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novella42's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Bullying, Gaslighting, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny
Moderate: Islamophobia, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Infidelity, Body shaming, Cursing, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Fatphobia
smartie_chan's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Thanks a lot to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
CW: Emotional Abuse , Gaslighting, Mentions of Islamophobia, Slight Homophobia
5 / 5 Stars
THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD!
Okay, now on to the actual review. As in, this was an amazing book & I'm reccomanding it to literally everyone out there.
While the blurb is kind of spoiler-y - which is why I won't repeat what it says - and you shouldn't expect plot twists left and right, I'd argue that a simple plot doesn't equal a simple book.
The characters are written amazingly. And yes, I'm aware that I used the word amazing like 3 times already. Try and stop me.
But it's true. Especially the antagonist.
Because of personal reasons, that I don't feel like talking about in some random review, I'm always especially sensitive to books that include emotional abuse. It's so easily overlooked because it leaves no visible scars. But the invisible ones, the ones that cut deeper than any fist ever could, those are the ones that need to be written with special care.
This book does an excellent job on that department.
My view lines of text are probably unable to tell you how well written I thought that part of the book to be.
Even though there are one or two - not more - scenes were I would have prefered the book to take a second & to let the scene breath.
Besides those 1-2 scenes, I don't have any complaints.
All the other characters are just as great. My personal favourit has to be Zaynab though. Her & Ambers inclusion meant a lot to me. I just fear that this book might suffer from some negative, homophobic reviews because of her. I've already seen a few were people hide their bigotry behind the mantle of religion, while the truth of the matter is: There is nothing in the Quran that justifies your hatred. (And no, Lot is not about queerness.)
What kind of god would make a whole army of people just so they can throw them in hell for the way he made them?
-> No god, that's who.
The book mentiones that a bit as well, but it's not really the main focus of things.
Final Thoughts:
Important, well written book. Can & will reccomand!
CW: Emotional Abuse , Gaslighting, Mentions of Islamophobia, Slight Homophobia
5 / 5 Stars
THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD!
Okay, now on to the actual review. As in, this was an amazing book & I'm reccomanding it to literally everyone out there.
While the blurb is kind of spoiler-y - which is why I won't repeat what it says - and you shouldn't expect plot twists left and right, I'd argue that a simple plot doesn't equal a simple book.
The characters are written amazingly. And yes, I'm aware that I used the word amazing like 3 times already. Try and stop me.
But it's true. Especially the antagonist.
Because of personal reasons, that I don't feel like talking about in some random review, I'm always especially sensitive to books that include emotional abuse. It's so easily overlooked because it leaves no visible scars. But the invisible ones, the ones that cut deeper than any fist ever could, those are the ones that need to be written with special care.
This book does an excellent job on that department.
My view lines of text are probably unable to tell you how well written I thought that part of the book to be.
Even though there are one or two - not more - scenes were I would have prefered the book to take a second & to let the scene breath.
Besides those 1-2 scenes, I don't have any complaints.
All the other characters are just as great. My personal favourit has to be Zaynab though. Her & Ambers inclusion meant a lot to me. I just fear that this book might suffer from some negative, homophobic reviews because of her. I've already seen a few were people hide their bigotry behind the mantle of religion, while the truth of the matter is: There is nothing in the Quran that justifies your hatred. (And no, Lot is not about queerness.)
What kind of god would make a whole army of people just so they can throw them in hell for the way he made them?
-> No god, that's who.
The book mentiones that a bit as well, but it's not really the main focus of things.
Final Thoughts:
Important, well written book. Can & will reccomand!
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Islamophobia, Homophobia, and Classism
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