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fuguballoon's review against another edition
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
3.0
I was getting ready to give this book 4 stars, but the ending ruined it for me. How can this be a story about learning to love yourself and not change yourself for a partner when Yinka's love interest literally changes himself to become more attractive to her?!
That's not to say that there weren't good parts of this book. I enjoyed the first three quarters of it. I was definitely invested in Yinka's story. I liked how differentiated and well-developed the large cast of characters was. Yinka's most immature choices I chalked up to the author saying that she started working on Yinka in her early- to mid-twenties; I think there might have been some bleedthrough there.
Also, I respect the author wanting to show the power of therapy! But a single session is not a cure-all. Ironically, she did such a good job of describing the toxic personalities in Yinka's circle, thateveryone becoming magically chill was completely unbelievable, even in Yinka's heightened world.
On the whole, I'm frustrated with this book. I think Yinka deserved a more nuanced ending. For being an 11-hour(!) audiobook, I certainly wanted one for her.
That's not to say that there weren't good parts of this book. I enjoyed the first three quarters of it. I was definitely invested in Yinka's story. I liked how differentiated and well-developed the large cast of characters was. Yinka's most immature choices I chalked up to the author saying that she started working on Yinka in her early- to mid-twenties; I think there might have been some bleedthrough there.
Also, I respect the author wanting to show the power of therapy! But a single session is not a cure-all. Ironically, she did such a good job of describing the toxic personalities in Yinka's circle, that
On the whole, I'm frustrated with this book. I think Yinka deserved a more nuanced ending. For being an 11-hour(!) audiobook, I certainly wanted one for her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Racism
matmatmatty's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
This is the story of Yinka who at 31, finds herself single while her sister and cousins are all married or engaged.
With a lot of pressure to get married, Yinka decides to start a plan to get a date for her cousin's wedding, which kicks off the story.
This is a romance but it isn't so much about finding love but feeling worthy of love. Yinka is someone who has certain views about the world that work in her disfavour - she sees other women's curves and immediately compared them to her own, she talks about how light others are in comparison to herself.
Yinka does a lot of things that I don't agree with (she lies to friends and family, she decides to change herself entirely, and drinks when she has always been a light drinker) but this is all to show her characterisation and her spiral (like I think it's clear that you're not meant to be rooting for her while she does this)
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but the final quarter was extremely emotional for me and really pushed this over the edge.
With a lot of pressure to get married, Yinka decides to start a plan to get a date for her cousin's wedding, which kicks off the story.
This is a romance but it isn't so much about finding love but feeling worthy of love. Yinka is someone who has certain views about the world that work in her disfavour - she sees other women's curves and immediately compared them to her own, she talks about how light others are in comparison to herself.
Yinka does a lot of things that I don't agree with (she lies to friends and family, she decides to change herself entirely, and drinks when she has always been a light drinker) but this is all to show her characterisation and her spiral (like I think it's clear that you're not meant to be rooting for her while she does this)
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but the final quarter was extremely emotional for me and really pushed this over the edge.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Body shaming
Moderate: Alcohol and Death
sandysmith's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
I enjoyed this book so much. It was a journey to self-love, about family, church, religion, and friendship pressures. It's not just the main character that grows, so do the people around her. Her Nigerian background was written in a way that I understood, and key themes of self-awareness, racism, and skin tone were explored. I don't like comparing books, but it was a black Bridget Jones more modern with teeth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Body shaming
Moderate: Death of parent and Alcohol
micaelamariem's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really wanted to like this book…
A lot of people are comparing it to Bridget Jones Diary and I also hated that book so I guess that makes sense.
I appreciated the theme of women not needing a man to be happy and to be content with who you are. I liked the creativity of using mixed media (like Google searches etc) in the chapters.
However, I found the main character extremely u likable, constantly making nonsensical decisions and judging everyone else. I thought the dialogue was cringey and unbelievable. And honestly, I was just grimacing the whole time 😭
A lot of people are comparing it to Bridget Jones Diary and I also hated that book so I guess that makes sense.
I appreciated the theme of women not needing a man to be happy and to be content with who you are. I liked the creativity of using mixed media (like Google searches etc) in the chapters.
However, I found the main character extremely u likable, constantly making nonsensical decisions and judging everyone else. I thought the dialogue was cringey and unbelievable. And honestly, I was just grimacing the whole time 😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, Alcohol, Cursing, and Sexism
laurataylor's review against another edition
funny
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Sexual content
zombiezami's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Colorism, texturismadrienne_rennie's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Death of parent, Outing, and Alcohol
justovereherereading's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-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
Really enjoyed this book, I loved reading about Nigerian culture.
It’s also very refreshing reading a book where the main character is Christian and not willing to bend their ‘no sex before marriage’ beliefs…it’s very rare & I’m grateful for it!
Lovely ending to the story that was over the top! Great read!
It’s also very refreshing reading a book where the main character is Christian and not willing to bend their ‘no sex before marriage’ beliefs…it’s very rare & I’m grateful for it!
Lovely ending to the story that was over the top! Great read!
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol
nicolaparty's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming
Moderate: Death of parent and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcohol and Sexual content
amberinpieces's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Dysphoria, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent, Outing, Religious bigotry, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness