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emlawley's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book had a lot of promise and started with a 'bang' with a very intense first chapter. I got the book through the Rare Birds Bookshop advent calendar so had expected good things, but I have to say I found the main character Feyi's choices hard to believe or relate to. There has been a lot of talk in other reviews about how it feels unbelievable and in slightly poor taste that her somewhat poor decisions in the book are down to the trauma she has experienced and that this is a little reductive and I would hasten to agree. Also, after a lot of build-up throughout the book, the pivotal sex scene was really disappointing from a feminist perspective! I think the book could have been much better with more character development and a more heart-warming story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Domestic abuse, and Death
faithbee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Death, and Car accident
pm_me_book_recs's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Akwaeke Emezi is such a dynamic author- I'm all in.
Romance is def not my typical area of enjoyment, but this was so entertaining and the overall message was heartfelt. I really want to see this on screen! There also seems to be a pattern of me enjoying food focused romance??
The amount of growth and healing that happens across the board, even with periphery characters, is so good to see. With the numerous shenanigans and circumstances Feyi gets into, it does get comedic, but never degrading. I love the honest and upfront relationship Feyi and Joy have, we all need someone like Joy! The family drama is raw and painful, the matter of consent is constant and normalized, the writing and descriptions are gorgeous. I also loved that we get to see closure across the board and that Feyi is not the only focus!
The beginning is hot and heavy, but the rest of the story is mostly steam-free aside from imaginings and a few happenings later on.
Romance is def not my typical area of enjoyment, but this was so entertaining and the overall message was heartfelt. I really want to see this on screen! There also seems to be a pattern of me enjoying food focused romance??
The amount of growth and healing that happens across the board, even with periphery characters, is so good to see. With the numerous shenanigans and circumstances Feyi gets into, it does get comedic, but never degrading. I love the honest and upfront relationship Feyi and Joy have, we all need someone like Joy! The family drama is raw and painful, the matter of consent is constant and normalized, the writing and descriptions are gorgeous. I also loved that we get to see closure across the board and that Feyi is not the only focus!
The beginning is hot and heavy, but the rest of the story is mostly steam-free aside from imaginings and a few happenings later on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Sexual content
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Car accident
rexpostfacto's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent and Death
Minor: Violence and Sexual content
bibble_kingly's review against another edition
The book started off incredibly messy and the mess was just a lot for me.
Things to note:
Things to note:
- The main character is supposed to be unlikable
- Almost all of the prominent side characters are incredibly messy in their own way. (Yes, people can be messy in real life and fiction. The behavior is also really toxic despite the fact, we are told our main femme characters are in therapy)
This book just wasnt for me and that's okay.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Sexual content
Moderate: Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Self harm, and Car accident
boba_n_books's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
Spice Rating: 🌶️ .5 / 5
This is one of the most raw and complex novels I've read in a while. Emezi is a phenomenal writer with a knack for diving into the unknown.
It's been 5 years since the car accident that killed the love of Feyi's life. Now her best friend and roommate, Joy, is insisting that Feyi get back onto the dating scene. Once she gets a hang of things again, Feyi starts seeing someone who has potential to be a long-term partner. Even better--he invites her to come with him for a few weeks to the tropical island where he grew up.
I don't want to give away too much because I'm really glad I went into this book blind and hope you do as well. Emezi somehow tackles the huge subject of grief and pairs it with a romance that was messy but beautiful. I'm really glad I gave this one a chance.
This is one of the most raw and complex novels I've read in a while. Emezi is a phenomenal writer with a knack for diving into the unknown.
It's been 5 years since the car accident that killed the love of Feyi's life. Now her best friend and roommate, Joy, is insisting that Feyi get back onto the dating scene. Once she gets a hang of things again, Feyi starts seeing someone who has potential to be a long-term partner. Even better--he invites her to come with him for a few weeks to the tropical island where he grew up.
I don't want to give away too much because I'm really glad I went into this book blind and hope you do as well. Emezi somehow tackles the huge subject of grief and pairs it with a romance that was messy but beautiful. I'm really glad I gave this one a chance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Blood and Car accident
agentmozell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
This is my first book by the author, this is really not my kind of book and I think I should’ve just waited for Pet to become available on my Libby. I won’t say its bad, but its def not my sped and I’ll get more as to what bothered me below.
I read this via audiobook and the narrator was amazing. For the one I listened to the narrator was Bahni Turpin—10/10 great job. The writing (sans the strong language it starts with) is really poetic and beautiful.
Now for the book. I might put this under the spoiler warning (this is being prewritten in my notes while I’m nearing the end).
Also one thing I will give this book is that it made me hungry as the ML is a chef. Everything sounded delicious and made me hungry.
The beginning starts off with a lot of strong language, some that I’m far too white to say or comment on and it was a bit uncomfortable if I’m being honest. Then Feyi and Milan (I hope I spelled that right) became friends with benefits and it was just a weird thing, like I get her trauma, but it was just weird to me. Maybe because I’m ace so I don’t understand it?
Then her with Nasir was a weird thing too, taking it slow but they were not dating. I guess I don’t understand the going out, cuddling and kissing without being an “item” so to speak. I really liked Nasir and thought he was a good fit for her. So when the book started bringing her close with his dad and, lets just be honest, turned lust into insta love I was rolling my eyes a bit. The age gap didn’t bother me to much, I mean she’s 29 and he’s 49 so whatever. They’re both consenting adults. But it was the fact she went from Milan to his friend Nasir and now Nasir’s DAD that weirded me out.
Like that shits messy messy and she should’ve followed through with the clean break.
