Bright Young WomenBright Young Women
What it's about
In 1978, a man breaks into a sorority house at Florida State University and attacks the women sleeping there. Pamela, the sorority president, sees him leaving, and becomes a key witness. Years earlier, in Seattle, Tina has been searching for a friend who disappeared. The killer is never named; the novel is about the women, and their fight to be believed.
Why it's worth reading
It was an Edgar finalist and a Goodreads Choice finalist. Based on Ted Bundy's crimes, it refuses to make the killer the star.
You'll love it if you liked
Notes on an Execution
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
All the Colors of the DarkGood to know
The violence is real history, and the attack is described. There's a queer love story.
By the numbers
- Readers32 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics21 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller39 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz51 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #297 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #307 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1780 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
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The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
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Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Trust
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBIExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Bright Young Women worth reading?
Yes. It was an Edgar finalist and a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #1,780 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Bright Young Women about?
In 1978, a man breaks into a sorority house at Florida State University and attacks the women sleeping there. Pamela, the sorority president, sees him leaving, and becomes a key witness. Years earlier, in Seattle, Tina has been searching for a friend who disappeared. The killer is never named; the novel is about the women, and their fight to be believed.
How long does it take to read Bright Young Women?
About 10 hours (400 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Bright Young Women?
If you liked it, try Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka, The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold or All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker.