
Member Reviews

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback.

I have no idea how to review a book like Kittentits. I’m totally at a loss for words with this book. I can definitely say that it’s unlike anything I’ve read before, that’s for sure.
The narrator is Molly, who is 10 years old and lives in a Quaker Friends house with her father and a woman named Evelyn in Calumet City, Illinois. Molly’s mother died when she was a baby, and Molly has cloaked her sadness over this loss and the yearning, yawning emptiness she feels inside with foul language and small, defiant acts of misbehavior. When an ex-con named Jeanie moves in, Molly quickly becomes obsessed with her – an obsession that leads Molly to circumstances beyond anything she ever imagined. At least she can trust her sweet LA Gear Heatwaves to get her where she needs to go – even all the way to Chicago, to the 1992 World’s Fair.
On one hand, this book is just as ludicrous as you’d expect for something with a title like Kittentits; but on the other, it was much more thoughtful than I expected it to be. I liked the first half of the book quite a bit; despite her brashness, I enjoyed getting to know Molly and felt like Holly Wilson really captured the idea of a child acting outlandishly to camouflage deep emotions she doesn’t know how to acknowledge or deal with. Molly is vulnerable despite her acerbic exterior, and I liked how Wilson explored what happens when a vulnerable child latches on to an unsafe (or at least unkind) adult and how those situations can spiral. There’s definitely some interesting character work and some thoughtful insights about friendship, grief, and loss. The world of the book is vibrant and lively.
The second half of the book, though – specifically the last third – kind of lost me. I wasn’t sure what was really happening or if the events were all in Molly’s head, which made me feel off balance, and eventually I decided to stop trying to figure it out and just go with it. Some of the more contemplative aspects of the book were lost in the absurdist direction that the plot took. In the end, Kittentits is a book I don’t think I’ll ever forget, but it’s not a book I’ll widely recommend.

This was a dnf for me, not because it was bad, but because it was accurate. The vibes, prejudice, and vernacular of the 90's is spot on and I just couldn't get through it. The 3 stars is a neutral review. There's nothing wrong with the book, it just wasn't for me.

Hmmm. It's hard to rate this book. Was it interesting? Yes. Was it weird as hell? Also yes. But for me, the POV of a young girl threw me off. It wasn't easy to get past that and enjoy the book. And while I understand why it was there, the child-like language just... no.

What a ride. This was insane but in all the best ways. The perspective of a 10-year old as the main voice took a bit to get used to but overall I enjoyed the fresh new take.

"It's like I'm crossing not my eyes, but my whole entire body. Like, all at once, I'm in every single place I've ever been. Like, right now, I'm now-Molly, while inside House of Friends, it's still then-Molly. Stupid fucking then-Molly... Now-Molly and then-Molly and watching-Bruce-get-put-in-the-ground-Molly... They're all alive at once, every single Molly. I hate them and love them and they're all so
f-cking dumb!" (7:16:19)
I listened to the audiobook of this book, which is absurdly brilliant, thanks in large part to the audiobook narrator, Stephanie Willing. The book itself is brilliantly absurd. Molly, the ten-year-old narrator of this novel, fills the pages with her sprawling inner monolog. Considering what an ignorant little cuss this character is, I found it challenging to hang out in her self-obsessed, myopic head. However, despite finding the narrator of this book unlikable, I also cared about her. She's an unloved, mentally ill ten year old. That was me, once. I have space in my heart for this child.
I wasn't able to take notes on this one because I had to concentrate so hard on the action, which is definitely confusing and directionless. But in this case, I considered these traits I normally find distasteful to be a challenge to exercise my empathy. With people not at all like me. And with myself.
I plan to read this again. I think I want to read this one with my eyes, as hard as that will be. I'll update this space accordingly.
For now, I recommend this book for fans of experimental fiction, character driven stories, and accurate mental health rep.
Thank you to the author Holly Wilson, publishers Zando, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of KITTENTITS. I found an accessible copy (audiobook) on Libby. Read by Stephanie Willing. All views are mine.
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This book was good! Missing a few things that I would have liked to see but it was good nonetheless that is why I say 3.5 stars.

The title, the cover it's all just spectacular. The storyline is definitely on the weirder side but I really appreciated the sassy 10 year old. I think this is a great one if you like the weird-lit world.

"Kittentits" by Holly Wilson is a whimsical and provocative exploration of identity, femininity, and the intersection of humor and vulnerability. Wilson's unique voice shines through in her playful yet insightful prose, blending absurdity with poignant reflections on societal expectations. The characters are colorful and memorable, navigating their quirks and complexities in a world that often feels constraining. This book invites readers to embrace their own eccentricities while challenging norms, making it a delightful and thought-provoking read. Wilson's bold storytelling will leave you both laughing and contemplating deeper themes long after you turn the last page.

*Kittentits* by Holly Wilson is an imaginative and audacious debut novel, blending absurdist humor with emotional depth. Set in 1992 Illinois, the story follows ten-year-old Molly, a foul-mouthed girl who lives in a semi-communal house haunted by ghosts, including a nun. When Jeanie, a dirt bike-riding ex-convict, moves in, Molly becomes obsessed with her. Despite Jeanie's harsh treatment, Molly idolizes her due to their shared experiences of grief over their dead mothers.
The novel takes a surreal turn when Jeanie fakes her death in a hot-air balloon accident, prompting Molly to embark on a wild adventure to Chicago. There, with the help of her pen pal, Demarcus, Molly seeks to hold a séance to reconnect with their lost mothers. The book is a surrealist, coming-of-age story with bold, sometimes grotesque, humor, touching on themes of friendship, loss, and growing up.

This was not for me.
I guess I thought this would be witty and fun but it was like an alien pretending to be an adult pretending to be a child barfed words they thought would be funny and shocking onto page after page. Only it reads more like Slam poetry X Cringe Soup for the Soul.
The satire was not satiring for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Zando | Gillian Flynn Books for the eARC.

What a weird, weird book! So much swearing and aggression and rage, and it’s hard to decipher what’s real and what’s not. But if you ignore all that and just listen to Molly’s story, it’s a wild, captivating ride.

Entertaining, but I feel like the author was doing too much. Also, the writing could use a lot of work. I'm interested to see how the author improves in the future.

Kittentits was a really wacky and wild read. I loved the protagonist being a young girl, it was executed perfectly! I would read more from Wilson.

Kittentits is a ride that isn't for everyone... but when it finds the right reader it's fanstatic.
This book is truly absurd and will take a bit for your brain to wrap around, but it's all in good fun!

This title was a DNF for me because the level of chaos made me worry about the girl to an extent that I couldn't relax and enjoy it. I'd been hoping for something like Miriam Toews' Fight Night, but Kittentits was too dark for me. I'm giving it three stars as a sort of "it's as much me as the book" rating.

Quirky, to say the least, not to mention unrepentantly foul-mouthed and defiantly "un-PC," the narrator of "Kittentits" might be a little to swallow for some, as evidenced by the wildly divergent reviews, but if you're looking for something a little different, a mix of Lydia Barry, Joy Williams, and Kelly Link? This might be for you.

Kittentits is a wild ride through the chaotic mind of Molly, a potty-mouthed ten-year-old navigating grief and yearning for connection in 1992. With its raw honesty and unflinching portrayal of childhood, Wilson's debut novel is a rollercoaster of emotions. Molly's unfiltered narration is both hilarious and heartbreaking, capturing the unique perspective of a young girl grappling with loss and forging unexpected friendships.
The novel's surreal elements and quirky characters add to its charm, creating a world that feels both familiar and fantastical. While some readers may find Molly's abrasive language and antics off-putting, those willing to embrace her messy journey will be rewarded with a poignant and unforgettable story about resilience, love, and the power of female friendship.

Sigh. Absolutely not. I loved the idea and I even really liked the MC's voice (though I feel more than a bit uncomfortable with her age, given her relationship with the other central character in the book). Is it realistic? Of course not. Was it fun? Yes, mostly. BUT. The use of the r-slur and the weird fixation on "Indian" things from a white girl in the '90s was...not it. Just...WHY make these narrative choices in 2024? It reads as edgelord-y in the worst ways, at best. At worst, it's just grossly racist and ableist for no reason.

Big thanks to NetGally for the advance copy. This was such a wonderfully weird book. You are thrown into the mind of a foul mouth 10 year old girl who is obsessed with a 23 year old girl who has just been released from jail. Our narrator Molly takes us on a bizarre adventure leading up to New Years 1992 at the Worlds Fair.
I noticed a lot of people had issues with the language used but honestly I remember being a weirdo kid like Molly so it felt almost nostalgic. This story had me hooked from the start and the ending was WILD!! I can’t wait to see what this author does next!! 10/10 weird girl book!