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breeinreadingland'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
3.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Grief, Racism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Sexual harassment
readbycarina'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
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Death, Hate crime, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, and Sexism
Minor: Body shaming, Blood, Misogyny, and Medical content
cgp1234's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Addiction, and Drug abuse
teamstarburger's review against another edition
4.75
For all my TJR obsessed friends,
imagine a Daisy Jones type novel that has true racial diversity and development of those characters, not just one checking off the diversity box, paired with a way more engaging plot. This is it.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment
romcomapologist's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Police brutality and Sexual harassment
prettycloud'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Police brutality, Sexism, Violence, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Blood, Cursing, and Addiction
Minor: Abortion, Car accident, Medical content, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
This book is ultimately more adventurous than dark in tone, so though it shows racist violence and bigoted attitudes, it lingers more on subcultural connection, healing, and inspiration. The book centers around the death of the narrator's Black father during the riot that launched the eponymous band to stardom, and the narrator's ongoing quest to learn more about that night and its key players. One of the key players is at the time of narration dying of cancer. There is a twist related to that night, but no surprise violence or illness or anything.sarahholliday'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
4.75
I'm honestly upset that this was marketed so explicitly as a read-alike to Daisy Jones and the Six, because the two novels are in completely different leagues, in my opinion. On the surface, sure, they're both oral histories of flash-in-the-pan bands plagued by interpersonal struggles, but that's where the similarities stop.
Though the title includes both Opal and Nev, it becomes clear as you move through the story that Nev is not a "main character" in the way Opal and Stormy are. This is a story about black artists, especially black female artists, and the choices they make (or are forced to make) in order to carve out a place for themselves in a world that is at best uninterested in them, and at worst outright hostile.
Walton has crafted a completely immersive book that feels as if you're reading a true non-fiction title. The structure of the novel, the way she slowly teases nuance out of her cast of characters, and the freedom she gives her characters to make mistakes and be utterly human made this a novel I couldn't put down. I read it almost entirely in two sittings, and I was sad to turn the final page.
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual harassment, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Addiction
laguerrelewis's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Alcohol, Grief, Sexism, Cursing, Hate crime, Racism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, and Police brutality
morganperks'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
4.0
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, Hate crime, Murder, Drug abuse, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Police brutality, Addiction, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
Minor: Rape
eileen91'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
4.5
Graphic: Hate crime, Misogyny, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual harassment