Urgent, unforgettable, and absolutely unputdownable. It made me think deeply about women's struggles, and what drives a woman to kill. It's like true crime unfolding in real time, while also transporting you to different time and place.
This is an incredible story brought to life with remarkable insight, sensitivity, and a staggering amount of research. Reese has masterfully pieced together a narrative that reads like true crime unfolding in real time, while also transporting you to different time and place. Even though it’s set in Hungary at the turn of the last century, there’s something eerily familiar about the setting.
What struck me most was how vividly this book revealed the pressures that can drive women to kill in the fight for autonomy and safety. It’s both a haunting warning for modern times and a powerful tribute to the women of Neygrev - their pain, their chilling resistance, and the heavy cost of poverty and trauma.
Sometimes reflecting on the past allows us to see the present more clearly, and Women Are Not Fine does exactly that. It’s urgent, unforgettable, and absolutely unputdownable.
A powerful and gripping book that brings a true story to life with empathy and depth. Thought-provoking, beautifully written, and impossible to put down. I love this book.
What makes this book especially powerful is how it goes beyond the shock of the crimes and really examines the social conditions behind them. It highlights the systemic abuse, lack of options, and emotional despair these women faced, making their actions disturbing but also, in a way, understandable.
A little Hungarian reality. The Handmaid's Tale may have been fiction, but this book is also proof of how women were treated 100 years ago. And history always repeats itself.
A little Hungarian reality from the past. It is shocking to me that today, in 2026, the situation and expected role of women is slowly sinking back to the 1920s-30s. Even though I already knew about the Tiszazug poisonings, it was a very informative book (the case was discussed in my hometown, and I did not know that until I read this book! WOW). The whole story was well put together, and I liked the writing style. Although there was a part about statistical data towards the end, which I found a little boring, it was necessary for the story to be complete. I do not defend the perpetrators, but I cannot condemn them for their actions. I would make it a must-read for every woman. The Handmaid's Tale may have been fiction, but this book is also proof of how women were treated 100 years ago. And history always repeats itself.
I was deeply moved by 'Women Are Not Fine.' The author handles the taboo history of domestic poisoning with such grace and heart. I loved her humble approach; rather than sensationalizing, she uses a gentle curiosity to excavate the systemic desperation behind these stories. By bringing this 'hidden' history to the surface, she gives us a compassionate look at the long road women have traveled. A powerful, sobering read for the soul.
In 'Women Are Not Fine,' the author takes a difficult, taboo subject—domestic poisoning cases in history—and handles it with remarkable grace. I loved her humble approach; she doesn't sensationalize these crimes, but rather uses her curiosity to excavate the systemic desperation that led to them.
By bringing this 'hidden' history to the surface, she gives us a clearer picture of the long, difficult road women have traveled. It’s a powerful, sobering read that forces you to think deeply about agency and survival.
Hope Reese has offered us an opportunity to delve into the “why” of when women kill through a trauma-informed lens and with great care to take into consideration the role of the environment of the time and place in these events.
This was one of my top non-fiction reads of 2025, and one that I often talk about. I love a concise deep-dive into a niche topic when it’s done well and this one was excellent. Hope Reese has offered us an opportunity to delve into the “why” of when women kill through a trauma-informed lens and with great care to take into consideration the role of the environment of the time and place in these events. I would love to read more from this author.
This important piece of Hungarian history needed to be told, Hope did it beautifully. Must read!
I have never before felt compelled to reach out to an author before - this changed right after I finished this book. I am Hungarian but have never heard of the story before I picked this book up. As soon as I started reading it I felt completely immersed in the stories and the history. Hope managed to honor this important piece of history with grace and respect, captured the historical context beautifully and brought the characters’ lives and motivations to life in a way I have rarely seen in similar works. I highly recommend picking it up and seeing for yourself!
Brilliant telling of a little-known bit of history.
This was a fascinating story. It reads like a novel- compelling, insightful- but is well researched history that really brings the story to life. I was glad to stumble upon it!
A stunning tale still shocking today for Hungarian communities. Relevant and insightful for anyone familiar with the atrocities of domestic violence and impoverishment. And a definitely different read!
This book goes beyond true crime—it asks why something like this could happen in the first place.
It tells the story of a group of women in early 20th-century Hungary who poisoned their husbands, but instead of focusing on shock value, it digs into the conditions behind it: poverty, isolation, abuse, and lack of options. What makes it compelling is how it blurs the line between victim and perpetrator. You’re not asked to excuse their actions, but you are pushed to understand them—and that tension stays with you.
The research is thorough and insightful, though at times it can feel a bit dense. Still, the broader themes around gender, power, and systemic neglect make it worth it.
Overall, it’s an uncomfortable but important read—less about crime, and more about what prolonged suffering can turn people into.
Really thought provoking read. I loved it (is that ok to say about a subject so dark?).
I absolutely loved The Women Are Not Fine. From start to finish, it was a deeply engaging and thought-provoking read. The storytelling felt both powerful and intimate, shedding light on important themes in a way that was accessible and compelling.
What really stood out to me was how well the book was written - Hope has a way of drawing you in without overcomplicating things, making each chapter feel meaningful and easy to connect with. I also really appreciated the layout and structure of the book. It flowed naturally and kept me interested the entire time, which isn’t always easy to do with this type of subject matter.
Overall, this was an insightful and memorable read that I’d highly recommend. Definitely a 5-star book for me.
The story unfolded in a compelling way that made it difficult to put the book down!
As someone who spent the last seven years in Hungary, this book gave me an invaluable insight to an overlooked part of Hungarian history! The story unfolded in a compelling way that made it difficult to put the book down!