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jourdanicus's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
While not a perfect five-star read for me, this book still touched on a lot of my "catnip" topics and I really enjoyed it.
Maddie as a character is naive in a way that toed the line of believability for me sometimes, esp cially for a gen Z/millennial with the lived experience of being Black in a colonial country. However, the way the themes of racism, misogyny, and sexuality were included is perfect for readers who might be newer to those topics and interested in diversifying their reading.
I did find Maddie relatable in a lot of ways too. The characters and the story were sweet without being saccharine. The plot was a little slow to build, but the second half/third was worth it.
For better or worse, the real life experiences of the author really came through in the story, and I think this book is a well-executed answer to the prompt of "write what you know."
Maddie as a character is naive in a way that toed the line of believability for me sometimes, esp cially for a gen Z/millennial with the lived experience of being Black in a colonial country. However, the way the themes of racism, misogyny, and sexuality were included is perfect for readers who might be newer to those topics and interested in diversifying their reading.
I did find Maddie relatable in a lot of ways too. The characters and the story were sweet without being saccharine. The plot was a little slow to build, but the second half/third was worth it.
For better or worse, the real life experiences of the author really came through in the story, and I think this book is a well-executed answer to the prompt of "write what you know."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Dementia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Minor: Medical content, Misogyny, Suicide, Drug use, Racism, Alcohol, Biphobia, and Eating disorder
nanirump's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Medical content, Sexual content, Drug use, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, Misogyny, Chronic illness, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
wellreadmegs's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was a beautiful and real coming-of-age story about grief. Maddie is so new at discovering herself and it's lovely to see things from her perspective. There's something so innocent about it all. But I also feel for her and how hard this world must be to navigate by yourself - without the help of friends or family.
I read & listened along to the audiobook which were both great. Short chapters helped me get through the book quickly & especially enjoyed the Google searches Maddie had throughout the book. I thought the author did a really great job of tackling a lot of tough subjects and navigating them as a 25-year-old. Your 20s are messy & going through traumatic experiences doesn't help that.
I absolutely HATED Maddie's mom. There was one chapter the author tried to redeem her and I have empathy but overall I don't think she changed much.
I read & listened along to the audiobook which were both great. Short chapters helped me get through the book quickly & especially enjoyed the Google searches Maddie had throughout the book. I thought the author did a really great job of tackling a lot of tough subjects and navigating them as a 25-year-old. Your 20s are messy & going through traumatic experiences doesn't help that.
I absolutely HATED Maddie's mom. There was one chapter the author tried to redeem her and I have empathy but overall I don't think she changed much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Minor: Suicide
theliteraryloot's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Racism, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content
alybarnett02's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
See trigger warnings! The “Tragedy strikes” was really heavy for me. But so so good, I cried and reflected on my own similar experience. And how those hard things we go through shapes us. Shows such personal growth. I could definitely relate to Maddie when I was that age. Being in London as a black woman, along with her challenges in dating white men. Whew!! Say it for the people in the back! Such good topics!
This was hard to read after Maddie’s dad died. Mostly the process of her grief, and talking to him at her nightly prayer. Wow. I cried. I lost my mother in law and slowly coming on her birthday while reading this. I felt Maddie’s pain. Most people around that age don’t understand what it’s like. But, everything from her talking to her dad, knowing he isn’t in pain, and can be free was so beautiful. And so true for all of our loved ones. It was the reminder I needed. And ending that part with her dad responding? My heart yall. Whatever your religion is, it’s insane, and it might not seem real. But your loved ones can tell you, “its okay”.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Abandonment
evawhite's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content and Racism
Minor: Suicide and Terminal illness
lottiebrooks's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“I’m sure there was a time when I was happy,” I say to the boiling pot of pasta. “But how do you measure that? How do you know if you’re genuinely happy or if you’re just mostly all right with sprinkles of laughter and occasional shit storms of sadness? Maybe I’ve only ever been all right.”
This one got me in my feels ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content and Racism
melodyseestrees's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
This book catches each and every bitter, poignant moment. There is a lot of guilt on Maddie's shoulders and familial rooted pain. She is the oldest daughter and also a younger sibling so much of the care work for her father falls on her alone, besides the relief worker they have come by occasionally.
The realistic way her grief flows and changes her was refreshing and emotional for the reader. There is a line referencing that how she is now is her normal after her father's passing and it is something that can't just change without hard, intentional self work.
The distance from the other characters makes them feel way more one dimensional but this may be intentional to reflect the distance Maddie has put or maintained between herself and most of the other people in her life. We, as readers, don't get to know much about any of the other characters because Maddie doesn't really know them. This is revealed within the funeral preparations when she is struggling to type up the eulogy.
For me the hardest hitting aspects were the impulse to support everyone else regardless of how the self is doing, the guilt over family connection, the hurt over feeling stuck having to support everyone else, and the isolation one in that situation learns to be okay with- even though it may not be their preferred state otherwise.
The realistic way her grief flows and changes her was refreshing and emotional for the reader. There is a line referencing that how she is now is her normal after her father's passing and it is something that can't just change without hard, intentional self work.
The distance from the other characters makes them feel way more one dimensional but this may be intentional to reflect the distance Maddie has put or maintained between herself and most of the other people in her life. We, as readers, don't get to know much about any of the other characters because Maddie doesn't really know them. This is revealed within the funeral preparations when she is struggling to type up the eulogy.
For me the hardest hitting aspects were the impulse to support everyone else regardless of how the self is doing, the guilt over family connection, the hurt over feeling stuck having to support everyone else, and the isolation one in that situation learns to be okay with- even though it may not be their preferred state otherwise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide
awhitson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
hjb_128's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief, Racism, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Drug use, Eating disorder, and Alcohol