Books like The Bitch Goddess Notebook

This book was hard going, and whilst I wouldn't necessarily say I 'enjoyed' it, I found it difficult to put down. I was recommended this by my cousin, and English teacher, and I was quite surprised as it seemed from the appearance of the cover to be a chick-lit style of book, which is not her sort of book at all. I realised within the first few chapters that this was not the case as I was thrust into a story of mental illness, rough sex and self harm, self loathing, drug taking and addiction.The book follows the story of three teenage girls, Rennie, Cherry and Amy, who are the "Bitch Posse". They are at high school in Illinois in the 80's and all 3 of them have problems, Rennie is a straight-A student who is having an affair with her teacher, Cherry is struggling with her drug addicted mother, and Amy is deaing with a disabled sister and alcoholic parents. Between the 3 of them they spiral into more and more trouble.We also follow the story of their lives 'now' in their 30's. Rennie is a writer who is struggling with her second book and is sleeping with her student teacher, Amy is in a failing marriage and pregnant, and Cherry has been committed and is being treated for mental illness. Things seem to be spiralling out of control for all 3 of them again.The book alternates between the 80's and present day every chapter, and also between the 3 girls, telling a little bit of their story each chapter. The climax of the book shows the end of their friendship back in the 80's which in turn explains their lives in the present day and how they have become who they are. They are 3 messed up girls, and drugs, alcohol, sex, violence and mental illness play a big part in this story. It's graphic, compelling, sad, most definitely not a standard chick lit story.This book is hard going but well worth a read. I found it difficult to put down, but difficult to stop thinking about it after I had finished it.