Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - Clap When You Land

It is an impactful story with strong and relatable characters. I really loved that the story was told from two perspectives, it added a lot more depth to the characters and showed different sides of one experience. I was a bit disappointed by the writing... don't get me wrong: it is written quite beautifully and the small poignant metaphors and details made the story feel very real and human, but because it is written in verse, I expected the writing to be a lot more lyrical. Maybe it is because I listened to the audio book, so the verse format wasn't so obvious, but to me, it almost read like "normal" prose. But maybe that is the beauty of it? I just didn't expect it.
Apart from that, it is a powerful story which explores difficult topics (like grief, identity, betrayal,...) in an accessible and nuanced way. Overall, it was a really touching story.

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jojo_'s review

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emotional hopeful 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

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foreverinastory's review

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emotional slow-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

4.0

This was so good.

Rep: Dominican-American lesbian female MC, Dominican female MC, BIPOC sapphic female side character, Dominican and Dominican-American side characters.

CWs: Death of parent, sexual assault, grief, death, stalking, infidelity, sexual violence, sexual harassment, pregnancy & birth on page, sexism, violence, parental abandonment, plane crash (not on page but discussed), misogyny, racism, xenophobia. Moderate: medical content, cancer, cursing, pedophilia, rape, panic attack. Minor: Drug use, trafficking, vomit, police brutality, blood.

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lindseyhall44's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Elizabeth Acevedo is one of my favorite author’s, and this book didn’t disappoint.
“Clap When You Land” follows to sisters after their father died unexpectedly in a plane crash. The twist…neither knows the other exists. One grows up in the Dominican Republic, the other in New York. The only thing that ties them together is this secret and their grief.
I loved so many things about this book. The novel in verse was such a beautiful thing to read, and it was obvious that Acevedo is in her elements. Even if novel is writing centered, the character development and relationships formed are truly moving. “Clap When You Land” sheds light on the people which help us heal.

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katreadstoomanybooks's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This was really close to a 5 star read for me, but the formatting could have been better. Sentences seemed to run on or end abruptly. Maybe it was because I was reading the ebook? I would also have liked to have a glossary for non-Spanish speakers. I relied on my high school Spanish at times, since there were quite a few parts that remained untranslated. It might be difficult for readers who have no foundation in Spanish.

Still, this is a beautiful novel written in verse from two perspectives. Acevedo adds another layer by basing it on real events, modeled after flight AA587, which crashed 2 months after 9/11, on route from NYC to DR. Sadly, this tragedy didn’t get a lot of press, in the wake of 9/11. Many passengers on the plane were Dominican. Before reading this book, when I imagined white people clapping when a plane lands (a common joke). Now, I will always think of the Dominican Republic and the relief you feel when you return “home.” It’s Acevedo’s love letter to DR.

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grainjordan's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.5

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martapsalvado's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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