Member Reviews

CW: fire, death, abuse, drug references, sexual references, language warning

It's 1991. Molly Sibly is a homeschooled 10yo girl living in a communal Quaker house and dealing with the childhood trauma of losing her mother and losing everything in a house fire, when new resident ex-con Jeanie moves in. Desperate for friendship and to be noticed, Molly latches on to Jeanie, and so begins the chaotic ride that is Kittentits.

I had no preconcieved ideas about this book, but anything I thought it was - it wasn't. It's a coming of age story, it's a tale of processing trauma, it's every Gen-X latchkey kid's take of growing up feral dialled up to 11.

It's chaotic, surreal, and a full-on ride.

It's also terrifically sad. Molly lost her mom as a baby, and has spent the rest of her life searching for her, acting out and trying to be "badass" as a way to protect herself from benign neglect and trauma. So to are Jeanie, and Molly's friend, Demarcus' tales of loss and longing equally poingant. Molly has had to grow up too fast, as her language and lashing out show, and while she is obnoxious, there are hints of vulnerability not too far under the surface.

This was written in first-person present-tense, in run-on verbal diarrhea sentences the way a kid would speak, and the writing style does make it a bit challenging to read. The audio version of this book, narrated by Stephanie Willing really makes this, as Ms Willing infuses the characters with the enthusiasm of a 10yo, the jaded bitchiness of an ex-con and all the other quirks of the characters I can't mention due to spoilers.

A surreal, mindblowing read.

~Many thanks to NetGalley for providing an Advanced Listener Copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I purchased the Kindle version to read alongside the audiobook~

Was this review helpful?

This was an acid trip. I don’t think it’s for me. If it was just a girl who sees ghosts, sure. But there was so much going on, no solid driving force, and she ends up with less than what she started with. And why is a 10 year old cursing so much and have such a sick imagination?

Was this review helpful?

I wasn’t sure about the Kittentits audiobook when I started it because to be perfectly honest, I didn’t like the narrator. I kept listening anyway because sometimes narrators grow on me, and I’m glad I did because Stephanie Willing really worked for Kittentits. I especially loved her voice for Jeanie, as she did a great job of bringing out Jeanie’s casual indifference and annoyance towards Molly.

Holly Wilson found a really great balance of writing in the tone of a child but with the style of an adult. Kittentits felt a lot like reading the diary of a 10-year-old girl. It’s written in first-person, and Molly sounds very much like a child, but it doesn’t feel like reading a children’s book.

There’s some offensive language used throughout Kittentits but in my opnion, there are two different kinds of authors when it comes to offensive material. Those that use it just for shock value, and those that use it because it’s an accurate representation of their character’s behavior and the setting. Holly Wilson doesn’t use offensive language just because she wants to shock people. In 1992, Molly uses these words because she’s a kid who thinks it’s badass. She also knows her dad doesn’t like it and she wants attention that she isn’t receiving. She’s lonely and has a lot of anger and grief she doesn’t know what to do with. This is how it comes out.

I didn’t have any preconceived notions of where the story would go after Jeanie faked her death and Molly set out on her adventure but it definitely went way beyond anywhere I would have guessed and into some pretty surreal territory I wasn’t expecting.

Kittentits is my favorite kind of weird book. I thought I’d like it but I enjoyed it even more than I thought I would. I’ve thought about Molly, a little girl I think I’d have been great friends with as a kid, several times in the days since I’ve finished it, and I expect I’ll think of her from time to time in the future.

Was this review helpful?

