Scan barcode
writingcaia's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
This is the story of a girl that has to grow up too fast when her widowed mother goes to jail and she has to take care of her older brother that wants to pursue a doomed to failure music career and a little boy who lives next door whose mother is an addict and never around. But, how? She’s only seventeen, she can’t find a job. Desperate she takes the darkest plunge and starts walking the streets breaking her feet and her soul, giving herself to the worst of men. In her Nightcrawling she meets an older woman with a pimp and she considers it but then she’s almost arrested and the police start using her. And, the rest you need to find out.
It’s a devastating story of how doing your best can mean the worst for you, when trying to come clean can devastate your life, but it’s also about love for others, supporting the weakest, being there for your loved ones, and doing the right thing, even when it’s wrong, even when it can cost you.
The writing is beautiful but did feel weird and repetitive at times, taking you a bit from the story, but that’s the only flaw I found.
The friendship between our girl and bff, the love between her and the little boy she takes care of, it really made my heart swell, even if amidst such tragic and life threatening events.
It’s definitely a must read debut if the theme interests you.
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual violence, Rape, and Child death
Minor: Trafficking
madkat37's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Rape, and Sexual harassment
zoinkie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Murder, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Drug use, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Alcohol, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Death of parent
_meeg's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Grief, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Child death, Death, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Gun violence, Abandonment, Sexual content, Violence, Addiction, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Hate crime, Police brutality, Classism, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Racism, and Sexual violence
emilinaballerina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Sexual content, Trafficking, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Self harm, Classism, and Police brutality
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Child death, and Pedophilia
emilyreadsoften's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Abandonment
thisbookrox's review against another edition
4.25
definitely read CWs before reading.
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Blood, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Trafficking, Violence, Abandonment, Vomit, and Child death
Minor: Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Drug use
sidekicksam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
What a stunning debut novel. It is apparent that Mottley is a poet, as her writing style is lyrical and explores themes as racism, sex work, poverty and oppression without making it overly graphic or horrifying to read, which is quite a feat.
For me personally, the lyrical/poetic writing style also made it more challenging to get through, as I kept zoning out and took quite a bit of time to read each section, but the story grabbed me by the collar and made me keep reading.
If you liked this, watch The Florida Project or read On The Savage Side, and if you particularly liked the writing style I recommend Caleb Azumah Nelson or The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Death
bookswithisabel's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Vomit, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
ashyq's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Violence, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Blood, Drug abuse, Rape, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Self harm, Addiction, Alcohol, Child death, Classism, Grief, Trafficking, and Vomit