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churrosmom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Disclaimer: won an ARC through a giveaway.
This book was exhausting. It felt so repetitive and long because the entire time we are stuck in the main character, Nur's head, and he thinks in circular anxiety patterns, and the timeline jumps back and forth. At a certain point I was just spite reading the book to see what happens with the relationship. Nur has serious mental health issues, treats Yasmina absolutely horribly, and is constantly judging other Muslims as backwards and conservative. The author does have other characters call him out on these issues, but something about the writing just feels off. This book would be 3 stars but the way Blackness is treated in this book is just off. I can't really articulate what it is exactly.
Also, this is NOT a romance, do not go into this expecting a romance, though the romantic relationship between Nur and Yasmina is the center of the book.
TWs for explicit descriptions of anti-Blackness, self harm, mental illness, suicide attempt, panic attacks, toxic/emotionally abusive relationship, Islamophobia
This book was exhausting. It felt so repetitive and long because the entire time we are stuck in the main character, Nur's head, and he thinks in circular anxiety patterns, and the timeline jumps back and forth. At a certain point I was just spite reading the book to see what happens with the relationship. Nur has serious mental health issues, treats Yasmina absolutely horribly, and is constantly judging other Muslims as backwards and conservative. The author does have other characters call him out on these issues, but something about the writing just feels off. This book would be 3 stars but the way Blackness is treated in this book is just off. I can't really articulate what it is exactly.
Also, this is NOT a romance, do not go into this expecting a romance, though the romantic relationship between Nur and Yasmina is the center of the book.
TWs for explicit descriptions of anti-Blackness, self harm, mental illness, suicide attempt, panic attacks, toxic/emotionally abusive relationship, Islamophobia
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Islamophobia, and Suicide attempt
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