Then chapter 17 happened and oh boy, the 180 flip with Nasir’s personality caught me so off guard. I guess it happens a lot with “nice guys” turning out to be not who women thought they were. But the fact he was kicking her out of his dads house had me low key cackling in a why. Like bro, that’s not your house. When he said “you deserve this” I felt myself getting angry. Him calling her trash made me even angrier. Then the fact he wasn’t even listening to her was the icing on the cake.
In a way I do feel that this was the author trying to get the reader to accept the fact that Feyi and Alim were the end game. But it’s hard to tell when there was no other hints that Nasir could be like that. HOWEVER, I would like to stress that I personally have not been in an abusive relationship and so maybe this is a normal stereotype of “they never gave any signs they could do such things.” I don’t doubt that perhaps Nasir was capable all along, but it just seemed kinda off character.
I also thing its really awkward that every page we’re told how beautiful, pretty, gorgeous, etc every fucking character is. Everyone is made out to be a walking god or goddess and its just really weird that everyone is viewed like that. It’s just a bit unrealistic that nobody seems to have any physical flaws.
Oh and then the fallout, the fallout was so rough. I was anticipating it being bad because, you know, she and the dad fell in lust, but Nasir’s reaction was way over the top. Then Lorraine’s was just cruel. She was kind cold to Feyi from the start so I wasn’t too surprised that she was even meaner during the fallout. But I was surprised that she was THAT mean. I guess we know they’re cut out of the inheritance.
And I’m low key cackling that Feyi is thinking that she’s not a gold digger but I kinda think she is.
The sanest character of all this was Joy ironically enough.
And her realizing she loved him at the end and wanting to run away? That’s just..wow. She realized her lust went to love and was like “WAIT I NEED TO GO HOME”. Like girl…you tore apart the family and now you wanna dip? Like that’s now how shit works. Then the ending…its so strange. I never understood the instalove trope because it just seems too unrealistic.
Ah well, I have Pet on hold, maybe that'll be more my speed.
I read this via audiobook and the narrator was amazing. For the one I listened to the narrator was Bahni Turpin—10/10 great job. The writing (sans the strong language it starts with) is really poetic and beautiful.
Now for the book. I might put this under the spoiler warning (this is being prewritten in my notes while I’m nearing the end).
Also one thing I will give this book is that it made me hungry as the ML is a chef. Everything sounded delicious and made me hungry.
The beginning starts off with a lot of strong language, some that I’m far too white to say or comment on and it was a bit uncomfortable if I’m being honest. Then Feyi and Milan (I hope I spelled that right) became friends with benefits and it was just a weird thing, like I get her trauma, but it was just weird to me. Maybe because I’m ace so I don’t understand it?
Then her with Nasir was a weird thing too, taking it slow but they were not dating. I guess I don’t understand the going out, cuddling and kissing without being an “item” so to speak. I really liked Nasir and thought he was a good fit for her. So when the book started bringing her close with his dad and, lets just be honest, turned lust into insta love I was rolling my eyes a bit. The age gap didn’t bother me to much, I mean she’s 29 and he’s 49 so whatever. They’re both consenting adults. But it was the fact she went from Milan to his friend Nasir and now Nasir’s DAD that weirded me out.
Like that shits messy messy and she should’ve followed through with the clean break.
Then chapter 17 happened and oh boy, the 180 flip with Nasir’s personality caught me so off guard. I guess it happens a lot with “nice guys” turning out to be not who women thought they were. But the fact he was kicking her out of his dads house had me low key cackling in a why. Like bro, that’s not your house. When he said “you deserve this” I felt myself getting angry. Him calling her trash made me even angrier. Then the fact he wasn’t even listening to her was the icing on the cake.
In a way I do feel that this was the author trying to get the reader to accept the fact that Feyi and Alim were the end game. But it’s hard to tell when there was no other hints that Nasir could be like that. HOWEVER, I would like to stress that I personally have not been in an abusive relationship and so maybe this is a normal stereotype of “they never gave any signs they could do such things.” I don’t doubt that perhaps Nasir was capable all along, but it just seemed kinda off character.
I also thing its really awkward that every page we’re told how beautiful, pretty, gorgeous, etc every fucking character is. Everyone is made out to be a walking god or goddess and its just really weird that everyone is viewed like that. It’s just a bit unrealistic that nobody seems to have any physical flaws.
Oh and then the fallout, the fallout was so rough. I was anticipating it being bad because, you know, she and the dad fell in lust, but Nasir’s reaction was way over the top. Then Lorraine’s was just cruel. She was kind cold to Feyi from the start so I wasn’t too surprised that she was even meaner during the fallout. But I was surprised that she was THAT mean. I guess we know they’re cut out of the inheritance.
And I’m low key cackling that Feyi is thinking that she’s not a gold digger but I kinda think she is.
The sanest character of all this was Joy ironically enough.
And her realizing she loved him at the end and wanting to run away? That’s just..wow. She realized her lust went to love and was like “WAIT I NEED TO GO HOME”. Like girl…you tore apart the family and now you wanna dip? Like that’s now how shit works. Then the ending…its so strange. I never understood the instalove trope because it just seems too unrealistic.
Ah well, I have Pet on hold, maybe that'll be more my speed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Domestic abuse
tenstef's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
I love Akwaeke's work and I will continue to read her books. Her writing is *chefs kiss* and there were a few passages I underlined. The premise is complicated and yet I still understood the main protagonist. But, this book didn't have me as gripped with her other books. At the end of the day I didn't care enough. Still enjoyed the read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
llams's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
this is the most beautiful book i've read yet! i'm not great with the words but this was so moving and beautiful and full of love alongside the pain and ache
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Death, Blood, Biphobia, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Grief, and Car accident
rrubin97's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
It was beautifully written but I just couldn’t Like how the plot jumps went and how they made the contrived conveniences to have to two characters together
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Death