Scan barcode
lit_vibrations's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚞𝚙𝚜𝚢 = 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚜”
A book that had lots of potential but fell short of my expectations. Akúa returns home to Jamaica attempting to reconnect with her sister and her home culture. After losing both their mother and brother to sickle cell Akúa brings her brother’s remains along for the trip with the hopes of reassembling her family.
During her time in Jamaica Akúa and Tamika visit various places from their childhood where their brother’s ashes are spread. The longer the sisters are in the presence of each other the more Akúa realizes how different they are. While being back home Akúa must come to terms with the difficult reality of being gay in a deeply religious family, and what being a gay woman in Jamaica actually means.
This was a really interesting book but I don’t think I really grasped its concept because the pacing was so fast. I know that sounds weird but I moved through it so quickly I couldn’t really connect with the plot. I wanted more from the other characters to really understand why their family bond wasn’t as strong. Why didn’t Tamika really go home for her brother’s funeral? Was facing her father apart of the issue? Was there some built up resentment because he moved them away from Jamaica after their mother passed?
I have so many unanswered questions which is why I wish the book had been a tad bit longer or more detailed in some areas. The author touched on quite a few themes involving girlhood, sexuality, family, grief, belonging, self-discovery, and coming of age.
Overall, I think the book was okay but the author missed the mark in certain aspects. I didn’t really get Akúa’s involvement with Jayda and I wish the book didn’t end so abruptly. Outside of that the writing was very descriptive and vivid but lacked depth so I wasn’t as drawn into the story. Special thanks to the author & @catapult for my gifted copy‼️
giuseppinah's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
Ending could have been tied up better than it was. In an alternate ending, Tamika and Akua would have talked about a lot of things regarding their relationship.
caaassie's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
2.5
megansoetaert's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
3.0
an emotional story about identity & belonging. “who and where do i belong to?” is the central question Akúa reckons with throughout the book, in her memories and her present, navigating her family, death, being a lesbian, and being a Jamaican abroad and at home.
i wish the book had been a little longer- the end felt rushed, and i wanted to see more of a resolution and reflection.
i wish the book had been a little longer- the end felt rushed, and i wanted to see more of a resolution and reflection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Death of parent
bahareads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Christina Cooke has a beautiful writing style. Her wording and descriptions of scenes were poetic. THE TITLE BEYYYY. Yinna een got no broughupsy aye.
Broughtupsy is shallow. The plot was not present. One could argue this is a character-driven book. But there was no character depth. The plot flashes back and forth between Akúa's present and her memories of the past. It was jarring. It would happen in the same paragraph with no warning. I was confused the first two or three times it occurred, wondering if I had missed something while I was reading.
The countdown of days left in Jamaica did not add to the plot. It was unnecessary. It prompted me to think there would be a build-up of reconciliation between Akúa and Tamika, or at least some deep talks but no. Nothing. The synopsis itself feels feel disjointed. How do we go from marketing Broughtupsy as a family reconciliation, love, awakening etc to growing friendship with a woman you've known for two days (and in total like two weeks)?
Akúa is already openly gay when she goes to see her sister in Jamaica. She is just getting out of a long-term relationship with a friend-turned-lover. I do not see how this novel can be a sexual awakening when she's already been awakened(?). I do agree people can evolve and change their sexual attraction but Jayda was not a change from her previous attraction. I thought the introduction of Jayda took away from what I perceived to be the main point of the book, at least in the first half.
The first half appears to be all about Bryson (her brother)'s death and trying to reconnect with the rest of her family as well as rediscovering herself as a Jamaican. Akúa left Jamaica at the age of 8 or 10 (lol I can't totally remember). However when she meets Jayda that plot point is totally abandoned. The introduction of Jayda was meant to explore what it is to be queer in Jamaica and openly yourself. I found Akúa to be engaging in a lot of dumb bitch shit. I love a good romance development but Jayda and Akúa together was shallow. I was not convinced. PLEASE keep in mind she has known this gyal for a total of 2 weeks but acting like this the greatest love story of her life?? It could have worked if Cooke had brought in more character development for Jayda.
OR more character development for everyone!! Tamika is stereotyped as this hard-feeling, religious sister. The interactions between her and Akúa should have been fleshed out more. Instead half the time they're together Akúa is running away for her to explore and re-learn 'her' Kingston. Akúa is the narrator of Broughtupsy so we are seeing from her bias. Akúa links Tamika to Jamaica so the fact that that was not developed more is... Their father is bland. Blah. Just there. Grief is almost the only emotion we see on him. I wanted more about his motivations and feelings about Tamika living in Jamaica away from them. I was confused about his acceptance (?) of Akúa as a gay woman. It is not mentioned how he felt. I automatically assumed it would have been negative, which shows my preconceived notion. HOWEVER I was just thinking that this man would be a typical old-school Caribbean father; especially keeping in mind this book is set in the 1990s. Spreading Bryson's ashes everywhere was unexplained. I understand it is used to show Akúa's reconnection process to Jamaica but I wanted to see Tamika's open feelings about this. Akúa's actions come off more as a YA MC than a grown adult (20 or 21) character. She acts quite childish at times.
