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Graphic: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Lesbophobia, Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Slavery
Generally I prefer not to read character-vignette novels written in third-person. But this novel just goes to show that when done well, I can really enjoy them! I loved the distinct voice of each character and how they would be name-dropped in one chapter only to be the main character of the next one. It built such an interesting and creative narrative without leaving me feeling I didn't know enough about them–which is usually the case for me with character-vignettes.
Surprised to see some reviews stating the character dialogue and mix of poetry/prose was hard to believe and unrealistic. I completely disagree! The inner dialogue of the female characters was relatable and familiar. I enjoyed the exploration of womanhood and motherhood and how this intersects with race in Britain. It was an interesting and sobering read.
It was almost 5 stars, but there was a part where the character overcomes drug addiction by sheer willpower–they literally stay at home for a week without any form of support and somehow recovers? This didn't feel realistic to me especially given the vulnerability and young age of the character. That said, this was one of the chapters that really stood out to me in its exploration of body/gender dysphoria and trans joy.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Classism
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Police brutality
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Biphobia, Child death, Drug use, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia
Minor: Vomit
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Lesbophobia
Moderate: Bullying, Rape, Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Miscarriage, Islamophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol
Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Physical abuse, Abandonment
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Classism
Moderate: Self harm, Slavery, Excrement, War
Minor: Cancer, Eating disorder, Infertility
Graphic: Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Miscarriage
Minor: Cancer
Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Classism
Graphic: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Grief, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Abandonment