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stories's review
emotional
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Abortion
Minor: Alcoholism, Car accident, Medical content, Physical abuse, Ableism, Abortion, Drug use, and Pregnancy
utopiastateofmind's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Turning is emotional from start to finish. Genie's story is full of anger, resentment, grief, and joy. Her story is one that begins with still reeling from her accident. From her entire relationship to her body, herself, and her future changing. Turning is about lashing out and making mistakes, about saying things out of pain you know will hurt because of how deeply you are hurting. Smith does not shy away from Genie's rage and pain. At the same time, Smith celebrates Genie's search for agency and evaluation of her future.
Turning is is very much a story about Genie (re)evaluating her family, both the ones who stick by you and the ones who leave. It's also about toxic relationships and how we can be tempted to fall back into patterns. Breaking away from what we know, to (re)creating dreams, is a scary process. It's one that takes a lot of work and soul searching to change. About how we see these patterns of love, of family, and how these experiences can shape us - whether we like it or not.
Turning is emotional from start to finish. Genie's story is full of anger, resentment, grief, and joy. Her story is one that begins with still reeling from her accident. From her entire relationship to her body, herself, and her future changing. Turning is about lashing out and making mistakes, about saying things out of pain you know will hurt because of how deeply you are hurting. Smith does not shy away from Genie's rage and pain. At the same time, Smith celebrates Genie's search for agency and evaluation of her future.
Turning is is very much a story about Genie (re)evaluating her family, both the ones who stick by you and the ones who leave. It's also about toxic relationships and how we can be tempted to fall back into patterns. Breaking away from what we know, to (re)creating dreams, is a scary process. It's one that takes a lot of work and soul searching to change. About how we see these patterns of love, of family, and how these experiences can shape us - whether we like it or not.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Abortion
scrubsandbooks's review
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
4.0
This book was absolutely mesmerizing, I read it in one sitting! Joy L. Smith tackles a whole lot of tough topics in such a beautiful and gut-wrenching manner, including toxic relationships (familial and romantic) and breaking the cycle, alcoholism, abortion, driving under the influence, coping with new disability (the MC is a paraplegic after a terrible accident), grief over a future, racism in performing arts, and casual ableism in society. I didn't expect to cry at all in this book but cry I did, for Genie, for Kyle, for the life they could have had and for the life they struggle to deal with instead. People who are also fans of ballet would love the references made throughout the pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Abortion, Ableism, Racism, and Gaslighting
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