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jmopheim's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
lealovesbooks's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Really great collection of essays, and excellent read for any intersectional feminist. My only critique is that it’s more about the author’s experience of growing into adulthood and her sexuality than it was about pop culture. Not a bad thing at all, just not what the synopsis said it was.
literarylaila's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault
katiehicks's review against another edition
3.0
There were some amazing essays in this collection- my favorites were “Softness”, “My Brother the Superhero”, and “HBCUs Taught Me”. I also really related to “Bones, Depression, and Me” and the weird feeling of binge-watching a relatively mindless show while in a depressive episode and how it becomes a bitter-sweet but really important show in your life (mine was The Office).
That being said, I didn’t love the discussions of cheating and her experiences as “the other woman”, because she seems to start by saying that men cheating should not become a contest between women, (which I loved) but then she ends up basically saying she bears no responsibility. I agree that she should not be held responsible for his decisions, and that what he did was arguably worse because he was the one with an obligation which he betrayed, but that does not mean that she didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t love the framing of cheating as “getting what you need, even if it's from unexpected places,” which feels like using sex-positive feminism as an excuse for bad behavior. I appreciated that it was a somewhat nuanced discussion, and I can acknowledge that nothing involving human feelings is ever black and white, but it still felt a little icky to me because I really don’t like cheating. Also, sometimes the way she talks about men felt very objectifying- again, it felt like using the veil of feminism but really just treating people poorly. (then again, I appreciated that she didn’t sugar-coat herself or make herself look better).
shannonreads1's review against another edition
4.0
this book was absolutely astonishing✨ she wrote so beautiful about the struggles of black women, and just women as a whole. How she struggled through her love for sex but her not so passionate views of love, even though she wanted it she couldn’t find the right person to give it to her. this was a perfect portrayal of someone finding who they are in all ways. i was completely floored by this book. I found this book so refreshing and I relate to many many aspects of this book! I felt on many occasion i was reading my own story, but told better. I am so thankful for this book
hsteel's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0