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elisa26's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Addiction, Abortion, and Cursing
Minor: Abortion and Body shaming
doomluz's review
dark
emotional
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
Winter is one of the most infuriating protagonists I’ve read, but she’s also not the worst. She’s selfish, but she knows what she wants. Though she's willing to use other people to get it. A raw story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, Abortion, Biphobia, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Fatphobia, Drug abuse, Rape, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent
eggbreadcryptid's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
this book really got under my skin, and I truly want to write something about it because I think it deserves that.
It’s automatically engaging as Sister Souljah draws you into the surprisingly privileged and materialistic world of Winter Santiaga. There is an element of being overwhelmed and glamoured by her extravagant life that you also feel whiplash when her life is suddenly changed by tragedy and betrayal.
This book is overall a morality tale, a cautionary tale for anyone who should long for a life like Winter. I kept turning the page wondering and wondering when she would hit rock bottom what would make her change what would be the moment that would make her realize she needed to make real internal changes. I think that’s what really keeps the reader invested.
I admired Souljah’s ability to show the inevitability of repeating history if we don’t learn from the past. I also was surprised at how well she inserted herself (literally) into the story. It works because intentional or otherwise she comes of vulnerable and flawed, her wisdom which is lauded by other characters can’t seem to get through to Winter. Her stoically heartless response to Midnight pouring his soul out to her in a letter chilled me almost as much as anything Winter did in the Story.
I think this book is worth a read for everyone. There’s a lot to think about here if you agree or not. See CW though because this book has in my opinion many an outdated and harmful view on some things.
It’s automatically engaging as Sister Souljah draws you into the surprisingly privileged and materialistic world of Winter Santiaga. There is an element of being overwhelmed and glamoured by her extravagant life that you also feel whiplash when her life is suddenly changed by tragedy and betrayal.
This book is overall a morality tale, a cautionary tale for anyone who should long for a life like Winter. I kept turning the page wondering and wondering when she would hit rock bottom what would make her change what would be the moment that would make her realize she needed to make real internal changes. I think that’s what really keeps the reader invested.
I admired Souljah’s ability to show the inevitability of repeating history if we don’t learn from the past. I also was surprised at how well she inserted herself (literally) into the story. It works because intentional or otherwise she comes of vulnerable and flawed, her wisdom which is lauded by other characters can’t seem to get through to Winter.
I think this book is worth a read for everyone. There’s a lot to think about here if you agree or not. See CW though because this book has in my opinion many an outdated and harmful view on some things.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Misogyny, Gun violence, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Drug abuse
chloemia's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Abortion, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Homophobia
miak2's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
“Now I realized that me and him were just alike. We were both born to win. And, when we were not winning, it was OK 'cause we were busy planning to win.”
There's a lot to like about this book. As other reviewers have shared, it was raw and authentic, with a quick pace and lots of highs and lows.
Unfortunately, the things that frustrated me about this book greatly overshadowed the things that I appreciated. Winter was an incredibly fun character to follow, but many of her choices were so mind-boggling and selfish that it was hard for me to root for her at all. While I appreciated her sharp wit and strategic thinking, she'd contradict her own plans the page later with some irrational action. Certainly realistic, given that she was a teenager fighting to make it during such a tumultuous time, but frustrating to read nonetheless. And, I think, that's where my biggest issue with the book lies. After everything Winter endured, it doesn't appear that she'd learned anything at all. Sure we as readers could walk away having learned from Winter's actions, but it's less than satisfying that Winter herself had very little growth.
Actually, scratch that. My biggest issue with the book was it's constant depictions of sex. I completely understand that sex is a major part of Winter's life, and sharing all of those details is part of what makes this book so authentic. But I both couldn't relate and also had no interest in reading about a teenager's explicit sexual activities. (Especially when so many of them were non-consensual and the book just brushes that off. Yikes).
I'm glad that I read this book, it certainly has a lot of value. But it just didn't resonate with me for a multitude of reasons.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Drug use
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