Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow by Damilare Kuku

1 review

imtashamonet's review

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emotional funny sad 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? Yes

3.0

 Disclaimer: I received a free advance review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. (Releases July 30, 2024)

Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow by Damilare Kuku is a story about family secrets and BBLs. Temi a 20-year old recently graduated students wants to go to Lagos to surgically enhance her backside, but once she finally tells her family the news doesn't go over well, and they begin to tell her secrets they've held close to their chest.

I have to admit that I was originally drawn to this title by the cover and the title. I had no idea what to expect but I assumed it would be a light-hearted tale about a young woman who wanted a bigger butt to impress men. There were definitely light-hearted moments in the book, but there were also some very heavy moments that could use trigger and content warnings (I don't recall seeing them in my ARC, but that does not mean they won't be there in the final copy; the book releases half a year from now). Each of the character's stories are filled with misfortune and harm to their bodies that is difficult to bear. I was saddened that this harm and mistreatment caused unexplained (to each other)rifts between these women and their own conception of self-worth.  It angered me that rather than speaking up for themselves, they took the blame and mistreatment by others as their own fault and shame. 

There were a few things that I didn't appreciate. First, the ending felt abrupt and nothing seemed to really be resolved, except for the start of one fractured relationship being mended. And while I can harp on the ending that left me dissastified, the most egregious thing to me is part of the book's description, which reads, "In Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow, Damilare Kuku brings her signature humor, boldness, and compassion to each member of this loveable but exasperating family, whose lives reveal the ways in which a woman’s physical appearance can dictate her life and relationships and show just how sharp the double-edged sword of beauty can be." Damilare Kuku absolutely brought humor and boldness to the story, however saying that this story shows "just how sharp the double-edged sword beauty can be" displays no compassion for the women of this book or victims of assault in all its forms. Their beauty was not the cause for what has harmed them and assault is not a hazard or risk of beauty. The issue and blame for assault belongs to those who do the assaulting. 

Perhaps the author did not write her own description because I do not believe that this was the message she was sending. In fact, she includes a note at the end which indicates that her message is about loving yourself and your body and only getting augmentation if it is for you (and not the gaze of others). Her message seemed to be filled with positivity, but after reading the book that book description left me feeling angered.

Outside of the ending and the description, the story of these women was still a decent read. 

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