Reviews

Big Girl by Mecca Jamilah Sullivan

hannamhoward's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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? It's complicated

3.75

hzmt's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

That's the story of black culture. We make magic, they consume it, make it theirs. We have to start over, and we do. Over and over again. It's hard on people.

This book was an absolutely touching and beautiful work of a black woman growing up and embracing her body, her identity, her sexuality, and just coming into her own while smashing the generational traumas that came before her all in the backdrop of a changing Harlem. 

I did not think I would find this book as touching and beautiful as I did since I impulse bought it at a little queer bookstore in DC wanting to take home some work from local authors and this is one of the books the bookseller handed me and I bought it no question. This piece needs to be read by so many and is such a powerful modern work of fiction and the nostalgia of growing up. 

graceedelman's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

readinginthe_pnw's review against another edition

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

3.0

I hated the way everyone talked to Malaya. I spent the entire book just wanting to hug her. There was good character development by the end of the book, but the plot moved too slowly for me in the first 75% of the story. 

sleepybookclub's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-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

I wish I could find the exact quote that hit me at the end but I was listening to he audio and I couldn't find it in the e-book later. I did like this quote though , "Each time someone told her, “You have such a pretty face,” she felt as though they wanted to sever her head from her body, to discard the meat of her and leave the small round disk of her face as her one saving quality. She was supposed to be grateful for his attention." 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It felt like an honest experience and the characters felt like real people. It was a sort of heartbreaking story that slowly chipped away at you but also hopeful. 

xanniew's review against another edition

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4.0

This book hit close to home at times and gave me a completely different perspective at others. A great read!

ds21's review against another edition

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I really wanted to like this book especially because I relate in some ways but there was just something about it that did not captivate me. I keep forcing myself to keep reading the book. Eventually I just decided to skip to the last few chapters to see how it ends. I believe I would’ve given it about a 2.5, maybe 3 stars if I did read it in its entirety. 

meredithodonn's review against another edition

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2.0

DNF - i gave this a good shot, but truly, it bored. the writing was all over the place, making me re-read sentences multiples times. not a fan.

eclecticmaud's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

bookrecsondeck's review against another edition

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emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0