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juleskr02's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
lost a bit of star-age because i’m not quite sure if i enjoyed the ending. i sort of wanted more between briar and emira, or even a better ending for kelley’s and emira’s relationship, but i could see how the ending can be appreciated. the last line of the book was beautiful.
this book tackles race and class in a way that allows you to think while being fully entertained. there was drama at every point, but also reflection and happy moments too. i think it’s so important to note that rich and upper class people do sometimes tend to ignore the ways of the world, and are many times oblivious to the fact that their upbringing impacts how they live their own lives, and how that then impacts their relationships with others who might not have as much wealth as them! any scene with briar made my heart so happy. i love to see a relationship between an inquisitive child and loving caregiver. briar being emira’s favorite aspect of her life rings so true with me, especially since my aspirations are to work with children.
i also enjoyed the lowkey plot twist that reid included, with showing the truth about alix’s past and how that relates to the present. i really think this book was paced very well!
a fantastic book!
Graphic: Racism and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Toxic friendship, and Classism
chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cursing, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Police brutality and Pregnancy
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, Slavery, Vomit, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty
caia_in_wonderland's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I also found profoundly impacting that we have a main character, Emira, who doesn’t ambition much and that has no idea what she wants to do with her life. It is a strange age. But, aren’t they all. No one should feel like they have to have a life plan, a perfect ambition. Not everyone needs that. I related to this a lot.
The book very much sank its teeth in me, thus I binged it in less than 5h, eager to see what would happen between Emira and her new white boyfriend and her new white boss, and what would result of their eagerness to support her, of their need to improve her life, measuring her as only a Black girl, as if they’re all the same, when Emira clearly knows what she doesn’t want, what she is, and only wants to be left alone and live a quiet normal adult life.
A great and eye opening read, that made me look inside my own privilege and preconceived ideas.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
radfordmanor's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
sib_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Cursing, Police brutality, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
cammiem8's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Stalking, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death
bree_klass's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Ried puts white privilege on blast with this book (as they should). the biggest takeaway for me, that I haven’t seen in other novels centred around race, was how white people always find a way to centre themselves in situations that aren’t even about them.
Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Hate crime
Minor: Racial slurs
jojo_'s review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death, Vomit, Police brutality, Stalking, and Death of parent
marionlundqvist's review
- 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? No
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship