If you like that, try these … Gone Girl

Hi all!

Welcome to another post of If you like that, try these …, my fortnightly post series where I share book (and sometimes movie or TV show) recommendations based on a book I’ve read. A new post comes out every second Thursday!

IMPORTANT UPDATE: This series is no longer a weekly one; a new post now comes out every fortnight, on a Thursday. 

TODAY’S PICK IS …

“Men always say that as the defining compliment, don’t they? She’s a cool girl. Being the Cool Girl means I am a hot, brilliant, funny woman who adores football, poker, dirty jokes, and burping, who plays video games, drinks cheap beer, loves threesomes and anal sex, and jams hot dogs and hamburgers into her mouth like she’s hosting the world’s biggest culinary gang bang while somehow maintaining a size 2, because Cool Girls are above all hot. Hot and understanding. Cool Girls never get angry; they only smile in a chagrined, loving manner and let their men do whatever they want. Go ahead, shit on me, I don’t mind, I’m the Cool Girl.”

 

What’s it about?

On the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick arrives home to find his living room in disorder and his beautiful wife Amy missing. As he follows a set of clues his wife left behind as she always does for anniversaries, Nick finds himself being scrutinised by the police, the media and the town as pages from Amy’s diaries paint a different life than the one Nick claims. But is Nick her killer?

What are the themes/elements?

Kidnapping, death, murder, plot twist, sexism, misogyny, cheating, thriller, crime, mystery, suspense, marriage, effects of parent’s upbringing, study of the dark side of human nature, unreliable narrators, deception,

 

So …

 

What’s it about?

This Victorian Gothic novel follows a woman who uses her charms and beauty to grow from a life of poverty to one of prosperity and what she does to hold onto that life. Her nephew by marriage tries to uncover her secret, and gets more than he bargained for.

Why did I choose it?

This book’s main villain, Lady Audley, is a lot like Amy from Gone Girl. They both have secrets, pretend to be someone they’re not, and rage against the overt misogyny in their societies. Lady Audley’s Secret is also a thriller and a mystery, and the plot really goes somewhere you don’t expect it too. Plus, a plot twist!

 

What’s it about?

When her sister was murdered, Alex sought revenge on her killer by murdering the man. Three years later, Alex is trying to curb the violence that breeds inside her, but she can’t stop herself from murdering men who deserve it: those who commit sex crimes against women. But when she befriends Jack and Peekay, Alex decides she wants to try and change … but that’s harder than she thought.

Why did I choose it?

The Female of the Species is a wild novel — like in Gone Girl, Alex is a dangerous woman who seeks revenge against men who commit crimes against women. She’s a lot like Amy: they’re both dangerous and can easily pretend to be someone they’re not. It’s a powerful novel, and you can’t help but root for Alex … the same way you might for Amy.

 

What’s it about?

Sue is an orphan and works for a criminal family in Victorian London. When a fellow gentleman criminal asks her to help him woo and marry an heiress and then put her in a mental institution to steal her money, Sue jumps at the chance. But that becomes difficult when Sue begins falling for the heiress.

Why did I choose it?

I chose Fingersmith because it’s filled with plot twists upon plot twists upon plot twists. The novel is super suspenseful as Sue struggles with the decision to send the woman she loves to a mental institution. It also deals with the effects of parents’ upbringing on the children, as well as marriage as a tool. It’s long and slow, like Gone Girl, but the pay-off is definitely worth it.

 

What’s it about?

Every day, Rachel catches the same train to work and she watches a husband and wife in their house as she drives past them. She called them ‘Jess and Jason’ and daydreams about their perfect life, wishing she could be as happy as them. But then, one morning, she sees something shocking.

Why did I choose it?

The Girl on the Train is often compared to Gone Girl because they both came out around the same time, but they are definitely comparable. In both books, a woman’s husband is suspected of murdering her, but not everything is as it seems. It also features unreliable narrators, massive plot twists, and a discussion about the darker sides of human nature.

 

What’s it about?

Using college as her chance to start over, Laney meets befriends the handsome Armin and the charming Blythe. But Laney has a score to settle against her old high school bully and she’s using her new friends to do so.

Why did I choose it?

This book has all of the same themes as Gone Girl: plot twists, women getting revenge against men, deception and violence. Laney is an unreliable narrator and you don’t know whether or not you can trust her. It’s a powerful novel that examines our culture of misogyny and sexism and the insidiousness of rape culture. It’s suspenseful and violent and really amazing — like Gone Girl. 

 

What’s it about?

Two years after her son murdered several of his fellow high school students, a cafeteria worker and a teacher, Eva is finally ready to come to terms with everything that happened: from her marriage, career, becoming a mother, and Kevin’s horrific rampage, showcasing how and why Kevin went off the rails.

Why did I chose it?

This is a very powerful novel, but it’s divisive too: like Gone Girl. It also presents a discussion around the ‘nature vs. nurture’ debate, which Gone Girl touches upon through the character of Amy. We Need to Talk About Kevin examines American culture through the family and how parents shape their children (which Gone Girl also discusses), while Gone Girl examines the culture around men expecting women to fit into predetermined roles.

 

What’s it about?

Sadie hasn’t had an easy life: she left school to raise her young sister and struggles to make ends meet since they mother abandoned them. And when her sister is found dead, Sadie’s world collapses. After the police get nowhere, Sadie decides to take matters into her own hands and hunt down the man she knows killed her sister, while a podcaster follows behind documenting Sadie’s story.

Why did I choose it?

Sadie won’t be published until September 2018, but I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of the novel so I can tell you it’s like a YA version of Gone Girl … but featuring a sister’s love. Sadie, like Amy, seeks revenge against men who commit crimes against women (although Amy’s reasons are more selfish), and it definitely examines rape culture, particularly against young girls and teens. It also features kidnapping and murder.

AND THERE WE HAVE IT: IF YOU LIKE GONE GIRL BY GILLIAN FLYNN, TRY THOSE SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS! 

DO YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHER SIMILAR BOOKS OR SHOWS/MOVIES THAT I DIDN’T MENTION? WHAT BOOKS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ME DISCUSS NEXT TIME? LET ME KNOW!