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erinoconnor'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
4.25
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
thissagreads's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
The audio was so wonderful to listen too, and if there’s ever going to be a part two, I will read it in a heartbeat! I do wish that the author
HIGLY recommend this book, and then if you’re feeling like you want more of this story, watch the Hulu tv show haha
Moderate: Racism and Rape
Minor: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Violence
reading_rebellion's review against another edition
Ugh I really wanted to like and finish this but the story was all over the place. I didn't know who's was who, or what's going on. Are we in present or in the past.
The story just moved too slow for me. I read 40% before dnf'g. I struggled to get through the part I did read. It was boring and confusing. I'm not one to "push through" and waste my time on a book I choose to voluntarily read if I don't like it. I typically only give books about 25% before moving on so I was very generous with this one.
I think the story was probably heading in a good direction, but just took too long to get there. I also didn't care for the writing style. It was too many characters that didn't add to the story and not enough important information to move the story forward. I listened to this on Audible and didn't care for the narrator either. Overall an interesting storyline but poor execution in my opinion. I would give it a 3.25 stars.
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Violence, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
stellahadz'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
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Racism, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
tinyjude's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The story deals with topics such as immigration, racism, colourism, gambling issues, biphobia, sexual assault, domestic abuse, colonialism (specifically the West Indies-The UK, America and Spain) and its consequences even in the way the characters viewed their oppressors' land as full of opportunities and then became disillusioned and appalled by the bigotry and lies. It also deals with conflicts such as police brutality and abuse, the difficulties both women (just for being women sometimes) and men of colour face in the workfield; as well as how colourism and gender plays a big role in it.
But most of all it's a book about family history, heritage, feeling torn and at a crossroad with your identity (multiculturalism, hybridity, cultural assimilation, etc.), feeling lonely and ashamed by unfair things that happened to you (mostly women), white lies, safety and love. Above all. It's a book about love. A mother's love for her children. Family's love, friends' love, sibling's conflicts and love and romantic affection. Love for yourself, your safety and your life.
And: What are you willing to sacrifice for x?
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Mental illness, Slavery, Trafficking, and Death of parent
kquixotic'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? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
Minor: Racism, Sexism, and Police brutality
tamaramo's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Colonisation
eve81'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape
patsypoo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really enjoyed the Caribbean/Covey part of the narrative but I wasn't sold or invested on the rest.
The writing was odd and the constant use of characters' names rather than using pronouns every now and then was annoying.
I also felt that a lot of the environmental and social issues were just tacked on for the sake of it.
There's one particular scene about a police traffic stop that was completely pointless. You literally meet one of the characters involved just then, the traffic stop happens, some stuff follows, there's a mention of protests and none of it is ever mentioned again. All of that happens over about 2 or 3 pages and that's it. Baffling.
There was a lot of telling but not much showing and some of the characters needed to be more developed.
Having said all that, the parts in the Caribbean were very enjoyable and the mystery at the heart of the story kept me reading.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Racism, and Alcohol
pagesfromhome's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
This book spans so much in what feels like a very short amount of pages, not only years but also in building these interconnected side stories that Wilkerson does a great job tying up at the end.
She also does a phenomenal job of building real and complex characters without ever feeling like the development is dragging. She always gave just enough information for you to follow what was going on, but still, gives you the chance to build the characters in your head.
Genuinely loved reading this! My only stumbling point was there was just so much going on at every moment that I often got a touch lost and had to take a second at the start of each chapter to reorient myself to where I was in the story. For other readers, I'd recommend reading this one while you're not reading anything else to help you keep the characters and story straight.
Graphic: Racism, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt