Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

In Every Mirror She's Black by Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström

27 reviews

bookishevy's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book is told from the perspectives of three Black women living in Sweden. 

Kemi - a successful Nigerian-American marketing executive who is enticed by Jonny von Lundin to move to Stockholm and clean up a racially tone-deaf campaign turned PR fiasco at his marketing firm. Kemi also sees this as an opportunity to shake up her love life. 

Brittany - a Jamaican-American model-turned-flight attendant who Jonny thrusts onto the lap of privilege after a chance encounter in business class leads to his obsession with her. 

Muna - a Somali refugee who finds a job as a janitor in Jonny's office after losing the people closest to her. Muna is working toward becoming a permanent resident of Sweden and seeks a sense of belonging more than anything. 

There's so much being explored in this read. The isolation one feels when they immigrate to a new country, especially as a Black woman in a mostly white country. The privileged expecting the oppressed to do the work of dismantling racist systems the former's ancestors put in place. How even with wealth and all that comes with it Black women are still othered. How society dictates what we look for in a mate and how giving into these ideals can lead to unhappiness. The importance of processing trauma and loss and providing the proper supports to someone with developmental disabilities. The xenophobia and challenges refugees face while trying to make something of themselves in a new country. 

I empathized most with Muna because, unlike Kemi and Brittany who chose to uproot their lives and move to Sweden, she fled her home to survive. Her desperation to make a connection is palpable. She's sensitive and a bit naive but she notices things as at Jonny's firm. Through her little interactions with Jonny the reader sees Jonny for who he truly is. 

This story with so many isms: racism, sexism, classism, tokenism, fetishism, ends on a cliffhanger. I'm on to book two. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Classism, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault

titagee's review

Very triggering for someone who has experienced sexual assault.  I just don't understand why a Black woman would allow a white man liberties she would not allow a Black man. SMH

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Stalking

mikaclapson's review

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Racism, Sexual content, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual assault and Toxic relationship

leslielovesbooks's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-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? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Suicide

It’s a tough read but a good and worthwhile one

elizabethwb's review

challenging emotional informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Body shaming, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Grief, Genocide, Suicide, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Fatphobia, Body horror, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Islamophobia, Sexism, Classism, Rape, Death, Domestic abuse, and Misogyny

sugarcainn's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Sexual assault

readbycarina's review

challenging tense 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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Suicide, Racism, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault

Minor: Death, Child death, and Body shaming

cirrenamarie's review

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Islamophobia, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia

moniipeters's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Police brutality, Ableism, Abortion, Blood, Drug use, Genocide, Cancer, Deportation, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Mental illness, Sexual content, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Violence, War, and Xenophobia

fenemiestolovers's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Whew…what a gut-wrenching picture of what it can mean to be a Black woman today. The characters are imperfect and human and just trying to do the best they can with what they know and what they have. I definitely understand it wouldn’t be for everyone and I can’t speak to the accuracy or quality of representation. And yet, I won’t forget this one anytime soon.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Suicide, Xenophobia, Classism, Death, Racism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Alcohol, Deportation, Infertility, Trafficking, Islamophobia, Miscarriage, Rape, Blood, Child death, Violence, Sexism, Sexual content, Ableism, Infidelity, Murder, Pregnancy, Stalking, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, War, and Abortion