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brittanyisbooked's review
informative
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
4.25
I loved that the book centered around Rukhsana's identity as a lesbian in the Bengali community. I felt like the book was authentic in the reactions from her elders. I also enjoyed that many of them had a backstory that helped explain why they were acting the way they were. I was not expecting the ending at all, and I think the lead up to that ending was a large part of why I kept reading. I really did not want to put this one down! It was so well written, and such an important look at another culture.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
turtlebrainlibrarian's review
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Rape, and Sexism
tintinmd's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I was in a dark place when I started this book. It was a beautiful journey, and helped me channel many feelings. It gave me hope and a very important affirmation that the life that you deserve to live the life you want to live. It's worth fighting for. And your story deserves to be heard as much as anyone else's.
The writing felt a little choppy in the beginning but I loved the story!
The writing felt a little choppy in the beginning but I loved the story!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Rape
Moderate: Death, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexism, and Stalking
Minor: Islamophobia, Violence, and Vomit
abigailwantstoread_01's review
challenging
dark
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Child abuse, Rape, Racism, Hate crime, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexism, and Incest
rhaase0509's review
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was a little young for me, as the characters are in high school. It is difficult at times to read the choices they are making when a better alternative seems obvious. However, this is a book about teenagers, and teenagers do not always make good decisions. At one point the main character reads a diary including some intense subject matter that I did not feel like the book did enough to address. The abuse detailed in the diary seemed to be glossed over in favour of the main character's personal development. I do not think such subjects should be handled so lightly.
Overall, the story was interesting and I enjoyed learning more about Islamic and Bengali culture.
Overall, the story was interesting and I enjoyed learning more about Islamic and Bengali culture.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gaslighting, Hate crime, and Homophobia
Moderate: Death, Islamophobia, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual assault
postal_kat's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexism
krilves's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Overall I liked it. I had issues with the writing, and particularly the dialogue which felt very scripted and unnatural. Not only in the sense "no real teenager speaks like this" but in the way dialogue sometimes feels scripted on reality tv because participants have been asked to say specific lines they never normally would. It was very difficult to ignore and made the whole book feel a bit...forced.
Aside from that it was engaging and interesting, if very dark at times - Rukhsana faces violent homophobia from her parents when they discover she's a lesbian, with abusive treatment following and a forced arranged marriage. There is a happy ending (and no forced marriage), but only after the marriage plot takes a tragic turn. I was honestly shocked at that part, but learning in the acknowledgements that this was a nod to real events that took place less than 5 years ago, was sobering. I think it's an important book, not just for queer teens but their families too. I just wish the writing had been smoother - I think that would've elevated this from "I liked it" to "I LOVED it". As it is I'm just mildly disappointed the writing bogged down an otherwise good book.
Aside from that it was engaging and interesting, if very dark at times - Rukhsana faces violent homophobia from her parents when they discover she's a lesbian, with abusive treatment following and a forced arranged marriage. There is a happy ending (and no forced marriage), but only after the marriage plot takes a tragic turn. I was honestly shocked at that part, but learning in the acknowledgements that this was a nod to real events that took place less than 5 years ago, was sobering. I think it's an important book, not just for queer teens but their families too. I just wish the writing had been smoother - I think that would've elevated this from "I liked it" to "I LOVED it". As it is I'm just mildly disappointed the writing bogged down an otherwise good book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Confinement
Moderate: Violence and Death
mariekev's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Hate crime
ldandridge's review
emotional
funny
tense
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? It's complicated
4.25
Great characters, wide range of emotions, and excellent depiction of family dynamics and the pull that American children of immigrants often feel (I see it frequently among my high school students). I especially liked the relationships Rukhsana had with her cousin as well as with her younger brother. It's also always fun for me to read books that take place (partially, in this case) in Seattle. My one gripe is that the audiobook reader would say "u double u" instead of the regionally accepted "udub" when referencing UW.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Death and Child abuse
Minor: Alcohol
Lots of references to arranged marriages and in general the parents of the protagonist are very controlling and react very poorly to finding out their daughter is a lesbian. But that's the whole point of the book (bridgetdeveney's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Hate crime, Death, Murder, Child abuse, and Rape