Back in July I read this amazing but horrible novel by Louise O’Neill. Now three months later I finally feel like I can write a review. This book left me so speechless and sad that I didn’t know how to review it. But now I am ready to give it a go.
Title: Only Ever Yours
Author: Louise O’Neill
Genre: YA, Dystopia, Feminism
Published: July 2014
Pages: 416
Rating: 🖤🖤🖤🖤
Trigger warnings: eating disorder, mental illness and sexual assault.
Only Ever Yours takes place in a futuristic nightmare world where girls are scientifically engineered only for the pleasure of men. The girls, the eves (as they are called), go to a school where they in an insanely competitive environment are taught how to behave and please men. After their graduation the girls are either becoming “companions” (purpose for bearing children), “concubines” (prostitues) or “chastities” (who are given the job to teach the future eves). Only the best are chosen to be companions; the rest will fight for the scarps.
In this world girls are nothing. They are mainly objects created for men. The girls are called by their number and not their names. If they are called my their names it is not written with a capitalised letter. The girls are ranked solemnly on their looks and thrive to be physically perfect but there is always room for improvement. The girls aren’t taught in any academic subjects as any academic behaviour is prohibited.
In Only Ever Yours one follows freida through a first person narration on how she deals with the increased pressure of the final year at the school. Her future will be determined at the end of the year and it is fight with everyone for themselves. frieda was one friend, isabel, who a lot of mystery evolves around. I had loved to know more about their friendship especially before the final year but O’Neill keeps you wondering.
The events unfolding in Only Ever Yours are truly disturbing and they are only aggravated by Louise O’Neill’s beautiful and captivating writing. I was enthralled by the beginning to the end. The writing made everything so more real and traumatising.
Non of the characters are particularly likeable. They are all shallow, naive and mean. One hate the way they think and behave and you are basically repulsed by them. I think this is done to not idealise their behaviour and thrive for perfection. It is a reminder that it its wrong! I constantly felt bad for frieda. She was so alone and so insecure. In a way I feel like she was different from the others. She was also naive and easy to manipulate but she was just more gentle and more real than the others.
As you may can guessed this book is a very heavy read. I actually felt physically sick while reading this book. So be aware this story is probably not for everyone. The girls are not treated nice and they are even worse towards each other. This book really shows the worst in girls and society.
You may ask yourself why even read this book when everything seems so sad and pointless. But it is not pointless. The story may seem extreme but I believe it is just an intensification of the reality. This book deals with some important themes and issues that are going on in society. Themes like gender roles, female competition and beauty as a currency.
If you have read any other books by Louise O’Neill you know what ending to be prepared for… I won’t say anymore. Just read this book! And stay safe and happy!
Best,
Have you read Only Ever Yours? What are your thoughts? Have you read other books by Louise O’Neill? Do you have any feminism recommendations for me pls?
If you are a fan of Louise O’Neill check out my review of Asking For It HERE!
Considered two of the most physically perfect students at the School, freida and isabel have been best friends their whole lives. Now sixteen and in their final year at the school, where they have learned how to become the most beautiful girls they can possibly be, the two friends fully expect to be selected as “companions,” spouses to wealthy and powerful men. The alternative- to spend their lives as “concubines,” or worse, “chastities,”- is too horrible to even contemplate.
Synopsis from book
But as the intensity of the final year takes hold, the pressure to remain perfect becomes unbearable. Isabel starts to self-destruct, putting her beauty- which she spent her entire young life refining- in peril. Confused by beautiful isabel’s mysterious decent into self-destruction, freida decides she must fight for her future, even if that means betraying the only friend- the only love- she’s ever known.
And then the boys arrive at the School, prepared to seal each girl’s fate- as a companion, concubine, or chastity.
Great review, and I love that this book spoke to you so deeply. Sounds like an important, but frustrating, read.
Thank you! Yes it is 🖤