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bisexualbookshelf'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? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Police brutality and Alcohol
Minor: Death, Drug use, and Grief
ameliesbookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Racism, Police brutality, and Grief
mohoes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Minor: Police brutality
dacha'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Police brutality
Moderate: Mental illness
chellareads'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? It's complicated
4.75
It's Black and it's London.
It's raw and lyrical.
The second person POV won't suit everyone, and the poetic style of prose might pose a hurdle too, but it's worth persevering, if you find the style difficult. That said, it's not dense or difficult, but it is singular.
This is a startling debut, which sounds like one of those trite soundbites to sell a book, but in this case it's genuinely true.
This book cuts deep. It's about love, friendship, being Black in a world that looks at you without seeing you. But it's also about the hurt and fear carried and hidden by Black men and how that plays out for Black women.
This book is short, but it's saying so much. Highly recommend. It should be on literature reading lists. So good.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Police brutality
anglefish'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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Death
sammyb'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
5.0
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Racism and Murder
Minor: Death
ko_rax'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? Yes
5.0
"You hide your whole self away because sometimes you forget you haven't done anything wrong. Sometimes you forget there's nothing in your pockets. Sometimes you forget that to be you is to be unseen and unheard, or it is to be seen and heard in ways you did not ask for. Sometimes you forget to be you is to be a Black body, and not much else."
Additionally, I want to compliment the prose. The words are chosen beautifully and paint a picture of emotion and trauma in a way so bittersweet that I was left in a thoughtful mood very often. I strongly believe this novel should be read by everyone.
"It's one thing to be looked at, and another to be seen."
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Police brutality
Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, and Alcohol
issy_jacob's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Racism and Police brutality
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
revoli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Blood, Police brutality, and Grief