Is Pelican Girls Worth Reading?

2026-03-09 09:18:49
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3 Answers

Isaiah
Isaiah
Favorite read: The Water Girl
Reply Helper Lawyer
I picked up 'Pelican Girls' on a whim after seeing its gorgeous cover, and honestly? It surprised me. The prose is lush and atmospheric, almost like wading through a dream—but not in a frustrating way. The author weaves this eerie, slow-burn tension between three girls at a remote boarding school, and their relationships feel painfully real. It’s not a fast-paced thriller, though; if you’re craving action, this might test your patience. But the way it digs into themes of obsession, identity, and the blurred lines between reality and myth? Absolutely haunting. I found myself rereading passages just to savor the language.

That said, it’s divisive. A friend of mine DNF’d it because she couldn’t connect with the detached narration, which I totally get. The characters aren’t 'likeable' in a traditional sense—they’re messy, selfish, and sometimes infuriating. But that’s what made them stick with me. If you enjoyed 'The Secret History' or 'Bunny,' this might hit that same niche of dark academia with a surreal twist. Just don’t go in expecting tidy resolutions.
2026-03-11 16:34:46
13
Owen
Owen
Favorite read: A Girl in Glass
Bookworm Assistant
'Pelican Girls' is like swimming in murky water—you can’t see the bottom, but there’s something compelling about the danger. The mood is the star here: oppressive, humid, claustrophobic. It’s not a book you race through; it demands you sit with its discomfort. I kept thinking about it days later, especially the way it explores how stories shape us. Worth reading? If you’re okay with ambiguity and lyrical darkness, absolutely. Just don’t expect a clean escape from its grip.
2026-03-14 05:10:04
3
Reply Helper Student
'Pelican Girls' left me equal parts fascinated and unsettled. The structure is unconventional, jumping between timelines and perspectives, which keeps you guessing about what’s truly happening. Is it supernatural? A metaphor for trauma? The ambiguity is deliberate, but it won’t work for everyone. I adore how the setting—a decaying school by the sea—becomes a character itself, dripping with melancholy and decay. The author’s background in poetry shines through; every sentence feels deliberate.

What surprised me most was how visceral the friendships felt. The petty jealousies, the unspoken hierarchies—it captures that specific intensity of teenage bonds. If you’re into character studies with a gothic edge, this is golden. But fair warning: the ending is polarizing. I loved its open-endedness, but I’ve seen readers call it 'frustratingly vague.'
2026-03-15 09:42:12
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