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happiestwhenreading's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While Efe and I are opposites in almost every way - she's Ghananian, career-focused, and has never had a desire to have children - I was absolutely inthralled with her character! She is tough, independent, resilient, and doesn't bend for anyone. Appiah captured the essence of her and her struggles so well, and as a reader, I had sympathy, empathy, and a whole lot of love for her. Sam, her husband, also captured my heart. While he had his faults (like we all do), his love for Efe was deep and true. He kept making the conscientious choice to try to understand and change his ways so that Efe and him could continue to grow in their love. Appiah is a wonderful storyteller and I absolutely loved her writing style. Seeing how this is her debut novel, we all have a lot to look forward to! (**Please know there are some content trigger warnings here...I didn't mention them so as not to spoil the book, but please seek out more information if you are a sensitive reader.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Death
Moderate: Car accident, Infidelity, Sexual content, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
amandas_bookshelf's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Blood, Pregnancy, Racism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, Infidelity, Death, and Hate crime
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
introvertsbookclub's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A lot of the early chapters felt like they were padding out the novel, and I struggled to keep reading (the structure, the time jumps and the present tense didn’t help). However, by the half way mark the novel seemed to have found itself. It explored, in depth, the experience of being a woman who doesn’t want to have children; the cultural and familial pressure to do so anyway; the impact on mental health, sense of self, and life decisions when you are manipulated into motherhood; and the battle not to let your identity and purpose be entirely consumed by that motherhood. The husband’s role in this was so frustrating to read, but as the novel progressed there was real character growth and what felt like a serious consideration of the burden of care that is placed on women, finally recognised from a male perspective. This would make such a good book club read because there is so much to discuss, but I’m trying not to give away any spoilers. Other themes included migration and feeling separated from home, racism, sexism and access to healthcare, people pleasing, self-expression, and mental health. But just as I was starting to enjoy the book, the ending had to disappoint me. The author and the characters had made so many strides forward, and the ending completely undermined them. One day I want to read a novel about a woman who doesn’t want children that allows her a happy ending without compromising her feelings, but that is not this book. Reading this was a rollercoaster of mixed emotions, but it was worth it for the parts that worked well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Self harm
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Abortion
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