Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - Every Body Looking

Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh

9 reviews

thebookkeepers's review

emotional reflective 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

3.25

This book started off strong for me, but the ending came abruptly and the tale felt unfinished. I enjoyed the nonlinear format and how we bounce between current day college & flashback scenes from various times of her childhood. There were some heavy themes in this I was looking forward to seeing the main character over come but didn’t feel like it truly was flushed out once I reached the final page. I was craving more closure for this main character and to know what’s next for her.

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gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This was a beautifully written, heavily autobiographical story of Ada, trying to fit into a world of conflicting messages. Never feeling enough for those she loves, lacking privacy and information on her body and growing up, this was an emotional story told in verse.

The slice of life style of this was easy to listen to, despite the hardhips Ada went through. I still enjoyed seeing her grow into herself and find her identity as she navigated home, school, tumultuous relationships and toxic family.

Ultimately, Ada's story was about distancing oneself from the emotional abuse and finally loving for you and only you.

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thatenbyisisreads's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

This book highlights the unfortunate reality of black queer kids not being able to express their unique, authentic selves due to overbearing, strict, and religious parents. I saw a lot of myself through the lens of Ada.

Especially, within this quote of being expected to learn the duties that come with being a "future wife/mother". "The sixth grade was already impossible without Aunty's return to change everything/ now I can't eat without permission/ I can't watch tv without permission/ It's now my job to clean the kitchen/ as the oldest child/ as the first daughter/ learning her duties as a future wife/ and mother/ who was going to understand/ all I wanted to learn/ was how to make friends/ at school." Growing up, I didn't have a safe space anywhere, including my own home due to this similar situation.

Overall, It's important to have more young adult books to highlight topics like these because young, queer me would've felt so seen and heard. I love that this generation has the ability to have this representation readily available to them!

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quasosnake's review

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hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

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octoberof2003's review

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reflective fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

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macknificent's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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rillastone's review

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective fast-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

4.5

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melaniereadsbooks's review

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challenging inspiring reflective 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

5.0

Written in verse, this novel tells the story of Ada on her journey to find and accept herself in a world that keeps trying to tell her what she is supposed to be.

This blew me away. First of all, the poetry is absolutely beautiful and I would happily read books in verse for the rest of my life. The writing is emotional and meaningful and so easy to fall into a rhythm.

Ada's story is not told chronologically, but jumps back and forth in time. It has a major focus on her time in college, but also shows snapshots of who she was when she was younger and how she became herself. I think this was a really good choice! It made this story more interesting and the connections between past and present were so meaningful.

Ada went through so much to find herself, but I loved seeing her journey and how right her place was in the world by the end. I really enjoyed the connections to dance, her body image, and her complicated relationships with her family and religion!

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alertnerd's review

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emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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