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annabellely's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
i have never struggled so hard to read a book but this was very difficult to get through. it was objectively good id say– maybe i'm just in a reading slump! chapters were way too long for my liking though. did enjoy the diversity of characters
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Self harm
Minor: Alcohol
sapphicreaderlucy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
4.0
This book was a true pleasure to read. It touched on so many great topics like mental health (specifically for Black people in STEM fields), burnout, and trying to meet parent's expectations. I went into this expecting a love story, which I definitely got. However this book was more a story about a women dealing with a mental health crisis and burnout. I loved the story however even though it didn't have as much romance as I expected, and felt the insight to her experience as a Black woman in STEM was super cool to read about. I also loved the different settings in this book, the orange groves were just so beautiful to read about and I loved the scenes where she described what the grove was like. I also really enjoyed the lesbian representation in this book and thought it was done really really well. Yuki and Grace's relationship seemed realistic. However, something that was part of why I knocked it a star was that the constant metaphors about space and lost creatures and sirens seemed a little bit too many for my taste. It just felt a little bit too corny for me to buy into completely. I also wish we got more build up of Yuki and Grace. It seemed like the story was a slow burn then complete love all at once. I wish we had more date scenes like the one in the astronomy museum, but I also understand that there was a lot of other plot stuff going on in the book that filled that space. This book was inspiring by the end and I would totally recommend it to anyone who is looking to educate themselves about a queer Black woman struggling with mental health.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Self harm
Minor: Racism
i_readsandbujos's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Racism
Moderate: Mental illness and Self harm
matheo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Misogyny, Sexual content, Transphobia, Xenophobia, and War
lhodgson26's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.0
I loved this book as it encapsulated so many important aspects I such a beautiful way. I loved Grace's character and all of the characters who had to figure out what she wanted and with the help of friends and family got on the path she needed to be. No one is and can be perfect we just need to be enough for ourselves and no one else. The power of friendship and love is so beautifully presented as well as mental illness and the issues of not enough black women in positions of power especially within academia. The book highlights how far there is still to go but celebrates all life. It discusses the harsh realities of not really knowing what to do in your twenties and how difficult it can be to reach a destination which you've worked so hard for but not know where to go from there. I liked the spontaneity of the marriage and even though it was a good love story the book was more about discovering yourself and who you really are and most importantly who you want to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
onlyonebookshelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Racism and Self harm
abergw's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
buttermellow's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Homophobia and Mental illness
jenmcreads's review against another edition
emotional
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 loved this book. I will say, I am glad I was forewarned that this is not a rom-com. I think it was somewhat marketed that way, and the initial premise of waking up married to a stranger in Vegas sounds like the start of a rom-com. There is romance in this book, but more than anything it is a book about burnout and mental health, barriers in academia (for Black women specifically in the case of the protagonist), and defining your own life goals rather than allowing them to be set by outside pressure and prestige.
Grace is a well-written protagonist, and I found I continued to root for her even at times she was lashing out or allowing herself to implode or making what might be seen as questionable decisions. The tensions she felt within herself were clear throughout - should she placate her overbearing and ambitious father, or should she live a life she can enjoy? Does she want to push for prestige and success in her chosen field, or does she want to prioritize happiness? How much of life should be eaten up by work and achievement? I think these struggles are extremely relatable, particularly as the millennial generation grapples with the economic fallout of the pandemic. Morgan Rogers wrote these struggles with understanding and sensitivity, and did not shy away from the occasional darkness of mental health struggles.
I loved Yuki, Grace's wife as well. In particular, Yuki's presence brought the metaphors around monsters and lonely creatures which I thought were woven in beautifully to the text. The found family in this book, both Yuki's roommates and Grace's friends in Portland were beautifully supportive and flawed humans.
This book is sticking with me, having finished it a little while ago. It touched and moved me and I will look forward to reading more by Morgan Rogers.
Grace is a well-written protagonist, and I found I continued to root for her even at times she was lashing out or allowing herself to implode or making what might be seen as questionable decisions. The tensions she felt within herself were clear throughout - should she placate her overbearing and ambitious father, or should she live a life she can enjoy? Does she want to push for prestige and success in her chosen field, or does she want to prioritize happiness? How much of life should be eaten up by work and achievement? I think these struggles are extremely relatable, particularly as the millennial generation grapples with the economic fallout of the pandemic. Morgan Rogers wrote these struggles with understanding and sensitivity, and did not shy away from the occasional darkness of mental health struggles.
I loved Yuki, Grace's wife as well. In particular, Yuki's presence brought the metaphors around monsters and lonely creatures which I thought were woven in beautifully to the text. The found family in this book, both Yuki's roommates and Grace's friends in Portland were beautifully supportive and flawed humans.
This book is sticking with me, having finished it a little while ago. It touched and moved me and I will look forward to reading more by Morgan Rogers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Racism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Alcohol
mayab34677's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness