Scan barcode
tbr_withmaya's review against another edition
Rating:⭐️⭐️
I really wanted to like Yinka, but I didn’t. She felt flat. She had so many strong female role models in her life and it felt like 31 was a bit late to be figuring out the woman you want to be when she has the resources and people to talk to that could’ve helped her. Her actions seemed more appropriate for that of a YA character than a grown woman but 🤷🏽♀️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
bookph1le's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this, but my frustration with Yinka sometimes made it hard for me to be as into the book as I would have liked. Some spoilers to follow.
Still, I do think the book does a good job of folding in a lot of issues worth unpacking--everything from the expectations placed on women to the conflict between being a mother and holding down a career to the detrimental effects of colorism. I thought the author did such an amazing job of conveying how the messages Yinka has internalized about beauty have deeply hurt her. I also thought the author was deft at using tiny moments--such as Yinka's foray into a hair supply store--to creating a really searing, painful image of what it means to be a dark-skinned woman growing up in a world that insists on equating paleness with beauty.
I was also glad to see that this book advocated for counseling. After reading far too many books in which mental health issues are conveyed in a negative way, I was so glad to see a book extolling the benefits of counseling and how the work Yinka did with her counselor helped her to become a better and more authentic version of herself.
As for the ending, I found it extremely satisfying. All in all, I liked the way the book showed Yinka grappling with her longing to find love and her confusion over whether that made her a bad feminist. As a feminist myself, I love seeing multi-faceted views of feminism like this, and I appreciated that the author emphasized that yearning for love is a very human emotion.
I look forward to seeing what this author does next.
I enjoyed this, but my frustration with Yinka sometimes made it hard for me to be as into the book as I would have liked. Some spoilers to follow.
Still, I do think the book does a good job of folding in a lot of issues worth unpacking--everything from the expectations placed on women to the conflict between being a mother and holding down a career to the detrimental effects of colorism. I thought the author did such an amazing job of conveying how the messages Yinka has internalized about beauty have deeply hurt her. I also thought the author was deft at using tiny moments--such as Yinka's foray into a hair supply store--to creating a really searing, painful image of what it means to be a dark-skinned woman growing up in a world that insists on equating paleness with beauty.
I was also glad to see that this book advocated for counseling. After reading far too many books in which mental health issues are conveyed in a negative way, I was so glad to see a book extolling the benefits of counseling and how the work Yinka did with her counselor helped her to become a better and more authentic version of herself.
As for the ending, I found it extremely satisfying.
Spoiler
I was glad to see a book showing that women need to work on themselves by resolving their own issues and fulfilling their own needs before they enter a romantic relationship. It's not that I think romantic partners can't help one another resolve personal issues, because I do, but I was SO glad to read a book that make Yinka's problems get better because of the work Yinka does and not because a romance magically fixes everything for her.I look forward to seeing what this author does next.
a_petro's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
3.0
jamalee's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0
stlkatiek's review against another edition
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
You can't help but compare this story to Bridget Jones, and though it was cringey to read at times, it's always good to read about a character learning to love herself.
chela_c's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5
lindseynoelle's review against another edition
medium-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