out, difficult families, and anger. It's messy and authentic. Easy and enjoyable.

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KarenUK
Knockout Queen | Rufi Thorpe
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Started my day off with my toes in the sand, a new audiobook and a pretty deserted stretch of gorgeous SoFlo beach... #audiowalking 💕😎🌴

BarbaraBB Gorgeous 😍 4y
Cathythoughts Very nice ❤️ 4y
squirrelbrain How lovely! ❤️ 4y
See All 6 Comments
Crazeedi Enjoy! It looks like the perfect place 📚❤️ 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Lovely 🌊 4y
KarenUK @Barbarabb @cathythoughts @squirrelbrain @crazeedi @erzascarletbookgasm I couldn‘t believe how quiet it was, especially with it being a public holiday! 🤷‍♀️💕 4y
45 likes6 comments
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Godpants
Knockout Queen | Rufi Thorpe
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Finally got around to decorating my kobo. Even as a kid I found it so hard to commit to using stickers I loved, all my sticker books had the paper backs still attached in case I wanted to use the stickers later on. Will need to add a few more small scale ones later.

13 likes2 comments
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bookandcat
Knockout Queen | Rufi Thorpe
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My May 2020 so far! 23 books, 8,731 pages read. (Well, of books I've finished.) I do Reading Rivalry on FB and their game period wraps up today, so I am checking in on my stats before May is done.

5⭐ reads: The Knockout Queen, Evvie Drake Starts Over, Tell the Wolves I'm Home, A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, The Name of the Wind, Monday's Not Coming, A Good Marriage

Any that you've read or want to read? #may2020 #may20

QuietMornings So excited to see The Knockout Queen on your 5 Star list! Starting it next! 4y
bookandcat @QuietMornings ENJOY! I loved it 4y
40 likes1 stack add2 comments