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hannahs_library__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Police brutality and Sexual harassment
withlivjones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book has all the ingredients of not just an incredible romance novel, but an incredible novel, period. I suspect that Kiki and Malakai will be living in my head rent free for a good while. This is easily the best romance I’ve read this year, and I’ll probably have trouble finding a book to top it.
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Police brutality
dylan_tomorrow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Medical content, Racial slurs, Classism, Abandonment, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Misogyny
Minor: Violence and Bullying
daenerystargaryen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Misogyny
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Racism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Cancer, and Mental illness
carseatwarmers's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Police brutality, Infidelity, Cancer, Hate crime, and Medical trauma
katryna_'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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racism and Sexual assault
kirareadssometimes'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
4.25
Not very spicy. Just one descriptive scene.
Graphic: Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Racism
revoli'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
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
nenaveenstra's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, and Infidelity
catlandia91'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
The beginning was a little rough for me, the clique-heavy nature of the campus was frustrating. The conflict between social groups felt so immature. It felt more like high school than college, and none of my school experiences remotely matched that, either. The social conflicts help drive much of the plot, which didn't always land for me, but I didn't mind much by the end.
Once I got through the setup drama, I was really hooked by Kiki and Kai's chemistry. I also thought their personal hangups felt pretty relatable, but I wanted to scream in Kiki's ear to stop lying to herself (in a good way, I was getting invested in their relationship). I definitely felt all warm and fuzzy by the end, and I maybe teared up a little. And when it finally happened, the spice was spicy, gat damn!
I also loved the female friendships throughout the book, I had a lot of fun when Aminah and the others were on the page.
The pop culture references felt a little heavy handed in some parts, mostly in Kiki's internal dialogue. They felt more natural in the conversations with Kai or her friends, where they helped give us a sense of everyone's personalities.
The cultural references were also a nice touch-- this felt distinctly British, Nigerian, and Black in a way that was effortless and engaging. If you want a romance with Black joy, I think this would definitely fit the bill.
Overall, this was a fun one, even if I felt a little like a cranky old person dealing with teen problems in the beginning.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Racism
Minor: Cancer