Scan barcode
fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Feels like a necessary book, though I have mixed feelings about Anita’s voice as a second life. I thought it was funny and relevant, but I think I didn’t really love the use of it as a plot device. Also, my revenge lust wasn’t quenched enough. I would’ve preferred to see Jack dealt with greater consequences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Torture, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Murder, Sexism, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
george_tte's review
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Systemic oppression and domestic abuse contrasted in fantastic, fleshed-out characters. It was slow at first, but once it picked it up I found it hard to stop reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Homophobia
katie_helf96's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Amazing! I just wished Anita pushed Jack down the stairs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Death
alixprior's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
adventurebound7's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Death
Moderate: Classism, Eating disorder, and Body shaming
ali_vangundy's review
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Eating disorder
willowthewildandco's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- 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
‘Tamadre!! I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book, but something happened towards the middle that caused me to “rage read” all the way to the very, very satisfying end. One of my favorite reads this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Racism
alsbap08's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Gaslighting, Eating disorder, and Racism
eccentric_auri's review
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
minimicropup's review against another edition
4.5
Oof, the feels. There’s all too real magic realism, heartbreaking life lessons, and a beautiful ending.
Energy: Intrepid. Vibrant. Raw.
Scene: 🇺🇸 🇨🇺 Set in Providence, Rhode Island (1990s), NYC (1970s-1980s) and Havana, Jaruco, and Varadero Cuba (1980s).
Perspective: In the 1980s, we follow an artist who meets an untimely end as their marriage unravels with perspective from their spouse. In the 1990s, we follow a graduate student questioning their world as they learn more about the spouse of the male artist whose work they are writing about.
🐕 Howls: I find post-death or beyond-the-grave perspectives difficult, but that’s just me!
🐩 Tail Wags: Raquel. Imperfect characters. The balance of show-not-tell commentary. Overall energy and thoughtfulness. The portrayal of how established art is dictated and how limiting and destructive that is.
🤔 Random Thoughts:
This is a book you’ll want to be in the headspace for. Even though I haven’t lived the character’s experiences and identities, it felt so relatable and understandable. There’s a wide span of commentary, but it never felt shallow or heavy-handed. I loved the symbolism of connecting across time and supporting the growth of each other’s spirits.
The exploration the 'man-child' and toxic gender roles was well done, too. I hated Jack, but I was glad we got his perspective because it gave us insight into how people like him justify their actions. This didn’t feel misandrist (not all men are jerks), and it explored the role of women in enabling these behaviours too.
----
🎬 Tale-Telling: Poetic and expressive but dense with long chapters.
🤓 Reader Role: Anita is talking to us directly and from beyond the grave. We are also tagging along with Raquel with a narrator who gives insight into her thoughts and actions.
🗺️ World-Building: Effortlessly 1990s and 1980s. Musical, too. This is a great book to read along with the songs listed.
🔥 Fuel: We know right away that Anita died, but there’s an unravelling mystery around how and what led to it. Will the truth be found out? Will her art survive? Raquel’s portion has relationship and coming-of-age suspense, and some research sleuthing.
📖 Cred: Hyper-realistic magical realism
🚙 Journey: Spending an afternoon lost in a book or movie, feeling all the feels.
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Energy: Intrepid. Vibrant. Raw.
Scene: 🇺🇸 🇨🇺 Set in Providence, Rhode Island (1990s), NYC (1970s-1980s) and Havana, Jaruco, and Varadero Cuba (1980s).
Perspective: In the 1980s, we follow an artist who meets an untimely end as their marriage unravels with perspective from their spouse. In the 1990s, we follow a graduate student questioning their world as they learn more about the spouse of the male artist whose work they are writing about.
🐕 Howls: I find post-death or beyond-the-grave perspectives difficult, but that’s just me!
🐩 Tail Wags: Raquel. Imperfect characters. The balance of show-not-tell commentary. Overall energy and thoughtfulness. The portrayal of how established art is dictated and how limiting and destructive that is.
🤔 Random Thoughts:
This is a book you’ll want to be in the headspace for. Even though I haven’t lived the character’s experiences and identities, it felt so relatable and understandable. There’s a wide span of commentary, but it never felt shallow or heavy-handed. I loved the symbolism of connecting across time and supporting the growth of each other’s spirits.
The exploration the 'man-child' and toxic gender roles was well done, too. I hated Jack, but I was glad we got his perspective because it gave us insight into how people like him justify their actions. This didn’t feel misandrist (not all men are jerks), and it explored the role of women in enabling these behaviours too.
----
🎬 Tale-Telling: Poetic and expressive but dense with long chapters.
🤓 Reader Role: Anita is talking to us directly and from beyond the grave. We are also tagging along with Raquel with a narrator who gives insight into her thoughts and actions.
🗺️ World-Building: Effortlessly 1990s and 1980s. Musical, too. This is a great book to read along with the songs listed.
🔥 Fuel: We know right away that Anita died, but there’s an unravelling mystery around how and what led to it. Will the truth be found out? Will her art survive? Raquel’s portion has relationship and coming-of-age suspense, and some research sleuthing.
📖 Cred: Hyper-realistic magical realism
🚙 Journey: Spending an afternoon lost in a book or movie, feeling all the feels.
Mood Reading Match-Up:
- Seagulls. Salt-scented air. Honking traffic. Elevator music. Studio light. Polite laughter. Sand and ocean waves. Hip hop.
- Elements of magical realism and good-for-her revenge
- Literary fiction with new adult experiences and breaking free from patriarchal and White-normalized expectations
Content Heads-Up: Prejudice/bias (class, privilege, ancestry, race). Racism (systemic, relationships, academia). Domestic abuse (physical and verbal). Toxic masculinity. Suicide (implied, on page). Murder (on page). Death, life after death (on page). Bullying. Sexism, misogyny. Body shaming. Eating disorder (brief mention). Controlling relationships. Alcohol use (intoxication).
Rep: Cuban American. Puerto Rican. Latina, Lebanese, French, Black, and White Americans. Cisgender. Gay. Lesbian. Heterosexual. Diverse body sizes. Diverse skin colours. Santería.
📚 Format: Paperback
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Racism
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Suicide, Bullying, Eating disorder, and Body shaming