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joannaruthfreeman's review
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Racism
bettinab's review
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Classism, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Racism
brewdy_reader's review against another edition
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
๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ข๐ณ๐บ โข ๐๐ช๐ต๐ง๐ช๐ค โข ๐๐ช๐ณ๐ข๐ค๐ช๐ข๐ญ
๐๐ช๐ด๐ฐ๐จ๐บ๐ฏ๐บ โข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฑ โข ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ช๐จ๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต ๐๐ฆ๐ฑ
๐๐ถ๐ฃ๐ญ๐ช๐ด๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฅ 19 ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ค๐ฉ 2024
This book hit home for me on many levels b/c of the parallels to my own life. ๐ญ๐ฅบ
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: sheโs smart, independent, ethnically half Turkish (dadโs side) and half Korean (mumโs side), a high powered lawyer embodying the โwork hard, play hardโ motto after graduating from a top tier Uni.
Uni is where she met Kit, with whom sheโs 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 sheโs different. Climbing the metaphorical corporate ladder, allโs 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.
Jadeโs 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. Iโm the only daughter of biracial immigrant parents. Jadeโs story is my story. ๐ซถ๐ฝ
Please check trigger warnings: Rape, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual Assault
๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ด๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ต๐ฐ @SimonBooks ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ #๐จ๐ช๐ง๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฑ๐บ!
๐๐ช๐ด๐ฐ๐จ๐บ๐ฏ๐บ โข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฑ โข ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ช๐จ๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต ๐๐ฆ๐ฑ
๐๐ถ๐ฃ๐ญ๐ช๐ด๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฅ 19 ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ค๐ฉ 2024
This book hit home for me on many levels b/c of the parallels to my own life. ๐ญ๐ฅบ
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: sheโs smart, independent, ethnically half Turkish (dadโs side) and half Korean (mumโs side), a high powered lawyer embodying the โwork hard, play hardโ motto after graduating from a top tier Uni.
Uni is where she met Kit, with whom sheโs 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 sheโs different. Climbing the metaphorical corporate ladder, allโs 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.
Jadeโs 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. Iโm the only daughter of biracial immigrant parents. Jadeโs story is my story. ๐ซถ๐ฝ
Please check trigger warnings: Rape, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual Assault
๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ด๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ต๐ฐ @SimonBooks ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ #๐จ๐ช๐ง๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฑ๐บ!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Racism, and Classism
marissanbullis's review
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Rape, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, Classism, and Panic attacks/disorders
ar1's review
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racism
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
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Racism, Misogyny, and Sexism
heatherfielding's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
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
โi lost time, frustrated that she [mom] didnโt overcome all of her traumas, rather than marveling at her strength of overcoming some of them.โ
okay iโm worried iโm 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 wasnโt filled with depth in the way it was written. thatโs not a criticism iโm just trying to explain. i donโt normally like lighter (in writing style, not content) reads filled with plot and dialogue, but this was really good
itโs intelligent and thought-provoking. itโs 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. itโs about relationships between people of different races and ethnicities, virtue signaling and tokenism. and of course itโs 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