2.28k reviews for:

Beli oleander

Janet Fitch

4.0 AVERAGE

bbspicesalmon's review against another edition

4.5

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

amlee9001's review against another edition

4.5

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I loved this book, which seems almost slice-of-life to me, but I know that's just how character-driven stories always seem to me.  Astrid is both condemnable and loveable, she's everything a teenage girl hates in herself and everything that a girl coming-of-age is.  I also think it's a great look into the underbelly of the foster care system and a very good argument for foster care reform, at least when you strip back the drama of fiction.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Racism, Death of parent

This book was a wild ride with a lot coming at you all the time, the content is heavy, but it's worth a read if you are able to read it.

djinn_n_juice's review against another edition

4.0

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I couldn't stop reading this book until I had finished it. It's very good.

kaybeereads's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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The emotion I felt reading this is indescribable. I wish I could read it for the first time again. 

visionsoforchids's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

bookish_goose2328's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Suicide, Murder

sharyl5's review against another edition

5.0

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This was one of those books I never wanted to put down. It's the story of a girl's life (Astrid's), first with her mother, then in the foster care system, after her mother goes to prison for murder. There's no doubt who gets punished more for this crime! Astrid is subjected to the supervision of a succession of adults, all who have problems and agendas of their own. Astrid must struggle to become a level-headed young woman who knows herself and what she wants from her life. The movie was good, but, as usual, there's so much more to the book.

samosky82's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

_crow_'s review against another edition

5.0

dark relaxing fast-paced

eves_mae's review against another edition

5.0

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This book is one of my faves. Whenever I see a copy at an op shop I buy it and gift it to someone I love. It's deep, raw, moody and moving. Janet's writing is so poetic and beautiful.