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rebeccamm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I'm not sure if I liked this book or if I'm giving it a higher rating just because it tells a story we don't hear about enough.
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Cancer, Drug use, Incest, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, War, and Classism
Sensitive readers may want to proceed with caution.lacunaboo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
hbc72'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
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Racism, Rape, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Murder
dramaqueentears'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
The story really becomes connected in 2014 when Jeanette takes in a little girl named Ana when the girl’s mother is detained by ICE.
What I liked:
- The fact that the main plot point surrounding immigrant detention happens in 2014. We need more literature that holds President Obama accountable for his role in that.
- All of the Cuban/Cuban-American characters were so unlikable but their chapters were so good.
What I disliked:
- The book was so short that I didn’t feel very connected or even knowledgeable about the characters.
- Other than making a statement about ICE, there was really no reason to include a plot with two characters from El Salvador. They didn’t really add much to the story until the end and Gloria and Ana had no real personalities.
- The chapters jumped around so frequently. Not a big deal for the chapters written in the 1950’s or the 1890’s, but I had to do a lot of mental math to determine what was going on with the more present-day characters because one chapter would be written in 2019 and the next in 2015.
Overall, I think it could have been better but it was alright! The idea was great.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Racism, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Alcohol
evilo_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, Racism, and Blood
Minor: Child abuse
lcg527'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
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
writemare31'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
3.5
There is a lot to appreciate in this book. The depictions of women are diverse, each character with their distinct personality and troubles, all of them portrayed with depth and care.
This book did not hit five stars for me because the plot was sprawling. If you asked me to outline the events, I could only name two that actually bring cohesion to the book, and the last one is in the final chapter. The ending felt slightly rushed or forced. I was often fighting confusion as I read through this, despite the clear artistry in the writing. Sometimes a little structure is needed to help bring that artistry to its full potential.
If I had read almost any of these chapters as stand alone stories, they likely would've earned five stars.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent
pollyflorence's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse
happiestwhenreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“And I am sorry I had nothing else to offer, Ana. That there are no real rules to govern why some are born in turmoil and others never know a single day in which the next seems an ill-considered bet. It’s all lottery, Ana, all chance. It’s the flick of a coin, and we are born.“
As one of my most highly anticipated reads of Spring 2021, I preordered this one and screamed when I saw its gorgeous cover in person!
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Misogyny
spalmon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Grief