Reviews with content warning for Child death - You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty

I have been wanting to read this book for the longest time since it was mentioned on a radio interview, I did about Booktok. For this month, the book club I participate in, we decided that everyone was going to read a different book, one that we already own and to give our opinion. I decided to choose this one, mainly because of the title and I think it would be an interesting read, and it was messy and beautiful.

This book is about Feyi Adekola, and she wants to learn how to be alive again. It’s been five years since the accident that killed the love of her life and she’s almost a new person now – an artist with her own studio, and sharing a brownstone apartment with her ride-or-die best friend, Joy, who insists it’s time for Feyi to ease back into the dating scene. Feyi isn’t ready for anything serious, but a steamy encounter at a rooftop party cascades into a whirlwind summer she could have never imagined: a luxury trip to a tropical island, decadent meals in the glamorous home of a celebrity chef, and a major curator who wants to launch her art career. She's even started dating the perfect guy, but their new relationship might be sabotaged before it has a chance by the dangerous thrill Feyi feels every time she locks eyes with the one person in the house who is definitely off-limits. The new life she asked for just got a lot more complicated, and Feyi must begin her search for real answers.

This is the first book I've read from this author, and it won’t be the last. This book was so beautifully written but also completely chaotic. I love the way this author writes about grief, she did it in a way that was so beautiful and would only make sense to a select group of people. I love the LGBT aspect and how they are both trying to be themselves within this messy world. I liked the slow build up between the characters and how they were both struggling with their feelings but couldn’t denied the attraction between each other. I liked the deep conversations they were having with each other and how they were very open and honest with each other. I love the way that Feyi uses her grief to make this beautiful and dark artwork. I adore Feyi and just wanted to hug her so much for what she went through and how she managed to find herself again.

I love the friendship between Feyi and Joy, but I would have loved for Joy to have been on the island with Feyi when all this was going down and I wanted her to have a happy ending as well. I felt like it was a bit rushed with Joy ending, we never actually find out if her girlfriend was leaving her husband. I feel like Joy was there as the best friend she slept with and a different kind of love and her voice of reason, but she was only there to move the story along.

I would love for this to be a series maybe from Joy’s point of view on how she wants to navigate her way through this messy world as well.

Content Warnings

hunni_reads's review

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

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rifabsl's review

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emotional 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

4.0

Content Warnings

harmonj3's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Horny, honest, somehow a happy ending! A beautiful exploration of the ways that grief reshapes each of us in so many different ways

Content Warnings

coolfoolmoon's review

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emotional hopeful 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? Yes

3.5

This is my last Emezi book, I’m up to date on all their works finally! I’m having a good time, not the greatest time, not the best time, but a good time.

This book also made me start a lesbian / sapphic reading list for a specific reason present in Emezi’s other books. This is about to become a review I don’t usually write, an actual critique of an author's work. Emezi’s talented at everything they do, no complaints there. It’s poignant to me, though, to have two bisexual characters who end up with the opposite sex. Of course bisexuals can end up with whoever but ALL of Emezi’s books are like that (I guess not the YA). This book could’ve been more powerful with a milf mommy. The book could’ve been more powerful if Alim explained to his kids that he previously chose them over another great love (the man he dated) and this person now reminded him that he shouldn’t’ve had to choose. But knowing what I know about Emezi, based on all of their books, they don’t care to explain things to people. Even in this book Feyi tells Nasir she doesn’t owe him that explanation. It happens in Freshwater with the Ala and their ex husband, I’m pretty sure it happens in Little Rot. This seems to be a fundamental feature of, if not Emezi’s mindset as a person (not me armchair diagnosing), Emezi’s writing style / themes that will always come up in their writing. A very “I don’t owe you anything” mindset. The only reason I don’t like it is because this could’ve enhanced the story, made way for more character exploration. This is so long.

Back to basics, I made the lesbian / sapphic reading list because this book frustrated me. Queer relationships aren't a gimmick, something for a bi girl to do with her player lesbian bestie, just for her to end up with a man in the end. Nor are queer relationships gateways for a man to be in a societally acceptable looking relationship in the end. The queer relationships in Emezi's books frustrated me to make the list because its' the same thing I would write as a teenager. It's just a little easter egg funny little tidbit that the female main character kisses and goes on dates with her lesbian best friend! But they;d never end up together! Her soulmate is a man! Very sad. Very frustrating. I don't do that anymore. This critique of Emezi is more of my own personal issue that bubbled up. I still love their work and still will continue reading but I wanted to voice my frustration for my future self who's gonna look back at my reviews and go "How did I feel about that one again? Oh yeah. Woof."

From my notes: Emezi writes sex a lot like Toni Morrison did, either the characters or very bored or it is deeply animalistic. I love it. Also my guess for the location of the island is Dominica. French influence, English speaking, near Antigua. I don't know if Dominica has mountains though... Also also love them name dropping their sister. I'd do it too!

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