Scan barcode
toofondofbooks_'s review
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
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
4.25
The first thing I absolutely have to say about this book is that the writing is beautiful. There is a sense of realism to every page of the book that really makes the story believable. Edie is a painfully raw and real protagonist with a strong narrative voice that I thoroughly enjoyed, I just wish that she, as a character, loved herself as much as I love her. The book follows her as she tries to navigate her life and relationship with a married older man. A relationship that only becomes more complicated when Edie loses her job and is invited into his home by her paramour's wife. Another character that I really enjoyed apart from Edie was Akila, her lover's adopted daughter.
As for drawbacks to this book, I think that more could have happened in the second half and I'm surprised that it didn't. There was a stretch of pages where it seemed like not much of anything was happening, and though I was never *bored* exactly, I was waiting for the pace to pick up.
Overall, this was a really great, quick read, and if you've been thinking about picking it up, here's your sign!
As for drawbacks to this book, I think that more could have happened in the second half and I'm surprised that it didn't. There was a stretch of pages where it seemed like not much of anything was happening, and though I was never *bored* exactly, I was waiting for the pace to pick up.
Overall, this was a really great, quick read, and if you've been thinking about picking it up, here's your sign!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Police brutality
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infertility, Murder, Vomit, and War
Minor: Religious bigotry
sunpuddles's review
challenging
dark
funny
sad
fast-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
4.0
This book is so well-written. The descriptions are vivid and precise, surprising and relatable. I found myself laughing at a brilliant turn of phrase, a simile or metaphor - even when the subject matter was dark. That said, the character development and plot left a bit to be desired. I find myself unable to remember the protagonist name, writing this in the morning after I finish reading the book… I was hoping for more depth to the character or development of a storyline. Not every book needs to be tidy at the end, but I just thought this needed something more to recommend it than the snapshot character study it seemed. I really loved the point of view writing style - The rapidfire descriptions, impressions and thoughts from the Edie were highly entertaining, but did not always lend itself to the best story development. In the end it was like a long short story without a truly fleshed out and memorable story. It is definitely worth the read and I recommend it. I also thought there could be more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Abortion, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, and Toxic relationship
pastelwriter's review
reflective
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
5.0
I really loved this book! The writing style of it was perfection to me. I definitely think everyone should pick this up as an audiobook because I think the narrator does an excellent job of bringing Edie to life.
My favorite thing about this book is how self-aware Edie is. Edie knows why she does the things she does. She understands the problems in certain decisions she chooses to make.
Edie also openly talks about the emotional labor women put into trying to make a relationship “work”—especially in the case when dating men. This whole balancing act of trying not to be too critical but also not too complacent. She fully understands that she craves male attention and affirmation despite not really needing it to be her own person. She also addresses the exhaustion of having to educate others when she’s dating and vehemently not wanting to do that.
In terms of character dynamics, though, my favorite interactions in this novel were between Edie and Rebecca, and Edie and Akila. With Rebecca, there was just so much rich tension between the two of them that I found myself looking forward to when they would be in the same space together. In terms of her relationship with Akila, I love how both of them are somewhat skittish because they don’t want to exclusively bond over the fact that they are both a young black woman and a black girl living in a predominantly white community. And yet. The two of them end up forming this sweet relationship—a kind of mentor-mentee thing that was also its own delight to read.
All in all, there’s so much more I could say about this book. It’s genuinely the type of book I wish I had read for class because it would make for such rich classroom discussion. Regardless, I see how clever this book is, and I really appreciate it.
P.S. I purposefully did not talk about Eric (is that even his name?) because I really did not care about that boring white man and his mid-life crisis.
My favorite thing about this book is how self-aware Edie is. Edie knows why she does the things she does. She understands the problems in certain decisions she chooses to make.
Edie also openly talks about the emotional labor women put into trying to make a relationship “work”—especially in the case when dating men. This whole balancing act of trying not to be too critical but also not too complacent. She fully understands that she craves male attention and affirmation despite not really needing it to be her own person. She also addresses the exhaustion of having to educate others when she’s dating and vehemently not wanting to do that.
In terms of character dynamics, though, my favorite interactions in this novel were between Edie and Rebecca, and Edie and Akila. With Rebecca, there was just so much rich tension between the two of them that I found myself looking forward to when they would be in the same space together. In terms of her relationship with Akila, I love how both of them are somewhat skittish because they don’t want to exclusively bond over the fact that they are both a young black woman and a black girl living in a predominantly white community. And yet. The two of them end up forming this sweet relationship—a kind of mentor-mentee thing that was also its own delight to read.
All in all, there’s so much more I could say about this book. It’s genuinely the type of book I wish I had read for class because it would make for such rich classroom discussion. Regardless, I see how clever this book is, and I really appreciate it.
P.S. I purposefully did not talk about Eric (is that even his name?) because I really did not care about that boring white man and his mid-life crisis.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Police brutality
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Domestic abuse
There are a couple of instances where men publicly exposing their genitalia and masturbating are mentioned.cheye13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a beautifully crafted novel. Every element – stynax, diction, plotline, pacing – is perfect and wholly of the piece itself. Which is why it's practically painful to admit that I didn't like it as much as I wanted to. My disappointments can be entirely contributed to my incorrect expectations. It was much darker, heavier, more melancholy than I was necessarily in the mood for or like to read in general.
My critiques, if implimented, would have ruined the book. There was no thread of whimsy to brighten it, which was intentional. The story didn't really kick off until the mid-point, but the depth of the opening was integral. I preferred reading about Rebecca and Akila and wished Eric were less present, but there would be no Rebecca or Akila in Edie's life without Eric.
This novel portrays the tragedy of Edie's reality in the most beautiful way possible, but the portrayal is too faithful to reality for me.
My critiques, if implimented, would have ruined the book. There was no thread of whimsy to brighten it, which was intentional. The story didn't really kick off until the mid-point, but the depth of the opening was integral. I preferred reading about Rebecca and Akila and wished Eric were less present, but there would be no Rebecca or Akila in Edie's life without Eric.
This novel portrays the tragedy of Edie's reality in the most beautiful way possible, but the portrayal is too faithful to reality for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Abortion, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Infertility, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, and Suicide
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Car accident, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Rape, and Vomit
capote65's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, and Racism
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infertility, Drug use, Violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Animal death and Suicidal thoughts
More...