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maggiekateb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Medical content
Moderate: Eating disorder
ifersinklings'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
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Excrement, Police brutality, and Abortion
whatannikareads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Blood, Police brutality, and Abortion
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Medical content
alireadsbooks's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Eating disorder
bookish_sabrina's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I find it interesting that this novel is written in first-person present tense. It gives the prose a lot of momentum, particularly in Leilani's long sentences. They start off innocuous and then suddenly slam you into bitter truths about Edie's past, as well as observations and critiques on society, with a particular focus on racism and misogyny. This novel is propulsive. It is a quick read despite how uncomfortable and upsetting some of the subject matter and scenes are. The present perspective also gives us great insight into Edie, and how she is unable to see herself in the future and is unwilling to dwell too much on her past.
There's no question that Leilani is an excellent writer. I found her characters to be well-rounded. It is funny and insightful. However, I don't think it is perfect. Sometimes, debut novels burst at their seams a bit; it feels like the author is trying to put too many ideas into one book. I think this is the case with Luster. I also found that some of her struggles felt a little too on the nose. I'm specifically thinking about Edie's interview at the clown college and her inability to properly paint a satisfactory self-portrait.
I'm glad I finally read this hyped novel. I didn't love it as much as some, but I also acknowledge that this book wasn't written for me, and I'm glad that others are loving it so much.
Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Racism, and Blood
Minor: Animal death, Death, Infertility, Police brutality, and Grief
clem's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Infidelity, Racism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Blood, and Medical content
Minor: Miscarriage and Police brutality
mfeldma3's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
latisha's review against another edition
- 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: Miscarriage
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Infertility, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, and Grief