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matmatmatty's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I am honestly a little speechless after reading this.
I've had this book on my shelf for a while, and had a lot of people suggest it to me, but only recently got around to reading it.
This is such an important story that I really cannot recommend more. I wish I had read it earlier and had the opportunity to take in what I took from it then.
This story follows 12 separate characters and their story of self discovery and finding themselves. Some of these stories are within a couple of years, some over entire lifetimes. They are all unique and feel so real.
All of these stories are connected, in different ways, and you get to hear about characters from multiple perspectives (including their own) which gives them a greater depth (I also got to think about how we can be our own unreliable narrator for ourselves and those around us)
Evaristo's writing style might not be for everyone - it's very poetic and not structured like a "typical" writer but if that's a barrier for you, I would really try to overcome it because this book is so worth it.
Graphic: Rape, Death, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Child death
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Transphobia, and Misogyny
Minor: Drug use and Miscarriage
alexashabit'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
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Homophobia, and Transphobia
lucyhicks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Toxic relationship, Death, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Rape, Racism, Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Homophobia
bites_of_books'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? It's complicated
5.0
This book is full of really difficult topics, from abuse, abandonment, racism, bigotry, etc., and it is also full of a lot of heart and love between women. I loved the inclusion of trans and lesbian characters since they were the main characters in their respective stories.
I'd recommend this book if you like multigenerational stories, books where you have to do the work and piece the story together, and if you like diverse books full of conversations surrounding various aspects of feminism.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, Bullying, Body shaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Racism, and Toxic relationship
siebensommer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
she’s mum’s emotional caretaker - always has been, always will be. it’s the burden of being an only child, especially a girl, who will naturally be more caring.
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Transphobia, Drug use, and Racism
isabellamarg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I think my favorite part of this novel was seeing the characters all come together in the same place in the final chapter creating a full-circle moment for the reader where we see people forgive others and other's misgivings. The epilogue in this novel was also a really sweet treat for the reader with lost connections being found (no spoilers here).
I loved how each section of the novel was broken down into a trio of characters that were somehow related or knew each other. There were a lot of mom and daughter plot lines as well as teachers, siblings, friends, etc. The punctuation and capitalization of the writing honestly did not bother me. I thought it created a poetic flow to the writing that I almost preferred for this type of storytelling. Overall, masterfully written and wonderful book that spans generations of black women and their families. The cohesive exploration of friendship and love while also highlighting injustice in our world made me think deeply about how we carry ourselves through this world.
Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Infertility, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Rape
Minor: Deadnaming, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Addiction
haza'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? No
3.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Racism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Racial slurs, Abandonment, Violence, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Slavery, Rape, and Pregnancy
Minor: Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Infertility, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Transphobia, and Addiction
storyshory's review against another edition
4.5
Minor: Toxic relationship
rzh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Rape
Moderate: Transphobia
elizabethortiz96's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Grief, Sexual violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Child death, and Miscarriage