Scan barcode
ifersinklings's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Excrement, Police brutality, and Abortion
cheye13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My critiques, if implimented, would have ruined the book. There was no thread of whimsy to brighten it, which was intentional. The story didn't really kick off until the mid-point, but the depth of the opening was integral. I preferred reading about Rebecca and Akila and wished Eric were less present, but there would be no Rebecca or Akila in Edie's life without Eric.
This novel portrays the tragedy of Edie's reality in the most beautiful way possible, but the portrayal is too faithful to reality for me.
Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Medical content
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Police brutality, Abortion, and Death of parent
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Vomit, and Car accident
capote65's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, and Racism
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Misogyny, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Animal death and Suicidal thoughts
bookish_sabrina's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I find it interesting that this novel is written in first-person present tense. It gives the prose a lot of momentum, particularly in Leilani's long sentences. They start off innocuous and then suddenly slam you into bitter truths about Edie's past, as well as observations and critiques on society, with a particular focus on racism and misogyny. This novel is propulsive. It is a quick read despite how uncomfortable and upsetting some of the subject matter and scenes are. The present perspective also gives us great insight into Edie, and how she is unable to see herself in the future and is unwilling to dwell too much on her past.
There's no question that Leilani is an excellent writer. I found her characters to be well-rounded. It is funny and insightful. However, I don't think it is perfect. Sometimes, debut novels burst at their seams a bit; it feels like the author is trying to put too many ideas into one book. I think this is the case with Luster. I also found that some of her struggles felt a little too on the nose. I'm specifically thinking about Edie's interview at the clown college and her inability to properly paint a satisfactory self-portrait.
I'm glad I finally read this hyped novel. I didn't love it as much as some, but I also acknowledge that this book wasn't written for me, and I'm glad that others are loving it so much.
Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Racism, and Blood
Minor: Animal death, Death, Infertility, Police brutality, and Grief
hardcoverhearts's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Police brutality, and Medical content
noshelf_control's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, and Suicide
Minor: Animal death, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Police brutality, and Medical content
latisha's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Miscarriage
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Infertility, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, and Grief
kachina's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Medical content
kloft1993's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Miscarriage and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism and Sexual violence
Minor: Infertility