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hngisreading's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
kays_reading_journal's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was insane. I read it in one day, and spent the last 60 pages bawling my eyes out. I’m not even a teenager anymore, but this threw me right back to when I was 15, terrified to come out to my parents, terrified of the future. This book was filled with love and hurt and pain and trauma and it was done perfectly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Grief, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Murder
lettuce_read's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Murder, Outing, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Classism
readingwithtrey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
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
5.0
Avery Anderson’s life for the last few years has been completely upended by the pandemic. She’s not sure how it could get any more off track until one day Avery’s mother gets a mysterious letter that has them abruptly traveling back to the small town of Bardell, Georgia for the first time in a decade. What starts out as her family moving to care for an estranged grandmother dying of cancer, turns into Avery discovering past family secrets, building new relationships, and healing old wounds.
Jas Hammond’s debut novel, We Deserve Monuments, does not read as a debut at all. She holds nothing back in this coming of age story that examines historical wounds and the impact of them on the descendants today. I could not put this book down, and these characters and their stories will long stay with me. On top of that, there was a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming that left me thinking. I love endings to profound stories that make you think. *chef’s kiss*
This is one of those reads that can definitely make you uncomfortable as it addresses some really deep and unsettling things, but I think those are the best and most important reads. The reads that start can conversations, build understanding, and strengthen relationships are the most impactful. And in my opinion, that’s one of the most amazing things about books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Racism, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Violence, Police brutality, Car accident, and Lesbophobia
jessicaludden's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
“I always thought falling in love would feel like an endless summer. Warm and whimsical, sugar-sweet sherbet and sparklers lighting up the sky. But was autumn now, and the world was still beautiful, and it all reminded me of her.”
I am a puddle of tears after reading this book. I loved it. I don’t know how the author did it but they managed to make me feel utterly hopeless and completely hopeful at the same time. This book holds a lot of power. It’s in the scenes where three generations of women are battling through their trauma and grief, whether with or against each other, that it really shows. Jas Hammonds did an amazing job of showing the complexities of trauma within a family and how that trauma can be passed on through generations. They also included the very raw and realistic histories of racism in the south. They put a face and a name to these horrors and were able to show how this history of hatred impacts actual people. Some of my favorite scenes were the conversations between Avery and Mama Letty where they were able to reminisce on Mama Lefty’s love with Ray, but also Avery was able to get bits and pieces of the awful events that resulted in Ray’s death. Jas Hammonds conveyed Avery’s desperation to know more and then her anger and helplessness when she realized there was nothing she could do. I loved Avery’s character. I love her determinedness to know more and do more for those she loved. I loved watching her grow into herself. Overall, I laughed, I cried, and I stared into space thinking. This book was beautiful.
I am a puddle of tears after reading this book. I loved it. I don’t know how the author did it but they managed to make me feel utterly hopeless and completely hopeful at the same time. This book holds a lot of power. It’s in the scenes where three generations of women are battling through their trauma and grief, whether with or against each other, that it really shows. Jas Hammonds did an amazing job of showing the complexities of trauma within a family and how that trauma can be passed on through generations. They also included the very raw and realistic histories of racism in the south. They put a face and a name to these horrors and were able to show how this history of hatred impacts actual people. Some of my favorite scenes were the conversations between Avery and Mama Letty where they were able to reminisce on Mama Lefty’s love with Ray, but also Avery was able to get bits and pieces of the awful events that resulted in Ray’s death. Jas Hammonds conveyed Avery’s desperation to know more and then her anger and helplessness when she realized there was nothing she could do. I loved Avery’s character. I love her determinedness to know more and do more for those she loved. I loved watching her grow into herself. Overall, I laughed, I cried, and I stared into space thinking. This book was beautiful.
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Outing
caseythereader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Thanks to Fierce Reads for the free copy of this book.
- WE DESERVE MONUMENTS is a knockout of a book. This book covers everything from the annoyances of being a teenager to generational trauma, and it's delivered in a story that's both beautiful and page-turning.
- I loved watching the relationships between the women of Avery's family untangle and grow. Hammonds doesn't gloss over how painful it can be to uncover family history, but also that love can still be buried under all of it.
- On top of all this, there's also an exploration of what it means to be young, Black and queer in the South today. I'll truly be thinking of this book for a long time to come.
