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preciouslittleingenue's review against another edition
4.75
Her way of crafting her real life into almost a mythological tale, like La Llorona (who she mentions) is so fascinating and effective.
“My brother and I, we were the same: part monster, part mouse.” So incredibly demonstrative of how people who do horrible things are often cowards, and also shows the empathy Diaz has for even the people who hurt her the most.
Regarding the woman terrorist who attacked as a radical form of protesting for Puerto Rican liberty:
“mentions…anything related to who she was or what she did. Instead, the headline mentions her fucking. Red. Lipstick.” Yup. That sounds about right. Obviously not that this woman was “in the right,” and I don’t think Jaquira thinks that either. But because it was a woman…all they see is the red lipstick. My rage FLARED when I heard that line.
“…slowly, slowly, love you back to life.” What a beautiful sentiment. I absolutely know what she means.
Not to mention all the bi panic that was so enlightening to hear, her insight on racism/colorism, the way she touched upon the strange nuance of queerness in the military/navy…just so much good stuff. So very glad this was Sapphlit’s September book. Cannot wait to read her novel in progress.
Graphic: Rape, Drug abuse, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Drug use, and Alcohol
Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs
earthtokb's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying
lidiaaa222's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Death, Child abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Lesbophobia, Drug abuse, Cursing, Transphobia, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Vomit, Racial slurs, Blood, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Racism, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Homophobia, Classism, Grief, Outing, Bullying, and Infidelity
abbie_'s review
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Colonisation, Vomit, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Drug abuse, Racism, and Suicide attempt
indiarose8's review
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Bullying, Colonisation, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, and Toxic relationship
whatannikareads's review
4.5
although jaquira isn't 70 or 80 years old, her life up to this point is heavy, and she has a whole lotta stories in her arsenal. you are completely sucked into all of the characters and their stories, as well as jaquira's journey navigating her own struggles with addiction, abusive parents, etc. it's a raw and blunt telling of what it's like living in puerto rico and miami primarily during the 80s and 90s, and how history has multiple ways of affecting the intricacies of our own lives: from concepts as broad as colonialism and slavery to specific ones as bloodlines and living environments. a really captivating read that makes you want to read more.
my only critique is that she has a tendency to jump back and forth between timelines; she'll foreshadow relationships with a specific person, for example, and it happens often, so i found myself being confused at what age of hers we're at. one chapter we'll be at age 18 at this point with a person, and then we'll go back to 14 and i'll have to remember where the relationship with said person was at at the time. it jumbled up my experience a bit reading it.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence
lostinanovelidea's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Physical abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, and Infidelity