I initially picked this book based on the cover and the title.
This book was not for me. I had a hard time believing that the kid was 10yrs old based on her dialogue and story.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select as well as the author and the narrator for this audio ARC. I’m very grateful.
#NetGalley #DreamscapeSelect #Kittentits #HollyWilson #StephanieWilling #Audiobook

Title: Kittentits
Author: Holly Wilson
Format: Audio book
Narrator: Stephanie Willing
Publisher: Dreamscape Select
Publication Date: May 21, 2024

Themes: Coming-Of-Age, female friendships, grief, paranormal
Trigger Warnings: profanity, death, grieving child, ghosts, mental illness, religions of different types, many different uses of offensive language including developmental disparaging, homophobic language, racial slurs, “trash talk”

This one is unusual! The title is definitely eye-catching and the cover is a thing of beauty. Molly is 10 years old and the year is 1992. Molly lives with her formerly blind father, a woman named Evelyn, and the ghost of a nun in a halfway house. Molly is desperate for the attention of an adult in her life, so when Jeanie gets out of prison and moves in, Molly thinks she has found a big sister and is instantly besotted. When Jeanie fakes her own death, Molly steals a credit card and goes in search of her. Misadventures ensue.

This book is certainly a fun ride. It’s quirky, funny, and doesn’t back down from the tough stuff. Molly is a foul-mouthed little girl who has obviously had to mature more quickly than most kids. This results in a complete lack of filter and very rough and rude character that’s endlessly entertaining. I did feel multiple times throughout the narrative, that this aspect of Molly was overdone and a little off-putting. I like the idea of a no holds barred character but sometimes Molly was just obnoxious in addition to being absolutely disgusting. There were several moments that were just too much information for no discernible reason other than shock or gross-out value. I could also have done without some of the slurs directed at particular groups of people. I did like the relationships between Molly and the other characters. The themes of friendship were strong throughout the story. Molly came through loud and clear as a broken little girl who was doing her best to hide her broken heart.

A word about the narrator, Ms. Willing did an excellent job as an obnoxious yet pitiful little girl. I’ll be more likely to pick a book with her as a narrator in the future as I know she will put a lot of heart and effort into the character and/or narrative.

All in all, I can’t recommend this book for everyone but it mostly worked for me. Please read responsibly.

Was this review helpful?

I tried to get into this one, but it just wasn't for me; that's okay. I'm still very thankful to the publisher, the author, and the audio production company for granting me advanced access.

Was this review helpful?

3/5

This read like a fever dream. Never did I know where the plot was going. It was entertaining at points, but also disgustingly descriptive in many scenes. I just could not get attached to any of the characters or the story. 

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This was a very weird book, so go into it suspending your understanding of reality. Once you do, its a wild ride. I kept questioning if this book was going to be a weird book about girlhood, if it was literary fiction, or sci-fi. It kind of ended up being all 3! The story is funny, bizarre, and sometimes a little hard to follow but I had a great time listening.

Was this review helpful?

An edgy, coming-of-age debut novel with an interesting cast of characters. I'm honestly not sure whether I liked it or not.

Definitely check out the CWs before you begin.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I was a ten year old in the 90s and I was also feral with no mom. We did not talk like this. We were maybe a little more gritty than Gen Z but we were not like this.
So anyway I like weird books. Love them really. The more ridiculous the better.
But this is maybe too gritty for me.
The narration was okay though.
She really put her heart into it and she did a great job!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6522412596

Was this review helpful?

This book is a wild, feral, and somewhat unhinged ride through the eyes of a young girl who has survived a fire at her quaker home that is... maybe a cult? Let me be clear, the Quaker religions probably isn't a cult, but House of Friends may be. A woman from a correctional facility comes to spend her parole at house of friends, and Molly immediately decides they need to be best friend. Adventure, trauma, and bs ensue!

This book isn't going to be for everyone - but it is for me! I loved this wild ride! I'm so grateful for NetGalley and Dreamscape Select | Gillian Flynn Books for granting me access to the audio ARC of this book!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Zando and Gillian Flynn for my free ARC of Kittentits by Holly Wilson— available May 21!

