Reviews

I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down. It was an enjoyable read about a really serious topic. My only complaint is that it read more like a short story than a novel, I would have enjoyed more character development. I would have liked to see Emira with her family, and Alix with her sister and Kelley with his friends and colleagues. But I absolutely would recommend this book.

tinythings's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.25

nikread84's review against another edition

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4.0

This book is equally parts entertaining, and highly frustrating. It starts with a confrontation between a white public safety officer asking a black babysitter why she has a three-year-old white girl with her. You know there’s a train wreck coming, somewhere, someway… and it’s impossible to look away. And that’s why you keep reading. Someone’s going to screw something up. And go figure, it’s the rich white lady that has no earthly idea she has her own problems she should fix and she needs to stop trying to fix everyone else around her; specifically, her black babysitter, who seems directionless at age 25. Girl, back off.
Ultimately, the last two chapters resolved things for the reader well, both for rich white lady (who is still crazy), and her (now-ex) black babysitter. I think the time jump at the end was very warranted and placed the characters in solid (if expected) endings.

yellowswagger's review against another edition

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4.0

*Such a Fun Book* Honestly this was an enjoyable ride. From Alix’s decent into madness to Emira’s relatable life situation and the man that connected them even closer, I have to say I’d recommend this book. There is an incident where Emira, who is Black, gets harassed by a store security guard and I particularly appreciate how that scene was written because it is a very real experience and yet as a Black reader, the way it was laid out didn’t feel traumatizing or triggering, yet it still felt authentic.

I understand that this story was about Emira not really knowing what she’s doing with her life, I just wish her character was a little stronger. She felt like she was being blown by the wind (which for the sake of this story I feel was intentional), but I would’ve loved for the reader to have a stronger sense of who Emira is, even if she’s still figuring it out. I also wish for a little more accountability- or perhaps just different consequences for the harmful actions of the white main characters. All in all though, it was an enjoyable story.

hayleyh2021's review against another edition

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hopeful informative reflective fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

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