Reviews

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

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bakenjanereads's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.75

tbellesmom's review against another edition

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4.0

I really enjoyed the concept of this book - twin sisters growing up and then choosing such different paths in life. I enjoyed that Desiree was the sister that always wanted to run away from Mallard and lead a different life and had to convince Stella to run away. Yet it was Stella that ended up leading a completely different life and really running away from everything. I feel like there were several plot lines that were left unresolved and when the sisters finally meet again after so many years apart, there was not a deeper discussion or conversation between them.

rebsreadsbooks's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

4.75

mgvand's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

sm_readsbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away from their at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Many years later, one sister, Desiree, lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other, Stella, secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined.

this book was incredible! the plot is so intriguing and i was interested in this book the whole time i was reading, and couldn’t put it down! besides talking about issues of race, it really goes into what true identity means and how decisions and desires shape it. i highly highly recommend this book to everyone :)