- WE DESERVE MONUMENTS is a knockout of a book. This book covers everything from the annoyances of being a teenager to generational trauma, and it's delivered in a story that's both beautiful and page-turning.
- I loved watching the relationships between the women of Avery's family untangle and grow. Hammonds doesn't gloss over how painful it can be to uncover family history, but also that love can still be buried under all of it.
- On top of all this, there's also an exploration of what it means to be young, Black and queer in the South today. I'll truly be thinking of this book for a long time to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
amobrien's review against another edition
challenging
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? Yes
4.5
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Family drama, love story, and mystery all in one — I loved the way We Deserve Monuments had so many layers and each were done successfully. It's not often that a single book can tell so many different stories at once and have it done well, so I was so impressed with the way We Deserve Monuments wrapped it all up. I also loved how complex the characters were. I highly recommend giving this a read!
Family drama, love story, and mystery all in one — I loved the way We Deserve Monuments had so many layers and each were done successfully. It's not often that a single book can tell so many different stories at once and have it done well, so I was so impressed with the way We Deserve Monuments wrapped it all up. I also loved how complex the characters were. I highly recommend giving this a read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Hate crime, Homophobia, Terminal illness, and Police brutality
spinesinaline's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
4.5
So, so good
Short review: this book was incredible. Also, probably my favourite book cover of the year, it’s stunning.
From the content warnings alone, it’s clear this book covers a lot. Even in the blurb, when the publishers pitched it as a romance and murder mystery and family story, it seems like it’s trying to do so much at once. But somehow it works and it never feels overstuffed or confused in its direction. All these parts contribute to the whole.
There’s also some fun humour and some warm, lovely characters who make this town really feel like a home (along with some not so nice folks), each with their own background of trauma and life experiences.
This is really a story about grief. Avery’s grief over the short time she’ll get with the grandmother she barely knows, and the pervasive grief over the loss of multiple people in this town that their family members are still coming to terms with and trying to understand.
(Vague spoilers about ending) It’s something so beautiful when a book gets an ending that’s as powerful and well-written as the story. It’s not the one all the characters are hoping for but I appreciated that we could check in with everyone we’ve met throughout this book.
Short review: this book was incredible. Also, probably my favourite book cover of the year, it’s stunning.
From the content warnings alone, it’s clear this book covers a lot. Even in the blurb, when the publishers pitched it as a romance and murder mystery and family story, it seems like it’s trying to do so much at once. But somehow it works and it never feels overstuffed or confused in its direction. All these parts contribute to the whole.
There’s also some fun humour and some warm, lovely characters who make this town really feel like a home (along with some not so nice folks), each with their own background of trauma and life experiences.
This is really a story about grief. Avery’s grief over the short time she’ll get with the grandmother she barely knows, and the pervasive grief over the loss of multiple people in this town that their family members are still coming to terms with and trying to understand.
(Vague spoilers about ending)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Racism, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Homophobia, Police brutality, and Murder
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
When her family learns that her grandmother is dying, Avery is uprooted from her life in D.C. and transplanted to her mom’s tiny hometown in Georgia. She leaves behind her college-obsessed friends (and ex) just before starting her senior year in a town where she knows no one, including her own grandmother. Years of lost time span between three generations of Black women, and Avery is determined to unearth the divisive secrets that color her family and finally get to know her impenetrable grandmother, all while getting to know herself. A debut novel about who and what is worth remembering with a special focus on Black queer love in the South, We Deserve Monuments is unforgettable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Terminal illness, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual content, Vomit, and Police brutality
asparagusisreading's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
If you are looking for a slow-burn and character-driven story that follows a teenager navigating the complexities of family relationships after a difficult falling out, then this book is for you. This book follows Avery and her family who recently has moved in with Mama Letty, Avery's grandmother, after finding out her health has gotten worse due to a terminal illness. The book continues to follow Avery as she is building a relationship with her mother and grandmother, learning the history behind the town her mother grew up in, and what happened that causes such a rift in the family. This is all happening in a small town with watchful eyes and rumors that spread like wildfire when Avery is trying to find herself such as shaving her head, her sexuality, her future career, what school to attend. There is also a small mystery about involving deaths that happened years prior unraveling as the story goes on. There is hope, tears, laughter, fear, anger, love, and so many more emotions that portray the complexity and messiness of all kinds of relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Grief
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, and Terminal illness
Minor: Police brutality and Murder