Reviews with content warning for Racism - Jaded

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

liadh's review

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challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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joannaruthfreeman's review

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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

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bettinab's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

What an astonishing novel. This is a heartbreaking, multi-layered, complex and at times hard to read book that covers a lot of major issues. The author wastes no time throwing us into it all and writes with incredible maturity, finesse and sensitivity. This is a story about questions of identity and how we can suddenly lose everything we thought we were, without knowing who we want or actually can be. It deals with the traumatic, far-reaching aftermath of assault. It deals with power, privilege, subtle and not so subtle racism and widespread institutionalized misogyny. That may seem like a lot and in a way is - but Lee is exceptional at weaving all of it together. The characters are well developed and beautifully complicated yet relatable.

Throughout the book, I was horrified, sad, not the least bit surprised with most of what Jade experienced, a little shook and above all, it all made me think and reflect. There's also a little humor in it, most notably the DEI initiative that - as someone too familiar with that kind of corporate nonsense - made me laugh out loud.

Ela Lee is superbly talented, has written a fantastic debut and one can only hope to read more from her.

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brewdy_reader's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 • 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘧𝘪𝘤 • 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭
𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘨𝘺𝘯𝘺 • 𝘓𝘎𝘉𝘛 𝘙𝘦𝘱 • 𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘙𝘦𝘱
𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 19 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 2024

This book hit home for me on many levels b/c of the parallels to my own life. 😭🥺

It read so much like a memoir that I had to make sure it was fictional. Ceyda (goes by Jade) Kada is a first-generation London-based daughter of immigrants. By all measures a success story: she’s smart, independent, ethnically half Turkish (dad’s side) and half Korean (mum’s side), a high powered lawyer embodying the “work hard, play hard” motto after graduating from a top tier Uni.

Uni is where she met Kit, with whom she’s been in a long-term committed relationship the last 7 years. He comes from old money, the generational wealth side of the tracks, but he loves her for her independence, brains, and because she’s different. Climbing the metaphorical corporate ladder, all’s going well until a drunken evening at a company party gone wrong.

Through flashbacks and memories unsealing, this was a fast read that covered some deep and important topics. Belonging. Glass ceilings and double standards for women and underrepresented groups. Diversity and Equity for show. System racism and micro-aggressions. Immigrant persecution and cultural differences. Shame and blame. Classism. And of course food. And also, unconditional love and besties who build each other up.

Jade’s dad reminded me so much of mine. Usually happy go lucky, unassuming. He who always believed in me. And my mom, who shows her love through food and acts of service more than words. I’m the only daughter of biracial immigrant parents. Jade’s story is my story. 🫶🏽

Please check trigger warnings: Rape, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual Assault

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰 @SimonBooks 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 #𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺!

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marissanbullis's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

4.25

first half was decent (4 stars) the second half makes it all worth it (would rate this half 5 stars) crying, screaming, throwing up. recommending this to everyone i know

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ar1's review

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emotional inspiring 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? No

5.0

Incredibly thought-provoking, engaging, and important

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of_fantasy_and_fibre's review against another edition

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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

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