Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Luster by Raven Leilani

77 reviews

taylorsevalia's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Racism, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide, Gun violence, Sexual content, Grief, Racial slurs, Medical content, and Stalking

hbocking's review

dark funny 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

3.25

I think to myself, You are a desirable woman. You are not a dozen gerbils in a skin casing.

It’s giving Conversations with Friends, but with a main character with a sense of humor instead of privilege and pretension.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Racial slurs, Miscarriage, and Racism

Moderate: Abortion, Pregnancy, and Suicide

alisonfaith426's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Addiction, Infidelity, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Body horror, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Medical content

Moderate: Abortion, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Car accident and Animal death

geesammy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Captivating, like watching a fatal car crash in slow motion.  Spare and sharp.  Some brilliantly written lines.  Not enjoyable through as the subject matter is rough.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Abortion, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexism, Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Eating disorder

heather_harrison'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

3.75

Would recommend for fans of Sally Rooney. Coming of age story that explores gender, relationships, race, identity and mental health. The characters may not be likeable but they’re compelling and complex. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Mental illness

Moderate: Miscarriage, Death of parent, Abortion, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Self harm

ahopper7's review

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

The book wasn’t working for me, but once I switched to the audiobook, I was able to get into the story more. The characters are not likeable, but I gather that was on purpose. The story is dark, but the way the author handled how trauma shows up in our lives and vulnerability of discovering yourself including your worth was beautiful. Overall, the book just wasn’t for me, but I appreciate what the author was doing with the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Abortion, Blood, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Police brutality, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy

Minor: Death of parent and Suicidal thoughts

booksbeyondthebinary's review

challenging emotional sad slow-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 story features Edie, a young black woman who meets Eric, a man who says he is in an open marriage, navigating his wife and their adopted daughters presence. 

It’s a realistic look at everyday relationships, the ways in which we pick and choose what we want to show to others and what we prefer to keep hidden for ourselves. It’s also an interesting story about how our upbringing shapes us and shapes the way we view those around us, evidenced by the ways we interact, write people off, and develop preconceived notions. 

It’s an incredibly human story. Edie is, for me, a relatable character. It’s a story of survival, trying to fulfill our most basic needs, and figuring out where we belong.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pregnancy, Violence, Abortion, and Police brutality

sabmanosa's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I enjoyed this book at the start, then found it tedious, then enjoyed it again. It feels like an extremely personal diary, and the writing is sardonic, dirty, and too honest. I didn’t much care for any of the characters except Akila. 

The power and sex dynamics made me very uncomfortable, and I don’t know if the plot had a point, but not necessarily in a bad way. I didn’t learn anything from it, I just experienced the book. I’m interested in reading some of her shorter works, because I feel like I would enjoy them more with her writing style. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Abortion and Pregnancy

megmahoney1's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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

The writing in this book is stunning and immersive . This was a fascinating exploration of identity, race, sexuality, family and artistry. Raven Leilani weaves life between the pages of this book and I feel like I’m truly reading to our protagonists thoughts. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Racial slurs

Minor: Racism, Car accident, Cursing, Self harm, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Drug use

vrcreads's review

dark emotional sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Racism, Grief, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicide, Blood, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Police brutality, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Death of parent, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Drug use, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit