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breanneporter's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5
This was hard to read but extremely compelling. I’m between a 4/4.5 but I’m rounding up because of how much I thought about this novel in between reading sessions, and how quickly I finished it. It follows Ceyda, the successful lawyer daughter of Korean and Turkish immigrant parents, in thr weeks and months after she was SA’d by a coworker at her prestigious law firm. It focuses a lot on the relationship between her and her long term (white, wealthy) boyfriend, Kit, as they struggle to communicate and move forward together after Jade’s trauma, and how this event brings several red flags to the surface. It also describes in detail her mental health challenges and the professional repercussions she faces in the aftermath.
The subject matter is difficult to stomach, and the author does not shy away from describing the body trauma, but I think it’s a really excellent examination of how this kind of violent assault can have far-reaching effects beyond physical pain, and really paints a picture of the types of mental and emotional (and relational and professional) issues that survivors face. The novel is also a searing commentary on the prevailing impact that race and misogyny has when it comes to who is protected and who is punished, and how even “nice, feminist guys” are often (willfully) oblivious to how they can benefit from or simply ignore actions that cause harm to women, and especially to women of color. Very impressed by this debut and will look out for more from this author.
The subject matter is difficult to stomach, and the author does not shy away from describing the body trauma, but I think it’s a really excellent examination of how this kind of violent assault can have far-reaching effects beyond physical pain, and really paints a picture of the types of mental and emotional (and relational and professional) issues that survivors face. The novel is also a searing commentary on the prevailing impact that race and misogyny has when it comes to who is protected and who is punished, and how even “nice, feminist guys” are often (willfully) oblivious to how they can benefit from or simply ignore actions that cause harm to women, and especially to women of color. Very impressed by this debut and will look out for more from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Alcohol, Racism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Domestic abuse
of_fantasy_and_fibre's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I went into this book expecting a novel about how a 20 something's world is rocked in relation to her world views via a firing or a second hand experience, I was not prepared.
The event which happens to Jade takes her life as collateral damage. The story is told via flashback in parts to set up this relationship and how it has defined current Jade. There are no punches pulled and issues discussed in this are talked about quite frankly but it were never over the top or forceful. There was one character who I felt was a red flag in human form. Jade has created what she sees as a safety net and so she scrabbles to figure out how to survive as the threads of a life she has carefully woven starts unravelling. I really loved the exploration of her experience as a third generation kid and how she was a minority of a minority in not just her field but her firm. I was gripped and listened for hours on end. This is a strong debut and I look forward to this authors next novel
The event which happens to Jade takes her life as collateral damage. The story is told via flashback in parts to set up this relationship and how it has defined current Jade. There are no punches pulled and issues discussed in this are talked about quite frankly but it were never over the top or forceful. There was one character who I felt was a red flag in human form. Jade has created what she sees as a safety net and so she scrabbles to figure out how to survive as the threads of a life she has carefully woven starts unravelling. I really loved the exploration of her experience as a third generation kid and how she was a minority of a minority in not just her field but her firm. I was gripped and listened for hours on end. This is a strong debut and I look forward to this authors next novel
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, and Racial slurs
Minor: Eating disorder and Religious bigotry
bookreviewswithkb's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
thank you to @simonbooks for the early copy! Jaded is publishing in the u.s. on March 19th, 2024
“i lost time, frustrated that she [mom] didn’t overcome all of her traumas, rather than marveling at her strength of overcoming some of them.”
okay i’m worried i’m going to sound heartless for how my thoughts are coming together on this one but here we go. this book felt like a light breezy read that was about very serious and emotional topics. what i mean is that i read this quickly, i was drawn into the storyline, but it wasn’t filled with depth in the way it was written. that’s not a criticism i’m just trying to explain. i don’t normally like lighter (in writing style, not content) reads filled with plot and dialogue, but this was really good
it’s intelligent and thought-provoking. it’s an exploration of culture and identity, of how we sometimes take for granted the ways our families love us because we want them to love us differently, not understanding our families are doing the best they can with what they have. it’s about relationships between people of different races and ethnicities, virtue signaling and tokenism. and of course it’s about rape and the impact of coming to accept that it occurred
definitely recommend this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
Minor: Domestic abuse
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