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teo_rodas's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Racial slurs
sarahna's review against another edition
reflective
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
2.0
2 stars.
This book wasn't what I expected at all. The premise and opening of the book was really interesting and I admire Amira for handling the situation so well. She ends up getting accused by a grocery store cop of kidnapping the white child she's babysitting. I fully understand that she doesn't want to make a big deal out of it and that getting the cop fired won't stop him from being racist to other POC in a different store.
Still, I expected to read more about her thoughts and how she processed this incident. Instead we get a dual pov of Amira, a black 25 year old babysitter who feels lost in life and Alix, a white mother of two who got rich due to a funeral accident and lives a double life making money with a blog and pretending she still lives in NYC while she actually moved to a more rural area.
SPOILERS:
My main issue was that I simply couldn't connect with either of the characters. Alix keeps creating problems herself, mentions the 6 pounds she gained and still hasn't lost since her pregnancy seemingly every other page because what worse could happen to a woman than be a bit chubbier? The way she kept mentioning the break up that happened 15 years ago without having had therapy was baffling to me. If that one line scarred her this much, why didn't she seek out help? It also rubbed me the wrong way how she kept neglecting Briar and favored her newborn daughter instead.
Amira was extremely relatable to me with feeling lost in her mid twenties and settling for less. Still, her character barely went through a development. She kept mentioning wanting to get a 'real' job with health insurance and benefits but needed her friends to practically force her into doing so. Kelley's character was completely unnecessary in my opinion. I'm still not sure whether he had a fetish for black women or wanted to be black himself. Both Kelley and Alix showed a different kind of white saviorism which was very apparent but again, neither of them really faced consequences.
The dialog was quite bad at times, especially the ones with Amira and her friends. The stark difference between her 'going out' side and professional side was jarring.
The ending was underwhelming too. I didn't like how despite her loving and being skilled at babysitting she couldn't settle for an official nanny job. No, instead it needs to be a 9 to 5 job at an office that she dislikes but hey, she has benefits.
Briar and Amira's relationship was the best part of the book and there were moments which made me think and see the negative behavior in Kelley and Alix. I honestly don't get the hype and would highly recommend reading THUG by Angie Thomas instead.
This book wasn't what I expected at all. The premise and opening of the book was really interesting and I admire Amira for handling the situation so well. She ends up getting accused by a grocery store cop of kidnapping the white child she's babysitting. I fully understand that she doesn't want to make a big deal out of it and that getting the cop fired won't stop him from being racist to other POC in a different store.
Still, I expected to read more about her thoughts and how she processed this incident. Instead we get a dual pov of Amira, a black 25 year old babysitter who feels lost in life and Alix, a white mother of two who got rich due to a funeral accident and lives a double life making money with a blog and pretending she still lives in NYC while she actually moved to a more rural area.
SPOILERS:
My main issue was that I simply couldn't connect with either of the characters. Alix keeps creating problems herself, mentions the 6 pounds she gained and still hasn't lost since her pregnancy seemingly every other page because what worse could happen to a woman than be a bit chubbier? The way she kept mentioning the break up that happened 15 years ago without having had therapy was baffling to me. If that one line scarred her this much, why didn't she seek out help? It also rubbed me the wrong way how she kept neglecting Briar and favored her newborn daughter instead.
Amira was extremely relatable to me with feeling lost in her mid twenties and settling for less. Still, her character barely went through a development. She kept mentioning wanting to get a 'real' job with health insurance and benefits but needed her friends to practically force her into doing so. Kelley's character was completely unnecessary in my opinion. I'm still not sure whether he had a fetish for black women or wanted to be black himself. Both Kelley and Alix showed a different kind of white saviorism which was very apparent but again, neither of them really faced consequences.
The dialog was quite bad at times, especially the ones with Amira and her friends. The stark difference between her 'going out' side and professional side was jarring.
The ending was underwhelming too. I didn't like how despite her loving and being skilled at babysitting she couldn't settle for an official nanny job. No, instead it needs to be a 9 to 5 job at an office that she dislikes but hey, she has benefits.
Briar and Amira's relationship was the best part of the book and there were moments which made me think and see the negative behavior in Kelley and Alix. I honestly don't get the hype and would highly recommend reading THUG by Angie Thomas instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Body shaming, Hate crime, Racism, and Toxic friendship
menomica's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
Honestly the only likable white person here was baby Briar. I was really worried that this book was going to be black nanny and white boss become friends à la The Help, but it was the exact opposite of that and I loved that so much. It talked about power dynamics and how that relates to race, and talked about the subtleties of racism, specifically, white savorism and white feminism.
I love how neither Alix nor Kelley where like, reliable white people. They both had their flaws that they refused to properly address. Alix was the literal embodiment of a spoiled white woman and Kelley fetished black culture, specifically black women. I like how it was portrayed in a way that even while we were seeing things from their perspectives, it was still framed and juxtaposed so that it was clear how in wrong they were.
I love how neither Alix nor Kelley where like, reliable white people. They both had their flaws that they refused to properly address.
I love how this book rightfully pisses you off, and then rectifies it. There were several scenes like when Kelley was very rude and adamant that Emira quit her job, or Alix and that fucking video Where I was so fucking pissed I wanted to scream, but guess what? Right after, the white people who overstep get their come-upons. Also, admittedly, the fact that Kelley actually recognized the he overstepped when Emira called him out and he apologized and promised (sort of) to do better really made me like him so much more. You don’t see it this often in books and so it was satisfying to see it here
All in all, this book was really good and I really enjoyed it. I loved the writing and the wat it approached its themes. Recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime and Racism
maria_munguambe's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Hate crime, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Racism
catphilli's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The commentary on race in this book is exquisite! There’s a subtlety and realistic flavour to it that when you reflect on what you’ve read, starts to unfold itself in your mind. The characters are very compelling in that no character is 100% loveable or unloveable but all of them are nuanced and individual. Would totally recommend this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism
sharlapeggy's review against another edition
inspiring
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? No
4.0
The discussion surrounding race gripped me from start to finish. I loved this book and everything it stood for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Police brutality, Sexism, Slavery, Toxic friendship, and Xenophobia
brianna_moye's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Hate crime, and Racism
kayleighoneillonwheels's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Hate crime and Racism
kurdt's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
fast-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
Two white people essentially use their separate relationships with a Black woman as a pawn to prove how progressive they are. Really good, even though the last few chapters get a little too "Hollywood", maybe? Interesting examination of transactional relationships, white people's relationship to race, and how to navigate white spaces as a person of color.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime and Racism
lostinabook_'s review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Racism