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beiiadonna's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Incest, Miscarriage, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Child abuse, Police brutality, Sexism, Violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Classism, Blood, Racial slurs, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Death, and Gun violence
Minor: Addiction and Abortion
rachel_bunting93's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Hate crime, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Violence, Racism, Murder, Grief, and Death of parent
gobby_gilbert's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Abortion, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Death, and Classism
avinawood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism, Infertility, and Miscarriage
Minor: Alcohol, Colonisation, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
mirireads's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Incest, Rape, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Grief, Murder, Infidelity, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Racism, and Classism
Minor: Infertility, Excrement, Death of parent, Drug use, Miscarriage, Blood, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Stalking, and Vomit
writingcaia's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Still, from the painful pit of that life she is emerging, even when she does not see it so, even when she almost believes she can never have better, and with the rekindling of old friendships and new friendships, a new hope, new opportunities, and darker revelations come to light, and Alethea finally finds her truth and herself.
This is not an easy read, but I find that regrettably it reflects a tale of so many women raised in extreme poverty surrounded by lies and abuse, made to feel worthless, abused as if their bodies are usable, but it happily also shows how hope and love can still be born amidst it all and change those women’s lives.
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Incest, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Gun violence and Racism
essay23's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Rape, Incest, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
2hermione4's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death, Alcoholism, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, and Fatphobia
gems_books's review
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Rape
Moderate: Incest
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
This novel is unique, I think, in its complex and deep-layered portrayal of an abusive relationship where the female victim can actually afford to leave w/o her life falling apart a lil. But she doesnt, and her reasons - or rather lifelong trauma-rooted conditioning - for not doing so unearth a whole can of worms that are truly disturbing. I feel for the main character while also being frustrated at times.
A lot of important issues - some rampant in Trinidadian society - are also tackled, such as racism, colorism, female identity outside of motherhood, misogyny, and ofc intergenerational abuse and trauma, and Allen-Agostini does so w/o making it overwhelming. Another thing I enjoy is Alethea's distinctive voice that can be both unintentionally dark and funny; it def makes the story even more memorable.
Overall, this is a novel riveting in both its darkness and glimmers of light. It manages to keep me glued to the pg in dread, and that's def sth.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Murder, and Death of parent
Minor: Abortion and Infertility