Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

23 reviews

leahrosereads's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective tense medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What an absolutely phenomenal story!  Xiomara (X) was such fantastically strong character.  She's coming into her own here and being forced to deal with so much.  Her relationship with her mother was one that impacted me particularly hard, even though our mothers were nothing alike.  

This was a beautiful story, and I'm looking forward to reading more by Elizabeth Acevedo in the future!

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lennie_reads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

'and isn't that what a poem is? A lantern glowing in the dark.' 

This book is so powerful and heartbreaking. 

It kind of feels like Pride's refection; set in New York, Black Latinx MC, Latinx community & poetry but where Pride is full of loving families and a celebration of religion & culture, this book displays all the constraints that family, religion and culture can force on people, especially women and the LGBTQIA Community. 

Honestly this book just made me so mad on X's behalf, and I know that's the point but my god! I just wanted to shield her from at least some of the awfulness. Even Twin could've done so much more. And yes, we're all going through our own things and yes they're only teens (I'm not saying I was a perfect sibling because I wasn't and I'm still not - you've gotta keep trying all the time) but surely the kids would form a more united front against their mother's rules?? Idk. 

I loved the book and the ending but it just left me so frustrated and sad and angry at the injustice and unfairness, that's the only reason I haven't given it 5 stars. 

Can someone give Xiomara a f*cking hug already?! 😭

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penofpossibilities's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

4.0


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