Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Luster by Raven Leilani

78 reviews

nicollecooper's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism

Minor: Animal death, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Abortion

gabyaponte's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Honestly, while it was a decent and interesting enough read, I'm not sure why it has been so highly praised. I just felt like many of the character's actions, other than Edie's, required a lot more explanation or insight. Eric and Rebecca's characters just felt odd and much of the way they acted went either completely or insufficiently explained. On a positive note, the discussions of race and the implications of being a black daughter to white parents was very captivating and I would have liked to see a lot more of that and a lot less of the awkward and honestly unnecessary sexual interactions between Edie and Eric. Overall, it was a good read but nothing too extraordinary or worth revisiting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage and Racism

Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcoholism and Police brutality

leah_alexandra's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-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

5.0

I got this from the library, and was so stunned by it that I might just go out and buy a copy to keep. I thought this was a 4-star book for the first third or so, and then it just ramps right up. The writing is phenomenal, the characters are believable, the emotions are acute. Everything is rendered so finely. Leilani writes sentences that are unique and clearly her own, that a lesser writer would have struggled to make come off so naturally. Nothing felt forced, everything is felt deeply. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug use, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, Racial slurs, and Car accident

sl680's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, and Death of parent

kellyofcali's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A very well written book that speaks to issues of race and class and systemic racism, but I did struggle with the flaws of pretty much all the characters, and it is dark and uncomfortable, though I think purposefully so. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Racism, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Minor: Addiction and Mental illness

bentonnnn1's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

masscrafter's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Abortion, and Death of parent

librarylurker's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug use, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Drug abuse, Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent

ameliasbooks's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book doesn't make sense. The plot has a lot of holes. The writing is good, but the sentences that make a punch, are just there to achieve that feeling. Nothing goes any deeper, nothing is really explained. People can make decisions, I don't understand, I'm absolutely fine with that, I'm actually very much interested usually. But at least I should be given a convincing explanation for the why. This book unfortunately doesn't do that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Infidelity

Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Self harm, Suicide, and Abortion

cko's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow. One of those books I read (listened to, technically) in a kind of trance-- in one sitting. It flew by. The characters and relationships were interesting and the main character's observations had a dry humor and unique perspective. The focus on painting and descriptions of color lent another layer of sensuousness to the tensions in these relationships. The slightly bizarre circumstances and watchful neighbor give the novel a slight horror vibe. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Gore, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Abortion, and Death of parent

Moderate: Animal death