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annie1017's review
2.0
As I put this book down, I’m left thinking “what the heck just happened?!?” I really enjoyed the first half of the book. Especially Sydney’s chapters. Starting half way through I found myself slugging through the Theo chapters, and then the last 1/4 of the book was just a big ????? Good concept but the execution was a miss.
electramourning's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
thetrashchan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.25
kgreer's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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? N/A
3.75
I enjoyed this book and the thriller that elements were great!! The ending felt a little rushed but overall an enjoyable read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Torture
Minor: Violence
spatterson12's review
4.0
A Black woman wants to preserve the history of her neighborhood so she starts to design her own town tour. During this time she starts to notice that longtime members of her community have stopped communication or unexpectedly disappeared as new families start to take residency in the historic homes. The first half of the book was more character building than suspense/thriller, but the second half hits that marketed drama.
melinda_and_her_books's review
4.0
Review to come. I have a few to get caught up on. Thank you Libro FM for the gifted copy.
shay_janae's review against another edition
dark
funny
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? It's complicated
4.75
Gentrification is insidious, and this story takes it to the next level. Crazy thing is this could really happen. A great and gripping story!
jesusandsheabutterreads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was just okay. Majority of the plot took place in the last 5-7 chapters maybe and it felt rushed. Some of what took place in the last few chapters should have been developed more throughout the book.
crlopez2013's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. So many different feelings about this book. Sydney is a flawed character and sometimes a bit unlikable, but really she can’t be blamed for those flaws. Almost didn’t finish when I first started the book but pushed through and was soooo glad I did….except until the end. I won’t be specific but it felt like the authors extremism in the ending took away from the message. However, I am not a black person, so my opinion on this is really irrelevant. Took me a long time to read because I kept getting so outraged that I had to put it down and decompress. Would still recommend though especially for white folks.
tonatyuh's review
5.0
This thriller is one of the best thrillers out there. Cole finds the terror in the subtle and obvious racism that surrounds our everyday life, and truly encapsulates the anger and grief that black people in america have to deal with whether they want to or not.
Cole is brave and direct with what she has to say, holding a mirror up to everyone, even the “nice” white liberals. This thriller doesn’t hide from anything it has to say and that’s something i loved about it .
Sydney is a character that one can’t help but root for. all of her decisions make sense, and the same fear and uneasiness is shared with the reader to create a discomforting atmosphere.
Theo, and the romance that is built with his character, is one that i also think is necessary for this story. theo isn’t the perfect white savior. he’s upset when he’s corrected and oblivious (and sometimes not) of the racism around him. But his dedication to be open minded and try to understand Sydney is something a lot of white people have to take note of.
This books is also rich in history, and effective in elevating the suspense as Cole points out the cycles of racial and systemic violence in the country.
As soon as i read the ending i knew it would upset some people. To them, i do have to ask; what would u rather sydney do? Because there really is no nice way out of this, prisons nor the legal system is in favor of Sydney or her Black neighbors, and they won’t stop because they’ve done much worse. I think while the ending is a little bit of a tone shift, i think it works, and honestly it’s satisfying to see Sydney finally kick ass idk !! maybe they deserved it did y’all think of that ? i just hope Sydney and the rest of them get therapy so they can process the violence. i think at the end of the day how you feel about the ending is impacted on if you’re white or not. idk it’s just really interesting seeing the reviews around here …
I also think the critique that the villains are too evil and cartoonishly so.. i mean there are people like this. people in power, racists in power, are not subtle in their violence against minorities. but then again, i think the reaction to the villains and the ending is all about perspective.
I was also a fan of the epilogue, since i think it’s really easy for a white and privileged non black audience to read the final chapter and think “glad that’s over!” Cole reminds the audience with the epilogue that this gentrification and violence isn’t unique to Gifford Place, but all too common throughout the country, nailing the point down even further and effectively.
i will read anything alyssa cole writes now
Cole is brave and direct with what she has to say, holding a mirror up to everyone, even the “nice” white liberals. This thriller doesn’t hide from anything it has to say and that’s something i loved about it .
Sydney is a character that one can’t help but root for. all of her decisions make sense, and the same fear and uneasiness is shared with the reader to create a discomforting atmosphere.
Theo, and the romance that is built with his character, is one that i also think is necessary for this story. theo isn’t the perfect white savior. he’s upset when he’s corrected and oblivious (and sometimes not) of the racism around him. But his dedication to be open minded and try to understand Sydney is something a lot of white people have to take note of.
This books is also rich in history, and effective in elevating the suspense as Cole points out the cycles of racial and systemic violence in the country.
As soon as i read the ending i knew it would upset some people. To them, i do have to ask; what would u rather sydney do? Because there really is no nice way out of this, prisons nor the legal system is in favor of Sydney or her Black neighbors, and they won’t stop because they’ve done much worse. I think while the ending is a little bit of a tone shift, i think it works, and honestly it’s satisfying to see Sydney finally kick ass idk !! maybe they deserved it did y’all think of that ? i just hope Sydney and the rest of them get therapy so they can process the violence. i think at the end of the day how you feel about the ending is impacted on if you’re white or not. idk it’s just really interesting seeing the reviews around here …
I also think the critique that the villains are too evil and cartoonishly so.. i mean there are people like this. people in power, racists in power, are not subtle in their violence against minorities. but then again, i think the reaction to the villains and the ending is all about perspective.
I was also a fan of the epilogue, since i think it’s really easy for a white and privileged non black audience to read the final chapter and think “glad that’s over!” Cole reminds the audience with the epilogue that this gentrification and violence isn’t unique to Gifford Place, but all too common throughout the country, nailing the point down even further and effectively.
i will read anything alyssa cole writes now