Reviews with content warning for Grief - Monday's Not Coming

Finished this book yesterday or the day before I can't really remember. When I read it, I was really invested in the story and what happened to Monday, and I felt like it was interesting to see Claudia grow to realize that just because she shared her entire life didn't mean that Monday felt comfortable doing the same. Sometimes while reading I felt a level of discomfort I couldn't really place, but at the end of the day, I kept reading until it was done because I really did want to see where it was going. Overall, I thought it was good (not groundbreaking, but good) and left it at that.
What I wasn't expecting is that today I would be scrolling on tiktok and happen to get a video about the Mitchelle Blair case, and before the video was even over I went to look up if the book was based on it. I didn't find anything definitive but many people who were already familiar with the case beforehand (I realized many were, but I wasn't, as I really steered clear of true crime the majority of my life since it would just upset me) and that it impacted how they felt about the story, especially bc they could tell where it was going.
I don't like the idea of using a real story like this to make a fictional story, even if it is to start up conversations. It would be one thing if it were similar, especially when the point of the book is to highlight how much stuff like this happens and goes overlooked for long periods of time, but to take so much from a specific incident to the point of mirroring that real-life trial...that doesn't sit right with me. I'm going to research the case and make my final decision on the book after, but that...I really don't like that at all.
edit: did some research on the case and yeah...miss jackson was kind of tasteless with the amount of things she lifted from that case like. this is not "loosely inspired" it is directly depicting it. i'm actually really mad now like girl what the hell.

Content Warnings

nstyner's review

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challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I love TDJ, and I had no doubt I was going to love this book. With that out the way, the book is actually really good, serves as a much needed call to action for adults to 1. LISTEN 👏🏿 TO 👏🏿 THESE 👏🏿 KIDS 👏🏿! 2. Stop and pay attention to what's being said, behavior, etc. 3. Educate yourself if needed and 4. BE NOSEY!!

I loved the perspective of presenting the story from a child's POV especially to show how frustrating it can be when the adults around them aren't listening because they should be "staying in a child's place".

I'm familiar with the case the book references and my heart completely broke when it got to a certain point of the book. I was finishing it in my office in tears.

Content Warnings

islesbiyana's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? No

3.25

I closed my eyes, envisioning it, trying to think of anyone I would beg for one more moment with, but only Monday came to mind. I loved her. Well, I mean, not like that. I didn’t love her in a way a girl loved a girl, like romantically. I loved her more like a soul mate loved a soul mate. Who makes up the rules for who your soul belongs to?

If Monday were a color, she’d be red. Crisp, striking, vivid, you couldn’t miss her—a bull’s-eye in the room, a crackling flame.
I saw so much red that it blinded me to any flags.

Content Warnings