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sophmrtn'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
4.0
Moderate: Grief, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Emotional abuse, Murder, and Body shaming
eve81'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
4.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail
sidekicksam'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
4.5
Cyril Pennington has 5 children with 4 different women, and one day he decides to have them all meet, because if you don't know you're related, you might end up shagging. While they don't stay in touch, Dimple decides to call her big sister for help when she's hit a snag. But it's not the reunion the rest had expected.
I loved getting to know all five Pennington-children and the exploration of family-ties; absent parents, mothers fulfilling the role of both parents, but also the sibling-bond. Despite a lot happening plot-wise, it really is a character-driven book. If you'd ask me why I loved it, it's because I loved Lizzie (yeah idk why either), Carty-Williams' funny and engaging writing, the themes explored and how it made me feel while reading it. I was invested.
Definitely pick this up if you enjoyed the stories/vibes of I'm Sorry You Feel That Way or Anansi Boys.
Minor: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Blood
pisces1_1318's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Stalking
just_one_more_paige'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
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Body shaming, Medical content, Racism, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Abandonment, Blood, Cursing, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
michaelion'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
3.75
Very funny. As an only child who grew up with a somewhat absent father, and knowing the secondhand experience my friends had of being one of many children, this hit home. The book is very real in many ways.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Blood, Violence, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Body shaming
Minor: Racism, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury
zara89'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
4.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming and Sexual harassment
dorsetreader'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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Drug use
travelseatsreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
First thing I'm going to mention is that the story is a little bit unrealistic, so cast that aside at the start of the book and then sit in for some fantastic characters, cringe worthy family moments and some great sibling bonding.
The book centers around Cyril Pennington and the five children (that he admits to having) by four different mothers. The children all live seemingly unconnected lives not knowing each other until one day Cyril decides they all should meet so that they don't end up accidentally @coupling' up. Fast forward 10 years later to when out of the blue Dimple calls on the eldest sister Nikisha to help her get out of a rather prickly situation she has herself landed in. The troops rally around Dimple and what unfolds is an entertaining exploration of their characters and previously unknown strength as a family unit.
Carty-Williams has written a host of brilliantly fleshed out, honest and quite likable characters which are so engaging and authentic that it's easy to get caught up and carried away with the story line. She highlights the beauty of family coming together in a time of need and protecting each other at all costs, even against those who should have been protecting them.
I switched between ebook and audio and while both were great I have to save the audio was fantastic, Cyril's character especially came to life far more vibrantly through the audio.
Is this book a bit flawed with some run away flighty moments that have you thinking 'Really?' Yes, but in saying that I laughed so much through out, while also having a few near tear moments. I enjoyed every minute of it and would love to see any or all of the characters followed up on in their own book.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
nialiversuch'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
3.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Grief, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Minor: Police brutality and Pregnancy