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lanidacey's review
3.0
I'm of two minds of this book. On the one hand: It was pretty fast-paced read with some good twists and turns. Dahlia crosses the color line very early in the book and is forced to keep a number of secrets surrounding her background, her family and her name. She also discovers that the family she's marrying into keeps its own secrets, some which are very violent. Once things got going, I was surprised by the way the plot developed and finished it quickly. There is a great deal of tension drawing you in and you fear what could happen to Dahlia.
A big source of that fear, unfortunately, arises from the fact that nobody behaves as they would or should at the time. Dahlia is constantly trying to befriend the captive slaves on the property and sneaking over to the quarters and their work areas, endangering herself and others. Black women tease a Black man about a crush they believe he has on a (as far as everyone knows) white woman in the kitchen of the main house where anyone could overhear. Anyone with a passing knowledge of racism in America knows how dangerous that is. A Black woman walks into a room in the main house to help deliver a baby and jokes about how weak white women are. She's slapped in the face in response by the mistress of the house and told if anything happens to the mother or the baby, she'll be held responsible.
Don't even get me started on the ending.
An entertaining and frustrating read, tbh.
A big source of that fear, unfortunately, arises from the fact that nobody behaves as they would or should at the time. Dahlia is constantly trying to befriend the captive slaves on the property and sneaking over to the quarters and their work areas, endangering herself and others. Black women tease a Black man about a crush they believe he has on a (as far as everyone knows) white woman in the kitchen of the main house where anyone could overhear. Anyone with a passing knowledge of racism in America knows how dangerous that is. A Black woman walks into a room in the main house to help deliver a baby and jokes about how weak white women are. She's slapped in the face in response by the mistress of the house and told if anything happens to the mother or the baby, she'll be held responsible.
Don't even get me started on the ending.
Spoiler
Dahlia's white brother-in-law discovers she's a runaway and kidnaps her because he's been lusting after her the whole book. After some crying and a rape attempt, Dahlia somehow convinces him to let her go and he just does. Again, if you know the history of racism in America, that doesn't track.An entertaining and frustrating read, tbh.
themadhatter's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
I tend to be drawn to books that will widen my view of the world and this was no different. The cover caught my eye and I became entranced with the characters. Beautifully written and developed historical fiction.
winglady's review
5.0
This beautifully-written novel takes a somewhat different angle on telling a story of slavery just before the Civil War. Memorable.
kristensreadingnook's review
5.0
Both heartbreaking and hopeful, this book is a must read for fans of Passing and The Yellow Wife.
With vividly drawn characters and two POV’s, I was drawn right in to this story. The audiobook was wonderfully narrated, which really added to the feeling of being right there with Bo and Dahlia.
With vividly drawn characters and two POV’s, I was drawn right in to this story. The audiobook was wonderfully narrated, which really added to the feeling of being right there with Bo and Dahlia.
bookapotamus's review
4.0
I love when a fictional story can draw you in to help you learn and understand the past, while also have you on the edge of your seat.
What Passes as Love is the story of Dahlia Holt, mixed-race daughter of a plantation owner who passes as white to escape enslavement, but finds herself in a loveless marriage to a man with secrets of his own.
As Dahlia tries to navigate a white world, she is in constant fear of being found out - and finds herself not feeling like she truly belongs anywhere. And it’s so interesting to follow her choices as you feel distraught when her impulses fail, inspired at her determined triumphs - but also see the lines drawn on both sides as you watch how far she will go to live the life she deserves.
For readers of Passing and The Vanishing Half, What Passes as Love is written beautifully, and has a captivating and absorbing plot that never lets go and is equally hard to put down. There are several twists and turns I didn’t see coming at all, and I appreciated it’s historical accuracies. It's ultimately a heartbreaking, yet compelling story of courage, hope, love, and the strength and resilience of the human spirit.
I need a sequel please!!
What Passes as Love is the story of Dahlia Holt, mixed-race daughter of a plantation owner who passes as white to escape enslavement, but finds herself in a loveless marriage to a man with secrets of his own.
As Dahlia tries to navigate a white world, she is in constant fear of being found out - and finds herself not feeling like she truly belongs anywhere. And it’s so interesting to follow her choices as you feel distraught when her impulses fail, inspired at her determined triumphs - but also see the lines drawn on both sides as you watch how far she will go to live the life she deserves.
For readers of Passing and The Vanishing Half, What Passes as Love is written beautifully, and has a captivating and absorbing plot that never lets go and is equally hard to put down. There are several twists and turns I didn’t see coming at all, and I appreciated it’s historical accuracies. It's ultimately a heartbreaking, yet compelling story of courage, hope, love, and the strength and resilience of the human spirit.
I need a sequel please!!
glitterbook's review
4.0
Finally, a happyish ending!
Historical fiction is a toss up for me due to some of the language and scenarios depicted. This was easy to digest but not unrealistic- the characters clearly had hardship. I also like how the title can be applied to multiple types of love and themes throughout the book.
Historical fiction is a toss up for me due to some of the language and scenarios depicted. This was easy to digest but not unrealistic- the characters clearly had hardship. I also like how the title can be applied to multiple types of love and themes throughout the book.
readitwithred's review
5.0
Dahlia, a young woman born into slavery, taken in to her slaver fathers home, not quite as his daughter but not quite as the other slaves.
She lives in a world where she doesn't belong, between white and black, belonging to neither.
When freedom is dangled in front of her, she learns that everything comes at a cost.
Bo, a slave, who daren't dream of anything past the horses he grooms. Except the woman whom occupies his every thought, as hard as he tries to separate himself from her.
My Heart aches for the Dahlias and the Bos that lived through such hardships, all because of the colour of their skin or where they were born, or to whom they were owned.
A heartrendering story about love and freedom. A must read!
She lives in a world where she doesn't belong, between white and black, belonging to neither.
When freedom is dangled in front of her, she learns that everything comes at a cost.
Bo, a slave, who daren't dream of anything past the horses he grooms. Except the woman whom occupies his every thought, as hard as he tries to separate himself from her.
My Heart aches for the Dahlias and the Bos that lived through such hardships, all because of the colour of their skin or where they were born, or to whom they were owned.
A heartrendering story about love and freedom. A must read!
trash_reader_'s review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I bought this book a few months after it was published, and then promptly forgot about it. For some reason, enough time had passed that I convinced myself I wouldn't enjoy it, despite forgetting what the book is even about.
I finally got around to listening to it and I've never regretted putting something off so much like I did with this. This is an emotional, powerful book and I was absorbed into every second of it.
I finally got around to listening to it and I've never regretted putting something off so much like I did with this. This is an emotional, powerful book and I was absorbed into every second of it.
parchementhallucinations's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
3.5