Scan barcode
starrysteph's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
This is a story about inescapable poverty & racism. It's a story about family - about generational violence and struggling with identity and our MC's deep desire to be a good father. At its core, it's a story about one man yearning for freedom. Throw in a heist (where things rapidly funnel out of control) and a lot of action-packed getaway drives, and you've got me hooked.
We follow Beauregard ("Bug") as he attempts to create an honest life for himself and his family, leaving his exploits as a getaway driver in the past. But a lot of things go wrong all at once, and Bug is tempted by an old acquaintance to lean back into the Life he so desperately wanted to bury for one final heist. (Though is it ever one final heist?)
Bug is a deeply compelling protagonist - he makes some pretty nasty choices, but you still find yourself rooting for him. That's not easy to pull off.
The prose is overall strong, but at moments Cosby leans into the similes so much that it got a little distracting. There's also a lot of detailed car talk, but even as a reader with 0 expertise in this area I felt like I was able to follow along (it just took a little extra effort at times, and led to some descriptions that felt quite dry).
It's a gritty read with a lot of depth. It's intense. It's violent. It's heavy on the heart. But in my opinion? It's worth it.
CW: murder, violence, gore, body horror, gun violence, drug use, racial slurs, torture, fatphobia, cancer, sexual content, car accident, animal death, fire, vomit
Graphic: Blood, Death, Fatphobia, Excrement, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Car accident, Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Torture, Toxic friendship, Violence, Vomit, Drug abuse, Murder, and Sexual content
godonne5's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
Minor: Fatphobia
chaoticmissadventures's review against another edition
4.0
Well written. There are not a lot of these types of books out there - A Black southern man who is half criminal, half family man, and trying to balance two lives that cannot be separated or combined.
Beauregard is an easy to understand and empathize with character. The other characters are more one dimensional and could have been drawn more vividly, but this is an action book at heart, and I enjoyed how the story of his father was woven throughout and you can see the generational trauma and repetition.
TW: violence, murder, fat phobia
Graphic: Violence and Gun violence
Moderate: Fatphobia
rliedtke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Racial slurs, and Violence
Minor: Cancer, Drug use, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Torture
horizonous's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Drug use, Excrement, Fatphobia, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Vomit