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doomslugreads's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting read, interesting narrator, very well-written. It's short and to the point, but for what I think the novel is trying to convey, it works extremely well. Ending makes you think. I'm somewhere between a 3 and 4 stars, because while it isn't the best story I've ever read, it is one of those books you know you won't forget anytime soon.
Not a lot of character growth, since it's really a snapshot of the main characters mental state/mindset as she approaches marriage to someone she's not really in love with, commiting to a life she really doesn't want. Side characters are practically irrelevant in terms of personality and definitely have no development, but with the brevity and themes in the novel, I think it works OK (and that's saying a lot for me; strong characters are usually what grabs and holds me most).
Overall, I enjoyed it, and enjoyed reading something slightly outside my typical reading comfort zone. Would recommend.
Not a lot of character growth, since it's really a snapshot of the main characters mental state/mindset as she approaches marriage to someone she's not really in love with, commiting to a life she really doesn't want. Side characters are practically irrelevant in terms of personality and definitely have no development, but with the brevity and themes in the novel, I think it works OK (and that's saying a lot for me; strong characters are usually what grabs and holds me most).
Overall, I enjoyed it, and enjoyed reading something slightly outside my typical reading comfort zone. Would recommend.
baoluong's review against another edition
5.0
yes! finally we have complicated black women in a mid life crisis
dinasamimi's review against another edition
4.0
This story and protagonist (is she?) made me scream! I could not put this down. Senna brings so much to the table re: passing and racial identity. Loved the interweaving of Jonestown.
marahk's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
agw11588's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jettyready's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.75
A great satire turning a mythical group of 90s urbanites into tropes that explore identity, colorism and gendered expectations.
jeichael's review
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
erklel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
2.5
It’s certainly affecting. Maria, a light-skinned biracial Black woman, is fixated on race and her relationships. It is a rabbit hole I’ve fallen down myself: what does would it mean for me, as an Asian woman, to date a white man? Would it be possible for me to not feel exoticized, no matter who the man was? How would I be perceived, in that classic trope - the presumed racial self-hatred? And on the other hand, what would it mean to date an Asian man (as if those are the two options?!)
Maria’s circumstances are different of course, with different perceptions and contexts and histories impacting her. She lets the spiraling thoughts overwhelm her and follows her impulses, to nailbiting extremes.
An interesting and relatively quick read, but ultimately all the different parts didn’t really cohere for me.
Maria’s circumstances are different of course, with different perceptions and contexts and histories impacting her. She lets the spiraling thoughts overwhelm her and follows her impulses, to nailbiting extremes.
An interesting and relatively quick read, but ultimately all the different parts didn’t really cohere for me.
danileighta's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this! At times the writing is very blunt and honest and at times you feel like you're in someone's dream. If you're interested in great writing, interesting characters, and themes around race and racism, check this book out.