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joanna_banana'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
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Sexism, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Blood and Abortion
latida94's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Cultural appropriation, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent and Gaslighting
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Although my review may be full of basic bookish rambling about the perpetual spiral of the so-called delulu in regards to the main character who is a writer, the writing in this book by the witty R. F. Kuang is so sharp, timely, and addictive that you certainly feel like you’re delulu too. (Okay I’ll stop using that word now.)
So this novel is basically a ridiculously well-written reddit thread of “AITA for stealing the manuscript of my dead Asian friend and passing it off as my own since I’m a woman, but I’m also very much a cishet white woman?”
GIRLLLLL. Kuang crafted such a punchy, visceral novel about race, loneliness, envy, and the pros and cons of the publishing industry. I was glued to every page, almost like watching a train wreck. It’s like, chapter after chapter, our white MC (June) goes deeper and deeper into her web of lies and you’re like “there’s no way she gets away with this” in a non-Scooby Doo villain kind of way, and then SHE DOES!! She just keeps at it!! The secondhand embarrassment and utter frustration was so real, especially in the way that could absolutely happen in real life, which is messed up but also shows the reality of diversity in today’s society—not always as advanced or progressive as we perceive it to be when it’s not directly related to us. This narrative was such an interesting piece on how far someone will go to save their reputation, when said reputation is a fabricated construct in and of itself. Fascinating.
Parts did remind me of “American Fiction”, which is another great example of the assumptions made about POC writers, just in a sort-of opposite form. In any case, I highly recommend both.
TL;DR June Hayward is kind-of the Hannah Horvath of this story, but somehow even worse. If you liked HBO’s “Girls” for the writing and not for the characters, this book is for you.
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Gaslighting
Minor: Self harm, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
jennaviolet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Stalking, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent and War
xgabrielle_hx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual assault, Blood, Islamophobia, and Death of parent
kindaokbean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The audiobook is masterfully done, usually I have a hard time getting into audio versions but this time the narrator only adds value, she really brings June to life.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racism and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent
linneak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cursing, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexism, Suicide, and Islamophobia
amaranth_wytch's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Grief, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Stalking
Minor: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism
sierrabowers's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism