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laurenkimoto's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Classism, Gaslighting, Drug use, Eating disorder, Racism, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Death of parent, Gun violence, Medical content, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Self harm, and Toxic relationship
rebeckareads'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
3.75
Graphic: Sexual violence, Miscarriage, and Police brutality
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Racism, Infidelity, and Eating disorder
somelibrarychick'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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Abortion, Cancer, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Death of parent, Drug use, Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Miscarriage, and Racism
Minor: Suicide and Physical abuse
mair_ad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'd heard recommendations for this book that focused on Edie's involvement in Eric and Rebecca's marriage, on her position as a "mistress" (which is misleading given the marriage is/was open). I think, though, that Edie's involvement with Akila--how Akila knows Edie is her dad's gf and how that affects their relationship, how Eric, Rebecca, and their community each view Black women and think about anti-Black racism, how Edie navigates
I think that sometimes the author pushed the limit of credibility of Edie's actions. There were times when Edie did something and I was just like, what the fuck? Not just because she did something weird, but because it didn't seem in character to me. Also, the body image, disordered eating, Akika-is-counting-calories issues were left where they lay, and I think would have benefitted from _more_. I would also have loved more about Edie's parents, not necessarily because the book needs it but because they were some of my favorite parts. So, so evocative and effective without giving much away. The retelling felt very true to Edie.
I have to say, I don't exactly know why I didn't *love* this book. It was beautifully written and a complex, interesting topic, and I feel like I should love it, but it came off dispassionate and removed, despite the apparent depth of the narrator's emotions.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Drug abuse, Death of parent, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
Minor: Eating disorder, Vomit, Alcoholism, and Suicidal thoughts
mekaylynn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Racism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Infidelity, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Violence, Drug use, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Infertility, Eating disorder, Suicide, Infidelity, Cursing, Slavery, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
oneinamili's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Abortion and Addiction
Moderate: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Eating disorder, Violence, and Suicide
tgbdscrapbook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Miscarriage, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual violence, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Eating disorder and Death of parent
thesawyerbean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The actual premise was intriguing - the commencing few chapters were not particularly enthralling, but the pace did pick up later on in the novel. The portrayal of nihilistic self-destructive sex was raw and ugly, knitted together in a web of nuanced discussions on race, sexuality, feminism and capitalism which I found very interesting and affecting. These are the parts that dragged this book up in its rating.
However, I overall found this to be quite a slog to get through. I powered through the final half in one sitting, and the concluding chapters were immaculately done. But in the end I wasn’t particularly enthralled or interested in Edie as a character.
I stand by my appreciation for Leilani’s prose, and I finish my review with this quote that I found powerful:
I am inclined to pray, but on principle, I don’t. God is not for women. He is for the fruit. He makes you want and he makes you wicked, and while you sleep, he plants a seed in your womb that will be born just to die.
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Infidelity, Racism, Sexism, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Blood, Fatphobia, Grief, Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Vomit, and Addiction
arys_library'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
4.25
Graphic: Miscarriage and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Racism, Sexual violence, and Abortion
Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, Infertility, Body shaming, Police brutality, Vomit, and Toxic relationship
ansleyymoore'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
4.25
Graphic: Abortion, Blood, Cursing, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Sexual content, Gun violence, Medical content, and Racism