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coziebookclub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Brit Bennett’s work certainly should not go unnoticed. Family values, two generations of love and pain, and each character’s journeys immediately captured a place in my heart. I became very invested with each new chapter introducing another character’s point of view. Every individual battled with identity one way or another and it was very important for Bennett to highlight their struggles with race, colorism, gender, abuse, and growing up. The cultural and historical context provided was also significant in giving the reader a sense of what kind of world these women have to live in and adjust to, especially with the time jumps between each generation and different parts of the book. Normally, I would find time skips and multiple-character POVs too stressful or hard to keep up with, but I felt very connected to each character and had no trouble with the multiple POVs. It was extremely satisfying to see the generations come together and fit like a puzzle as their lives crossed through happenchance. This book will certainly stick with me and is a reminder that you can always give yourself a chance to grow and find yourself no matter how far you are in life.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexism and Hate crime
imaginefishes's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, and Gaslighting
Minor: Dysphoria and Bullying
sighclopss's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.75
This was such an interesting read with compelling characters, my main let down was the ending wasn't enough for me. I could have easily read another 200+ pages! I still have so many unanswered questions! But I understand with this type of philosophical story there can't ever really be a satisfying ending.
I found the topic of colorism/racism and being biracial intriguing. Cultural identity vs ethnic. The theme of 'passing.' It had many confronting themes, some I related too, others that helped further expand my world view.
This was overall a complicated story, I felt like the author did the complexity justice. The writing style flowed easily, and I loved every second of reading it.
Graphic: Dementia, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Classism, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Colonisation, Slavery, Medical content, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Deadnaming
ynaiita_5896's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Bennett beautifully paints a historical fiction that intelligently navigates race, identity, colourism, culture and sexuality with careful nuance — highlighting the varied layers in each of these themes through the eyes of something as ordinary as identical twins. A story written so intricately with elements of thrill, suspense and emotional intensity, that you just can't stop reading.
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Hate crime, Transphobia, and Domestic abuse
alicarty's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Hate crime, and Racial slurs
damiscous's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexual assault, Hate crime, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
20sidedbi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Classism, Racism, Hate crime, Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, and Physical abuse
oliviapincin's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Dementia, Racism, Racial slurs, Hate crime, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Dysphoria, Death, Grief, and Bullying
Minor: Sexual assault
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Chapters could be a little long for my taste but I didn’t always mind it. I was intrigued and captivated by the well-developed, complex characters! I especially enjoyed the switching POVs and spanning across years/decades to follow the twins and the family. There were times I hated characters and other times I sympathized with them.
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Racial slurs, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Dysphoria, Bullying, Grief, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Dementia
jenmtnbike's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Minor: Dementia, Violence, Death of parent, Hate crime, and Racism