I think this could make a decent book club book. I would be very interested to see what Jamaicans living within the country and Jamaicans living in the diaspora have to say about it.
After all this word vomit. I will summarize by saying the book felt like it was split into two distinct halves. The plot was fast and loose. The ending was.... The character development was shallow. I love love love loved the title.
Thank you to House of Anasai for the ARC (lol)
Broughtupsy is shallow. The plot was not present. One could argue this is a character-driven book. But there was no character depth. The plot flashes back and forth between Akúa's present and her memories of the past. It was jarring. It would happen in the same paragraph with no warning. I was confused the first two or three times it occurred, wondering if I had missed something while I was reading.
The countdown of days left in Jamaica did not add to the plot. It was unnecessary. It prompted me to think there would be a build-up of reconciliation between Akúa and Tamika, or at least some deep talks but no. Nothing. The synopsis itself feels feel disjointed. How do we go from marketing Broughtupsy as a family reconciliation, love, awakening etc to growing friendship with a woman you've known for two days (and in total like two weeks)?
Akúa is already openly gay when she goes to see her sister in Jamaica. She is just getting out of a long-term relationship with a friend-turned-lover. I do not see how this novel can be a sexual awakening when she's already been awakened(?). I do agree people can evolve and change their sexual attraction but Jayda was not a change from her previous attraction. I thought the introduction of Jayda took away from what I perceived to be the main point of the book, at least in the first half.
The first half appears to be all about Bryson (her brother)'s death and trying to reconnect with the rest of her family as well as rediscovering herself as a Jamaican. Akúa left Jamaica at the age of 8 or 10 (lol I can't totally remember). However when she meets Jayda that plot point is totally abandoned. The introduction of Jayda was meant to explore what it is to be queer in Jamaica and openly yourself. I found Akúa to be engaging in a lot of dumb bitch shit. I love a good romance development but Jayda and Akúa together was shallow. I was not convinced. PLEASE keep in mind she has known this gyal for a total of 2 weeks but acting like this the greatest love story of her life?? It could have worked if Cooke had brought in more character development for Jayda.
OR more character development for everyone!! Tamika is stereotyped as this hard-feeling, religious sister. The interactions between her and Akúa should have been fleshed out more. Instead half the time they're together Akúa is running away for her to explore and re-learn 'her' Kingston. Akúa is the narrator of Broughtupsy so we are seeing from her bias. Akúa links Tamika to Jamaica so the fact that that was not developed more is... Their father is bland. Blah. Just there. Grief is almost the only emotion we see on him. I wanted more about his motivations and feelings about Tamika living in Jamaica away from them. I was confused about his acceptance (?) of Akúa as a gay woman. It is not mentioned how he felt. I automatically assumed it would have been negative, which shows my preconceived notion. HOWEVER I was just thinking that this man would be a typical old-school Caribbean father; especially keeping in mind this book is set in the 1990s. Spreading Bryson's ashes everywhere was unexplained. I understand it is used to show Akúa's reconnection process to Jamaica but I wanted to see Tamika's open feelings about this. Akúa's actions come off more as a YA MC than a grown adult (20 or 21) character. She acts quite childish at times.
I think this could make a decent book club book. I would be very interested to see what Jamaicans living within the country and Jamaicans living in the diaspora have to say about it.
After all this word vomit. I will summarize by saying the book felt like it was split into two distinct halves. The plot was fast and loose. The ending was.... The character development was shallow. I love love love loved the title.
Thank you to House of Anasai for the ARC (lol)
caityclarkreads's review against another edition
emotional
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? N/A
4.0
storiesandsours's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
emelynreads's review
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
I need to try a guinep now! The description of Akua's travels through Kingston were so vibrant, and the loss she described when remembering her brother was emotional. I felt that the constant reminiscing while having a conversation was true to life but overdone in the middle of the book. I really enjoyed the first and last 50 pages or so. Akua is a very cool character, I only wish Jayda and Madonna made an earlier appearance in the novel (you don't meet them until 70% into the book).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Grief, Terminal illness, Sexual assault, Lesbophobia, Child death, and Death of parent
blundershelf's review
3.25
I had really high expectations for this one, which was maybe why it fell a bit short. Don't get me wrong - Cooke's debut novel has some truly beautiful passages and I often felt I was there with Akúa in Texas and in Kingston. I thought the back-and-forth between the main time of the novel (the 90s) and Akúa's childhood memories was very well done. Her pain at losing her brother and mother as well as feeling out of place everywhere she went were very visceral and heart-breaking and her relationship with her sister Tamika just felt so true. Unfortunately I found that the last sixty or so pages were quite disjointed and really threw me for a loop, almost like it had been tacked on without a thought. I'll look for Cooke's writing in the future and hope she grows a bit.