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austeja_1's review against another edition
relaxing
slow-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
3.75
l3ahclayton's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
ebraam's review against another edition
4.0
This book made me mad in a good kind of way. I still am not even sure if I liked it (but of coarse I liked it). I actually disliked all of the characters and still was compelled to read it right to the end -- which, my friends is how you know it's a good book. I felt like all the summaries I read were a bit misleading, as they all talk about how the 'incident' in the grocery store changes her life... Well yes, it sure does, but I wouldn't say that's what this book is about.
The author sneakily is talking about race and class and privilege with a capital P. It's also about relationships (between a mother and her daughters, between caretakers, between friends and partners) and about power. Bravo!
I thought the characters were really well developed which I need to see if I really like a book. Writing was fantastic and so believable while also talking about some big topics. And also a debut!
The author sneakily is talking about race and class and privilege with a capital P. It's also about relationships (between a mother and her daughters, between caretakers, between friends and partners) and about power. Bravo!
I thought the characters were really well developed which I need to see if I really like a book. Writing was fantastic and so believable while also talking about some big topics. And also a debut!
cfrazer89's review against another edition
reflective
medium-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
3.75
personarobot's review against another edition
4.0
Objectively, at least a 4 star book.
I felt conflicted, sometimes uncomfortable during the book. I couldn't really tell where it was going. I stopped trusting any of the characters, and found them all immature in their own ways.
I wondered whether the uncomfortable feeling was meant to be the same uncomfortable I had when I read Yellowface - a really good story-telling uncomfortable, an uncomfortable that I enjoyed! Maybe had this book's blurb and title alluded a bit more to the content of this story, then maybe I would have enjoyed the plot more.
The ending was apt, and I'm glad it ended as it did.
I felt conflicted, sometimes uncomfortable during the book. I couldn't really tell where it was going. I stopped trusting any of the characters, and found them all immature in their own ways.
I wondered whether the uncomfortable feeling was meant to be the same uncomfortable I had when I read Yellowface - a really good story-telling uncomfortable, an uncomfortable that I enjoyed! Maybe had this book's blurb and title alluded a bit more to the content of this story, then maybe I would have enjoyed the plot more.
The ending was apt, and I'm glad it ended as it did.
noragrace89's review against another edition
3.0
I appreciated the social commentary and the discussion about racism, however, I think it’s a bit overhyped.
rereader33's review against another edition
3.0
So, I mentioned in my update that I'd probably only finish this book because of the drama. And yeah, that's pretty much what happened. Which kind of sucks, because I was really looking forward to this book *disappointed sigh*.
I hate saying this, but the drama, the social commentary, and the writing are the only reasons why I would recommend this story. You may be thinking, "well, that's not too bad, right?" Unfortunately, that depends on what kind of reader you are. If you like any or all of those things, then yes this book is for you. Unfortunately, I am a character-driven reader who values entertainment above most things, and both of these things were missing from this book.
On the subject of characters, the biggest problem was that Emira and Zara were the only two I actually liked and while Emira was the main character the book was split between her and Alix, which fucked up the book for me. Why? Because Alix's sole purpose in this book, at least to me, was to be the stereotypical rich white mom who wants to "protect" her black baby-sitter. Now, I will say that Alix was written really well and I could totally imagine her existing in real life, but aside from what I previously stated, I didn't get what readers were suppose to glean from her inclusion. That all white women try to "protect" and "help" black people to make themselves feel better? That they value their time with their friends rather than their family? That they're all secretly racist? I have no fucking clue, but after awhile she started seeming less like a character and more of a trope to fit the story. Yes, I get that she was meant to portray the "white savior trope" in all it's bullshit glory, but that doesn't make her a good character. It just makes her a good fit for the trope.
