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robyn1998's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was definitely one of the saddest books I've ever read. I had to keep taking breaks to cry. I think Ani Kayode Somtochukwu is ridiculously talented. The storyline was never predictable and the characters all felt very real. The only criticism I have is that the pacing felt a little all over the place at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
toluolowo's review against another edition
informative
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
I wish we got more of Segun's internal story
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Suicide, Bullying, Hate crime, Grief, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, and Death
readwithchar's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Grief, Death of parent, Biphobia, Death, Hate crime, Medical content, Bullying, Sexism, Homophobia, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Outing, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
zarlynsnook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
5.0
This debut novel is a gem waiting to be discovered. When I requested the ARC in Netgalley, I did it on a whim because I was so intrigued by the blurb. I also haven't read a book set in Nigeria so I thought it would be nice to visit it through this book.
Honestly, once I started reading the book, I had an inkling that it would feel like reading Khaled Hosseini's books all over again. I'll never forget how I felt when I read The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns for the first time. It felt like opening my eyes to a wider, much cruel world I was oblivious to. And boy, this book did that again to me, and more.
The book is about August and Segun and their story of living as a young adult queer in Nigeria. They came from different upbringings but met and fell in love. Both have much to go through and have their own adversaries but share one thing - they are gay and living in a homophobic county. August was conflicted because of the pressure from his family being the only son and his mother dying after giving birth to him. Meanwhile, Segun grew up being politically aware due to his mother being an activist. The book explored August and Segun’s journey of growing up facing their personal dilemma and their romantic relationship until the societal pressure of their country’s homophobic culture caught up with them.
One thing that I can describe in this book is that it is raw. It right down told me how cruel the world is, with no sugar-coating, no introduction, and no flowery or poetic prose. Just straight-up facts and emotions and the book gets deeper and heart-breaking. When I finished reading the book, I needed a moment to process my emotions. The last few chapters are heavy; it felt like bombs are dropping continuously without stopping. While writing this review, I know August and Segun’s story will stay with me for a long.
Thank you to the author for being courageous in writing this story and putting it out in the world. Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for giving me access to the Arc.
Honestly, once I started reading the book, I had an inkling that it would feel like reading Khaled Hosseini's books all over again. I'll never forget how I felt when I read The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns for the first time. It felt like opening my eyes to a wider, much cruel world I was oblivious to. And boy, this book did that again to me, and more.
The book is about August and Segun and their story of living as a young adult queer in Nigeria. They came from different upbringings but met and fell in love. Both have much to go through and have their own adversaries but share one thing - they are gay and living in a homophobic county. August was conflicted because of the pressure from his family being the only son and his mother dying after giving birth to him. Meanwhile, Segun grew up being politically aware due to his mother being an activist. The book explored August and Segun’s journey of growing up facing their personal dilemma and their romantic relationship until the societal pressure of their country’s homophobic culture caught up with them.
One thing that I can describe in this book is that it is raw. It right down told me how cruel the world is, with no sugar-coating, no introduction, and no flowery or poetic prose. Just straight-up facts and emotions and the book gets deeper and heart-breaking. When I finished reading the book, I needed a moment to process my emotions. The last few chapters are heavy; it felt like bombs are dropping continuously without stopping. While writing this review, I know August and Segun’s story will stay with me for a long.
Thank you to the author for being courageous in writing this story and putting it out in the world. Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for giving me access to the Arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Outing, Death of parent, Suicide, and Homophobia
emmas_bookshelf's review against another edition
dark
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? It's complicated
5.0
As the synopsis indicates, this powerful story touches on a lot of really tough topics - homophobia, violence against LGBTQ+ folks, straining against family and cultural expectations, and more. All that said, it was an excellent read and it gave me a lot to think about and a sliver of insight into a culture that’s totally foreign to me. I appreciate the author illuminating these subjects and doing it with writing that is intimate and beautifully written. CWs for all the stuff mentioned above and also suicide.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Biphobia, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, Alcohol, Blood, and Violence
kristenlcoates's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Self harm, Biphobia, Bullying, Hate crime, Outing, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
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