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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
lighthearted
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:
No
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
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
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Between Friends & Lovers was cute a lot of time and frustrating sometimes, but I overall really, really enjoyed this.
First, I did not care for Jo. I am straddling the fence though—I loved that she was a virgin by choice and that she had de-prioritized men so much in her life that she had full control over when she was ready to sleep with someone. I also liked that she was given the space to make mistakes and learn from them in real time. Placing her chapters in 1st person and Mal's in 3rd made Jo's exploration feel very intimate and personal. I disliked feeling like she led Mal on at first, or at the very least entered into things with him with another in mind.
I absolutely loved Mal. Even though some of his actions gave me the ick, he is a true lover boy and he is kind and patient while also being ambitious and dedicating his time to be of service to the people he cares for. Ezra was very irredeemable for me; I empathized with how he and Jo even came to be in each other's lives, but I also felt like he was very petty and selfish. Also, there is no way he thought it was okay to date his childhood best friend's racist bully?!
This is a story about belonging, and how sometimes people leave behind their blood family to embrace others, but sometimes found family can cause harm as well. This is a story about a young Black woman living her life on her terms and being messy and imperfect and having ambition and drive but difficulty with intimacy and being taken care of, and how she grows.
The writing was absolutely beautiful. The overall messaging was succinct and timely. I will be reading Obuobi again!
4.5 ⭐️s
2.5 🌶️
First, I did not care for Jo. I am straddling the fence though—I loved that she was a virgin by choice and that she had de-prioritized men so much in her life that she had full control over when she was ready to sleep with someone. I also liked that she was given the space to make mistakes and learn from them in real time. Placing her chapters in 1st person and Mal's in 3rd made Jo's exploration feel very intimate and personal. I disliked feeling like she led Mal on at first, or at the very least entered into things with him with another in mind.
I absolutely loved Mal. Even though some of his actions gave me the ick, he is a true lover boy and he is kind and patient while also being ambitious and dedicating his time to be of service to the people he cares for. Ezra was very irredeemable for me; I empathized with how he and Jo even came to be in each other's lives, but I also felt like he was very petty and selfish. Also, there is no way he thought it was okay to date his childhood best friend's racist bully?!
This is a story about belonging, and how sometimes people leave behind their blood family to embrace others, but sometimes found family can cause harm as well. This is a story about a young Black woman living her life on her terms and being messy and imperfect and having ambition and drive but difficulty with intimacy and being taken care of, and how she grows.
The writing was absolutely beautiful. The overall messaging was succinct and timely. I will be reading Obuobi again!
4.5 ⭐️s
2.5 🌶️
funny
reflective
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:
Yes