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bluleys's review
dark
emotional
tense
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? Yes
4.0
sagicarrius's review against another edition
One of my reading goals for 2024 was to branch outside my usual genres and try something new. I think that, for a moment, I wanted to feel more like the learned girlies, the educated girlies. But now, after this first experience, I'm left feeling weirdly disoriented. This was so far out of my comfort zone and the first half of the book I really was feeling so uncomfortable. This is a culture I'm not familiar with, slang I'm not familiar with, social issues I'm not familiar with. Honestly, for a bit, it put me in a bit of a slump when it came to reading because I just felt so uncomfortable.
This is why I don't want to give a rating to this book, I don't feel I'm the right audience to be able to rate this book. This book and the subject it covers is profound, it's deep, and it's not something I'm used to dealing with. But it is beautiful in moments, painful in others, poetic in certain paragraphs, and honestly brutal in the next sentence. At the end of the book, I felt broken up and empty of any emotion because I had cried it all out.
This is why I don't want to give a rating to this book, I don't feel I'm the right audience to be able to rate this book. This book and the subject it covers is profound, it's deep, and it's not something I'm used to dealing with. But it is beautiful in moments, painful in others, poetic in certain paragraphs, and honestly brutal in the next sentence. At the end of the book, I felt broken up and empty of any emotion because I had cried it all out.
moh's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
Akwaeke Emezi's writing is always so stunning and beautiful.
Akwaeke Emezi's writing is always so stunning and beautiful.
amandaatkinson06's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
3.75
natfindingjoy's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? No
5.0
Akwaeke writes of deep love. Love that transcends identity and relationship and all definitions.
It is not shallow. It is not dependent on other people’s beliefs and perceptions. It’s shameless on all levels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia
Moderate: Incest
karanarberes's review against another edition
3.5
such a great exploration of grief, like kavita's storyline was devastating. i think that vivek and osita being cousins did make it a little weird but i guess they can't have children so?? following vivek's journey learning himself and getting comfortable sharing that with others was beautiful. the found family vibe with the girls was so heartwarming. i teared up for sure. but like wtf osita being the reason she died as she was finally coming into her own was so fucked, and because he was so terrified that someone else would harm her 😭
gabradl's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
nickynickynicky's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes