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matmatmatty's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
This is the story of Yinka who at 31, finds herself single while her sister and cousins are all married or engaged.
With a lot of pressure to get married, Yinka decides to start a plan to get a date for her cousin's wedding, which kicks off the story.
This is a romance but it isn't so much about finding love but feeling worthy of love. Yinka is someone who has certain views about the world that work in her disfavour - she sees other women's curves and immediately compared them to her own, she talks about how light others are in comparison to herself.
Yinka does a lot of things that I don't agree with (she lies to friends and family, she decides to change herself entirely, and drinks when she has always been a light drinker) but this is all to show her characterisation and her spiral (like I think it's clear that you're not meant to be rooting for her while she does this)
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but the final quarter was extremely emotional for me and really pushed this over the edge.
With a lot of pressure to get married, Yinka decides to start a plan to get a date for her cousin's wedding, which kicks off the story.
This is a romance but it isn't so much about finding love but feeling worthy of love. Yinka is someone who has certain views about the world that work in her disfavour - she sees other women's curves and immediately compared them to her own, she talks about how light others are in comparison to herself.
Yinka does a lot of things that I don't agree with (she lies to friends and family, she decides to change herself entirely, and drinks when she has always been a light drinker) but this is all to show her characterisation and her spiral (like I think it's clear that you're not meant to be rooting for her while she does this)
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but the final quarter was extremely emotional for me and really pushed this over the edge.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Body shaming
Moderate: Alcohol and Death
laurataylor's review
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Sexual content
hkburke2's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.25
What a well done audiobook! The narrator and sound effects were great. I have a hard time with stories where you can see the train wreck coming, but the characters and deftly handled relationship issues (family and friends) carried me through. Tough subjects but a lovely listen.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming and Racism
Minor: Death of parent and Death
shuelace's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Death of parent and Body shaming
Minor: Alcohol, Death, and Pregnancy
klitanightfuryreads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I was sent this book by Penguin Random House as an ARC for a review…For starters this book is a super easy read, and it can be finished in one day - the language is easy and the writing is simple and straightforward.
I am a little torn about this book because I hated it and loved it at the same time. I hated the main character and even at the end with her “redemption” it was not a character I enjoyed. It felt to me like she was very shallow and even if her friends and family kept saying she was kind or so “unlike” her - it did not seem that way to me.
The rest of the book tho - it’s a win. I saw my life and my family in this book. I am from Central America and if I could tell you how many times I’ve been embarrassed and talked down to by relatives because I am in my thirties, childless and single I would be rich. I really enjoyed the portrayal of the native Nigerians and the first generation English born children who struggled with culture, language and fitting in…. but to me the most meaningful message from this book was the spotlight it brought to therapy (which was something I was not expecting)
*** Minor Spoilers ahead***
Having the main character confront her fears, demons and self-hatred in therapy was just beautiful, sweet and humbling. There were so many “aha” moments during those last 100 pages that I wish the book had focus more on this area, and/or maybe show that therapy takes more time. I know for the sake of wrapping up the book - this was condensed into a few pages and by the end of the book everything just seem to be “magically fixed” after a few visits to the therapist, and the most unrealistic part was her family somehow completely changing their mindset (I am talking generational trauma, mindsets and baggage here) being magically fixed overnight with a simple conversation.
Aside from this - I would recommend this book to anyone, specially those trying to expand their cultural knowledge. I give props to the writer as this is her first book and she wrote a beautiful strong book.
I am a little torn about this book because I hated it and loved it at the same time. I hated the main character and even at the end with her “redemption” it was not a character I enjoyed. It felt to me like she was very shallow and even if her friends and family kept saying she was kind or so “unlike” her - it did not seem that way to me.
The rest of the book tho - it’s a win. I saw my life and my family in this book. I am from Central America and if I could tell you how many times I’ve been embarrassed and talked down to by relatives because I am in my thirties, childless and single I would be rich. I really enjoyed the portrayal of the native Nigerians and the first generation English born children who struggled with culture, language and fitting in…. but to me the most meaningful message from this book was the spotlight it brought to therapy (which was something I was not expecting)
*** Minor Spoilers ahead***
Having the main character confront her fears, demons and self-hatred in therapy was just beautiful, sweet and humbling. There were so many “aha” moments during those last 100 pages that I wish the book had focus more on this area, and/or maybe show that therapy takes more time. I know for the sake of wrapping up the book - this was condensed into a few pages and by the end of the book everything just seem to be “magically fixed” after a few visits to the therapist, and the most unrealistic part was her family somehow completely changing their mindset (I am talking generational trauma, mindsets and baggage here) being magically fixed overnight with a simple conversation.
Aside from this - I would recommend this book to anyone, specially those trying to expand their cultural knowledge. I give props to the writer as this is her first book and she wrote a beautiful strong book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Grief, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Racism, and Toxic friendship
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