Reviews tagging 'Vomit'

In Every Mirror She's Black by Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström

3 reviews

peachani's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Sexism, Suicide, and Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Ableism, Stalking, Suicide, Toxic relationship, War, Classism, Death, Grief, Pregnancy, and Xenophobia

Minor: Islamophobia, Medical content, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Abortion, Alcohol, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Infertility, Trafficking, Violence, Hate crime, Murder, and Sexual assault

toadstoolsnshit's review

challenging emotional slow-paced

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

4.0

This novel covers some really important topics in an skillful and insightful way. While I wasn’t really a fan of the writing style, I appreciated the perspective that this book offers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Rape, Death, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Misogyny and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual harassment, Miscarriage, Vomit, and Alcohol

booksjessreads's review

informative 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

3.0

I just wanted to say a massive thank you to Head of Zeus publishing for sending me a copy of this book and this has no way impacted my review!

In Every Mirror She's Black follows the lives of 3 black women moving to Sweden under different circumstances, and how their lives are connected through a rich man. Kemi navigates racism within her marketing role in Sweden; Brittany-Rae facing racial discrimination within her husbands family; and Muna, due to seeking asylum in Sweden from Somalia.

This isn't my typical read and I wanted to give something different a go and I definitely enjoyed this in parts! As Akerström says on the front of this proof, she wanted to have the characters make mistakes to allow us to engage with the gravitas of their actions and this definitely follows through! I have read some reviews that have said they didn't like the direction the characters took, but to be honest, this is exactly what I loved. They make choices which were unexpected and reminding the reader that life in books is certainly not picture perfect.

Perhaps my favourite character was Muna. Her story was quite different in comparison to the others and she had a lot of deep-rooted emotional trauma from turmoil in Somalia which, for me, made me feel more invested in her story. Kemi also really grew on me and by the end I was fully invested in her character.

I think one thing that knocked a star or so off for me was the expression of toxic masculinity in this, particularly in the beginning. Jonny gave me major red flag alerts. In the middle of the novel, he kind of grows on you. He makes you think he's just completely infatuated with his OH, but when his behaviour gets explained at the end, it just didn't satisfy me enough.

Overall though, a good read and a promising debut! Its very similar to Queenie and Such a Fun Age so if you have enjoyed either of those then this is definitely a book to read next!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Vomit and Misogyny