And really quick, was the book also meant to show how fucking terrible successful mothers are? For fuck's sake, Briar was clearly looking ill and Emira was the only one, out of what 10 grown-ups, who noticed? While I don't doubt the realism (I work in a library, you'd be amazed at what I see) it just seemed to reinforce what a terrible person Alix was (as if her final bullshit chapter wasn't bad enough).
Also, Kelley was effectively on the opposite end of the spectrum where he "cared" too much about black people and was too eager to fight on their behalf. It doesn't help that there isn't a single good white person in this story, which while it's not technically necessary comes across as tone deaf.
The other problem was the part in the summary about the video going viral doesn't happen until the last maybe 60-80 pages? Why would you include that in the summary if it wasn't going to occur until the very end? Which is a huge shame because what did come from it was insightful and interesting, but because it came so late that part felt rushed so that the story could end. Oh yeah, and the ending was kind of a letdown. Yeah, it was great seeing where Emira was in life, but it pretty much solidified the idea that prejudiced people never change even when something big happens that could shake their beliefs.
I hate being so negative because I think this book is insanely important, but I could only recommend it for the social commentary and the writing. And of course, for Emira and Zara. Seriously, those two were the saving graces of this story and Zara was such a fucking awesome friend. But yeah, that's pretty much it. A good story to be sure, but it could have been better.
I hate saying this, but the drama, the social commentary, and the writing are the only reasons why I would recommend this story. You may be thinking, "well, that's not too bad, right?" Unfortunately, that depends on what kind of reader you are. If you like any or all of those things, then yes this book is for you. Unfortunately, I am a character-driven reader who values entertainment above most things, and both of these things were missing from this book.
On the subject of characters, the biggest problem was that Emira and Zara were the only two I actually liked and while Emira was the main character the book was split between her and Alix, which fucked up the book for me. Why? Because Alix's sole purpose in this book, at least to me, was to be the stereotypical rich white mom who wants to "protect" her black baby-sitter. Now, I will say that Alix was written really well and I could totally imagine her existing in real life, but aside from what I previously stated, I didn't get what readers were suppose to glean from her inclusion. That all white women try to "protect" and "help" black people to make themselves feel better? That they value their time with their friends rather than their family? That they're all secretly racist? I have no fucking clue, but after awhile she started seeming less like a character and more of a trope to fit the story. Yes, I get that she was meant to portray the "white savior trope" in all it's bullshit glory, but that doesn't make her a good character. It just makes her a good fit for the trope.
And really quick, was the book also meant to show how fucking terrible successful mothers are? For fuck's sake, Briar was clearly looking ill and Emira was the only one, out of what 10 grown-ups, who noticed? While I don't doubt the realism (I work in a library, you'd be amazed at what I see) it just seemed to reinforce what a terrible person Alix was (as if her final bullshit chapter wasn't bad enough).
Also, Kelley was effectively on the opposite end of the spectrum where he "cared" too much about black people and was too eager to fight on their behalf. It doesn't help that there isn't a single good white person in this story, which while it's not technically necessary comes across as tone deaf.
The other problem was the part in the summary about the video going viral doesn't happen until the last maybe 60-80 pages? Why would you include that in the summary if it wasn't going to occur until the very end? Which is a huge shame because what did come from it was insightful and interesting, but because it came so late that part felt rushed so that the story could end. Oh yeah, and the ending was kind of a letdown. Yeah, it was great seeing where Emira was in life, but it pretty much solidified the idea that prejudiced people never change even when something big happens that could shake their beliefs.
I hate being so negative because I think this book is insanely important, but I could only recommend it for the social commentary and the writing. And of course, for Emira and Zara. Seriously, those two were the saving graces of this story and Zara was such a fucking awesome friend. But yeah, that's pretty much it. A good story to be sure, but it could have been better.
joelette's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
I'm torn about this book. I wanted enjoy this book more but at the same time, I couldn't put it down.
livrawds's review against another edition
1.0
DNF for some reason I just couldn’t get into it got about 200 pages in and had to stop may try again fairly soon just to see because of how well received it is :,(