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hamillherself's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Xenophobia, Pregnancy, and Ableism
Minor: Abortion
sarahmarie094's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Classism, Trafficking, and Racism
laurlala's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Pregnancy
ash_mac's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Pregnancy
steveatwaywords's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The action of the story is fair enough, with plenty of expected scenes from holding a large number of pregnant women in captivity (hardly a spoiler for being on the dust jacket!); and each of the primary characters is drawn to serve a social-political function rather than one of real nuance: the rebellious and narcissistic one, the privileged and compassionate one, etc. These are weaknesses in the crafting of the novel, but they aren't deal-breaking.
More difficult for me was a resolution that did not address these functions adequately, at least in that the groundwork laid (again, that background dystopia) is not s0 fully addressed that the resolution is satisfying.
Yes, capitalism is a powerful force--so much so, that every character bows before it, from beginning to end. The semi-competent Jane doesn't stand a prayer; but neither do her antagonists, in the end.
In short, there is something in this novel to enrage just about everyone outside of its story--from characters as ironically blind at its end as they were at its start to the finger Ramos points at each of its readers for their part in a future we are all working so hard to reach.
Graphic: Racism and Pregnancy
Moderate: Medical content
fbzcab's review against another edition
Graphic: Pregnancy, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Racism
Minor: Abortion, Dementia, and Cancer
badvision's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Classism, Confinement, Gaslighting, Infertility, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Abortion, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
dizzymissliz's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
cestnicka's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I also enjoyed the internal struggles the author conveyed within each character and it really is thought provoking and makes you question and think. I also liked that she showed everyone has two sides to them and that there is also more than one way to look at things and how that can get misconstrued sometimes.
It had a lot of potential and could have been a really amazing read, however despite all these great things, I just didn’t love it for a few reasons…
There were too many characters that I felt didn’t add anything to the story and wished they would have focused a bit more on the main character and her struggles.
I also found the book to be too long because of what I said above. The story lacked a focal point. I struggled because it didn’t feel like there was a strong plot. So I kept waiting for something to happen and it took too long for what would be “the plot” to really get going.
I also felt like the ending was pretty weak. I just think it needed a lot more depth. I wish she would have narrowed down the topic a bit more and really focused in on what the good parts of the story were.
It was an ok book but I needed more depth in less pages.
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Abortion
danidellandrea's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Classism, Pregnancy, and Sexual content