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casira's review
4.75
Graphic: Infertility
Moderate: Sexual assault, Body shaming, Rape, Transphobia, Medical content, Gun violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Cultural appropriation, Bullying, and Miscarriage
Minor: Miscarriage and Suicidal thoughts
thelibraryoft's review against another edition
3.5
I liked her first memoir/ set of essays a bit better than this one. I enjoyed Gabrielle expanding on both the funny & the meaningful of book 1. The chapter about her daughter Zaya was my favorite. In this chapter she gives a nearly perfect example of being the parent of a trans child. I also really enjoyed the Isis/ Bring it on chapter. It was a really interesting discussion of how she felt she didn't go far enough, that I had not previously thought of. The chapter talking about the lasting affects of her SA were really meaningful and I am thankful she felt comfortable discussing.
There were also chapters I didn't love. I just struggled with referring to herself as failing as a woman and a wife for not being able to have a baby (this coming after being such a trans ally for her daughter was hard). There were also some other little details in this section that just gave me a pause. She again leaves gaps where I wish she would have expanded (Wade having another daughter? being absent for most of his children's school events & basically the whole surrogacy?)
The chapter about her mental health in perimenopause was very interesting. That was something I was unaware of in general and really has given me something to think about and another reason to check in on some of my loved ones. Gabrielle is also a strong supporter of therapy and I appreciate her being so loud about it.
I loved hearing her stories about being a black woman in Hollywood. These were the moments where her discussion of race really shine. The last chapter felt disconnected from her story. While I agree with the chapter, I started not to feel like her voice, but like a 3rd person scholarly article.
Overall, I would still recommend this memoir, but maybe as a slower read, not a binge read like I did it.
Graphic: Rape, Gun violence, Racism, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and Sexual assault
vedpears's review
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Police brutality, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Infertility, Xenophobia, Miscarriage, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Cursing, Racial slurs, Infidelity, and Hate crime
madisonfrank's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Police brutality, Rape, Cultural appropriation, Racial slurs, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Infertility, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Cursing, Medical content, Mental illness, and Blood