Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - The Art of Scandal

Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Art of Scandal by Regina Black

23 reviews

warlocksarecool21's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-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

3.75

Overall, I did enjoy this book. I thought the characters (specifically Rachel and Nathan) were well-written, they had strong personalities and good character development across the story. I enjoyed their relationship, they had great chemistry and passion. I also thought Rachel's personal growth of taking back her life and living for herself was really powerful. The representation in the book was really important as well, it's great to see and read Black stories, especially in the romance genre. I definitely recommend this book if you like romance. The reason I didn't rate this higher was completely on me, it had nothing to do with the book. I was excited to start it but I had just been a streak of reading romance books and I think I was just tired of them, so I wasn't fully immersed in the story as I wanted to be and thus struggled to finish it, but I did enjoy the book. I just wish I had waited to start it until I was in the mood for it.

Content Warnings

peachani's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

blakeandbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-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

4.0

Content Warnings

vicktorea's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful 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

3.5

Content Warnings

fangirljeanne's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-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

Audio Arc from LibroFM

TW: Cheating, Racism, classism, sexism, panic attack/disorders, cancer

We have so many coming of age stories, perpetuating the misconception that we cease to develop as a person once we reach an arbitrary age. Adulthood isn’t so much a destination as an era in our lives. One of many we will change us in social and psychological as well as physical ways. This is a truth anyone over the age of 25 can confirm.

Which makes the fact that so many of us are pressured either socially or economically to make huge decisions about our lives and relationships at such a young age, often only just as we are becoming “adults.” It’s natural that living in those lives, relationships, and careers for decades would wreak change upon our younger selves in many unforeseen ways.

People in their 30’s and 40’s rarely resemble who they were when they was 18 or 20.

Despite their age difference Rachel and Nathan find themselves similarly dissatisfied and lost in the lives shaped by choices they made when they were young. Meeting each other has caused them both to question who they are and could be if they take chances now they weren’t able or were too afraid to take when they were younger.

A couple’s chemistry is always what makes or breaks a romance for me. These two are amazing together. Not just sexy, but they genuinely connect. Their vulnerability with each other is a big key to what makes their romance believable.

While this book is a Romance that spend lot of time on the relationship, it spends as much of not more time on Rachel’s journey toward self discovery and growth. She’s a wonderful example of the wider range of feminine experiences we miss out on when so many Romances focus only on women in their teens and 20s. Women do not stop deserving love and sex after they turn 25. People can fall in love more than once in their life, especially as they grow older, change, and want different things in life.

The book also explores the subtle racial politics that happen within interracial relationships, especially when one of the partners is a rich white man. This story pulls all the nastiest forms of micro aggressions women of color (especially Black women) deal with on a daily basis even within their own homes and family.

While Nathan is Latino he has to come to terms with his own privilege and prejudices in order to grow into a man worthy of Rachel’s trust and love. But most importantly Rachel has to learn and grow into some one brave enough to be safe for and love herself.

This isn’t always an easy read (check the TW), but it was so worthy it. Love this this always is.

Content Warnings

hazelgirl21's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-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

4.0

Content Warnings

simplysimone's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

ktdakotareads's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional 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

4.0

Content Warnings

butterbrioche's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? Yes

I cannot believe this was a debut book. I can only hope to write something as stunning and visceral as this. I have to be honest…this was the best contemporary romance I’ve read this year, probably the best one I’ve read in a while. Black is such a talented writer and her pen is here to stay. There is longevity in this writing and this beautiful story. I also think this really challenged what I thought about romance as a genre, it a good way. I feel like my mind is going blank as I continue to process how much I loved this book. What are words? I’m not sure I have enough of them to describe just how perfect this was. The hurt, the comfort. The LONGING! THE YEARNING! The drama of it ALL!

This book was utterly perfect and I don’t care what anyone says.

Content Warnings

womanwill's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

4.5 stars rounded up

This sultry, slow burn romance also leans into vulnerability, grief, and survival. I adored Nathan and Rachel and their complex path to each other. Regina Black did not shy away from the drama and scandals, and their love story is backlit by DC politics and intense powerplays of the rich and famous.

Read this if you're in need of:
- biracial couple- Black woman & Latinx man
- age gap
- disability rep- he has dyslexia, she has panic attacks
- political scandals & drama
- seductive slow burn
- art history & art

I flew through this one and can't wait to see what this debut author delivers next. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.

Content Warnings

More...