Reviews

Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

sraesr's review against another edition

5.0

This is simultaneously the ugliest and the most beautiful story I have ever read. Wow.

andshe_reads's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

Absolutely tragic, and devastating yet stunning at the same time. How is that even possible. I have so many complicated feelings about this book that I'm not sure about. 

I read this as a buddy read with @tillys.top.titles initially I didn't find it gripping enough to want to pick up but I think that could have been due to some of the triggering content. However I persevered and found some parts just made my heart so full. 

Let's face it there is a whole bunch of triggers in this book, child abuse, animal abuse, rape, incest, abortion and suicide are just a few. It was hard to read absolutely devastating in fact. I kind of wish I'd read reviews prior to maybe have been a bit more prepared for this as the scenes really caught me off guard. 

The author weaves a narrative that's puts the reader at the heart of Betty Carpenter and her turbulent life from such a young age. We follow her journey as she battles tragedy and horrors like no other. I absolutely admired Betty as despite all that darkness she managed to find light, strength and hope. 

Honestly not sure what it can say that hasn't already been said. It's a powerful book, haunting yet magical, painful and memorable. 

an_treides's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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

3.5

sunflowertourguide's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

Beautiful 

dibookchronicles's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing 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

5.0

lucymossmason's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.25

allyssawith2ls's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad slow-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

4.75

annarumbles's review against another edition

Too much mention of rape.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

babiebackbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

There is no way to rate such an intimate and personal book. Tiffany McDaniel writes a story based on the life of her mother and her mother's mother. She writes of folklore, women, culture, racism, and family in a way that is so empathetic and kind.

Check the triggers before reading this one. It's heavy.

vondyckav's review against another edition

5.0

I can say with certainty that I will never forget this book. it was simultaneously so incredibly inspiring and uplifting, while so heavy. knowing it is rooted in the story of the authors mother makes it even more so, as imagining one family and one person enduring all of this. but knowing that although betty’s life was so hard in many ways, it was also so full of magic and love is such a beautiful thing. i loved this so much. these are the kinds of stories everyone needs to read, because i know there’s things in here everyone needs to hear.