Thank you, NetGalley for providing this copy! I had heard of the book on the Guilty Feminist podcast and was eager to explore the ideas presented in “Feminist Theatre – Then and Now.” While the content proved engaging and thought-provoking, the reading experience was hindered by the harsh white background in the Adobe digital edition. This design choice made it difficult for me to fully enjoy and appreciate the book’s insights. Despite this setback, the strong and diverse perspectives showcased throughout the book contribute significantly to contemporary feminist discourse and holds great potential to enrich and enhance academic research within its respective field.

The publisher requested that I “amend” my review above regarding the white background, stating that “the brightness is not controlled by us or by Adobe PDF but at your end”. However, neither Adobe Digital Editions nor the NetGalley app was offered adjustable view options, such as text size, background color, or dark mode, which affected my reading experience. The absence of a Kindle edition further highlights the need for broader digital compatibility.

I hope the publisher will consider providing more accessible digital formats and take all feedback into account to enhance the reading experience and foster trust within the literary community.

Mean Girl Feminism offered an intriguing perspective on the performativity of white feminism. The book highlights the pitfalls of white feminism, such as the gaslighting and gatekeeping behavior, I found that it lacked a truly intersectional viewpoint. Nguyen critiques feminism as it operates within neoliberalism and pop culture but doesn’t always extend this critique to the structural, everyday oppressions faced by people who don’t fit the “mean girl” archetype. 

It’s a solid critique of corporate feminism, but it leans into a kind of hyper-aware, performative critique that ends up replicating some of the problems it’s criticizing.