Read this if you:
😵‍💫 enjoy wild, fever-dream type reads
👻 ever fantasized about Casper the Ghost
🫁 have time to dive down a wikipedia hole about iron lungs

Molly is ten, and she's an absolute riot. Her blind (blind?) dad allows, for some reason, a young ex-con named Jeanie to move in with them, and Molly quickly becomes obsessed with her. But then Jeanie dies (dies?) in a freak accident, so Molly skips town and heads to Chicago to find her pen pal bestie Demarcus, with whom she plans a séance so they can both talk to their dead moms.

If you made it through that synopsis and it made logical sense to you, what is your brain? Anyway, once you get past the initial whiplash that is the first few chapters of this book, it is SUCH a fun and demented ride! I had a great time and I plan to read it again when I am feeling particularly unhinged. It won't be for everyone, but boy was it for me. Holly Wilson, the weird book lovers of the world thank you for your service and salute your contribution to the canon.

PS: I saw this described as a coming of age novel and, in the loosest sense possible, I guess?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Was this review helpful?

1992, Molly is a 10 year old trying to figure out her place in the world. I enjoyed how the author didn’t shy about giving us a real 10 year old. Most characters in this age range in other books have never captured my experience at this age. But Molly is the closest, she is defiantly weird and into really dark stuff for someone her age. She defiantly is edgy, but as the novel goes on. You can see why she has adopted this attitude through her different experiences at her young age. Demarcus was a great addition to this story. My only issue was that I didn’t get any 90s vibes, except that you do read about children being outside instead of inside behind screens.This will defiantly not be for everyone, but if you want a different main character in a coming of age story then look no further. This would defiantly be a niche read. The narrator defiantly was able to capture Molly’s personality.

I will be publishing my review on May 23 on my Fable, Goodreads and Lemon8.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the ALC.

Simply how could I NOT request to read a book called Kittentits?! And that cover?? I was really excited to listen and review this, but I’m really bummed to announce it was a disappointment.

I simply could not get over how obnoxious the 10yo MC, Molly, was. As mentioned in a few other comments, it felt to me like the 90’s setting of the story was an excuse to have Molly and Jeanie and everyone use really insulting language, including an excessive usage of the r- slur (and a million variations of it).

I usually like some magical realism and surreal plot lines, but I was following along the story until maybe 30-something % and then things went off the rails and I had such a hard time understanding what was happening.

I’m sad to say it but I would not recommend this one.

Was this review helpful?

Ok who would not be intrigued by a title like Kittentits? I received the audiobook of this title and I have mixed feelings. I feel like some people will love this. I am still thinking this one over and deciding how I feel. If I were to rate it right now, I’m gonna say a 3 star listen. It will definitely make you laugh out loud.

Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Select|Gillian Flynn Books for an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was definitely one of the most unusual books I have ever read, which I should have figured because the book is named Kittentits. It is told through the POV of a 10 year old girl, who speaks unlike any of the 10 year old girls I have ever met. It is definitely a different kind of story with a plot that is all over the place, but not in a bad way. I DO recommend checking out trigger warnings, because some topics might be tough for some people and the main character has an extremely dirty mouth which might be undesirable for some people's taste.

Was this review helpful?

Wholly original and unabashedly feral. It feels like authentic white trash 90s - including the language, which will be offputting to current ears but whose narration is perfectly cast. A recommended purchase for collections where offbeat litfic is popular.

Was this review helpful?

I am unable to give full feedback as I DNF'd at 20%. I had a very hard time following the story and might be better in physical form.

Thank you for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley,

Kittentites was an unusual book about a girl named Molly. It is the type of book you have to sit on. I'm not sure if I liked it or not. I would recommend someone pick up this book so they can decide if it's for them. I liked the narrator’s voice a lot. It fits really well with the story.

Was this review helpful?

I have recently really gotten into absurdist fiction in the last year or so and this book seemed perfect for me. Its definitely really odd but I quite enjoyed it. I don't really know how else to describe it but its good if you're into that sort of thing.

Was this review helpful?