Review: Tampa

Tampa by Alissa Nutting
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alissa Nutting’s Tampa is bold and unapologetically provocative, diving headfirst into deeply uncomfortable territory. While Nutting’s writing is sharp and sometimes laced with dark humor, the relentless explicitness often feels gratuitous, overshadowing any deeper narrative or critique. Celeste’s twisted inner monologues while occasionally amusing— misses the mark on delivering the kind of dark comedy that might have made this story more than just shock value.

Though the book hints at exposing societal double standards around female predators, it often seems more interested in scandalizing than sparking thoughtful discussion. Nutting’s detailed, almost clinical style creates discomfort effectively but sometimes at the expense of the story itself. Tampa is definitely not for everyone— it demands an unflinching reader and leaves you wondering whether it’s literature masquerading as trash or trash masquerading as literature.



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