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caughtbetweenpages's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.75
What an absolute masterclass of a novel. I am gobsmacked that this is a DEBUT. Before even getting into the content of Luster, I cannot overstate Leilani's mastery of language and the writing craft. She's sparing with her word count but it never feels as though she's leaving out any important descriptions or moments; every sentence counts, and most of them hold a poeticism (albeit, often a bleak one, though one that the Russian Greats would be proud to call their own) that makes them stick with you even after you shut the book.
Edie's struggle to discover herself and "come of age" without yet understanding what her identity is or what she wants it to be feels inevitable given the culmination of factors surrounding her life. Her attempts to find herself in men, in her art, in jobs she's told she's too Black or too promiscuous or not XYZ enough to be part of, are heartbreaking. She is so, desperately lonely. And then, her internal musings about the absurdity of applying to a million dead end jobs to make rent, or about how older men are not necessarily deep so much as they've just lived more life, pull a painful laugh out of you even if you don't want to be amused. If a reader in your life says they they like stories about messy, damaged female leads, put Luster in their hands.
My favorite relationships of this book are between Edie and Rebecca and Edie and Akila. There's a complex dynamic with Rebecca where, while Edie might seem to have some power over Rebecca being the woman that R's husband is having an affair with, Rebecca is by far the one holding Edie's life in her hands. The scene whereRebecca takes Edie to the punk show and they both get beaten up some in the pit Rebecca is clearly in control, having chosen to go there herself and being prepared for the violence of the moment, whereas Edie is very much drifting and only there because... well, how can she say no to Rebecca, given that Rebecca could make her homeless in an instant? As she does later in the book, when she finds out Edie is pregnant! It's a petty assertion of control, as many of Rebecca's actions are. And yet, Edie is drawn to that in some way, seeking the approval of this older woman whose life is comparatively easy and put together and resilient even to the point of being able to invite her husband's affair partner into her home. And yet! It's clear that Rebecca sees herself as the one who is put upon, the one who is the victim, despite having such control. It's a fascinating dynamic.
And then there's Akila and Edie. In many ways, Akila is who Edie must have been like as a kid--incredibly nerdy, passionate, artistic--and in other ways, she's who Edie is now--lost, a stranger in her own home. Lonely. Black in a context that is deeply unfriendly to Blackness. It was so touching to see Edie nurture Akila, not only protecting her from the racism of the police and her tutor and helping her take care of her natural hair in a way that Akila's (White, Adoptive) parents don't know how to, but in encouraging her art and storytelling and engaging with her on her interests. I think they very much needed each other, and it made it all the worse when Edie got kicked out of the house and had to leave Akila and Akila knew about it, and was so matter-of-fact.
This was a difficult book to read, emotionally speaking. But so well worth it.
Edie's struggle to discover herself and "come of age" without yet understanding what her identity is or what she wants it to be feels inevitable given the culmination of factors surrounding her life. Her attempts to find herself in men, in her art, in jobs she's told she's too Black or too promiscuous or not XYZ enough to be part of, are heartbreaking. She is so, desperately lonely. And then, her internal musings about the absurdity of applying to a million dead end jobs to make rent, or about how older men are not necessarily deep so much as they've just lived more life, pull a painful laugh out of you even if you don't want to be amused. If a reader in your life says they they like stories about messy, damaged female leads, put Luster in their hands.
My favorite relationships of this book are between Edie and Rebecca and Edie and Akila. There's a complex dynamic with Rebecca where, while Edie might seem to have some power over Rebecca being the woman that R's husband is having an affair with, Rebecca is by far the one holding Edie's life in her hands. The scene where
And then there's Akila and Edie. In many ways, Akila is who Edie must have been like as a kid--incredibly nerdy, passionate, artistic--and in other ways, she's who Edie is now--lost, a stranger in her own home. Lonely. Black in a context that is deeply unfriendly to Blackness. It was so touching to see Edie nurture Akila, not only protecting her from the racism of the police and her tutor and helping her take care of her natural hair in a way that Akila's (White, Adoptive) parents don't know how to, but in encouraging her art and storytelling and engaging with her on her interests. I think they very much needed each other, and it made it all the worse when
This was a difficult book to read, emotionally speaking. But so well worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Police brutality
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Addiction and Drug abuse
srhi96's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, and Abortion
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, and Eating disorder
sophie_paterson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Racial slurs
Moderate: Police brutality and Abortion
anabookadventures's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- 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
The book wasn’t working for me, but once I switched to the audiobook, I was able to get into the story more. The characters are not likeable, but I gather that was on purpose. The story is dark, but the way the author handled how trauma shows up in our lives and vulnerability of discovering yourself including your worth was beautiful. Overall, the book just wasn’t for me, but I appreciate what the author was doing with the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Abortion
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
etbliss's review against another edition
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Racial slurs, and Police brutality
luisagerdsmeyer's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicide and Police brutality
sarafinley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Police brutality
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Racial slurs, Abortion, and Death of parent
booksbeyondthebinary's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- 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
4.0
This story features Edie, a young black woman who meets Eric, a man who says he is in an open marriage, navigating his wife and their adopted daughters presence.
It’s a realistic look at everyday relationships, the ways in which we pick and choose what we want to show to others and what we prefer to keep hidden for ourselves. It’s also an interesting story about how our upbringing shapes us and shapes the way we view those around us, evidenced by the ways we interact, write people off, and develop preconceived notions.
It’s an incredibly human story. Edie is, for me, a relatable character. It’s a story of survival, trying to fulfill our most basic needs, and figuring out where we belong.
It’s a realistic look at everyday relationships, the ways in which we pick and choose what we want to show to others and what we prefer to keep hidden for ourselves. It’s also an interesting story about how our upbringing shapes us and shapes the way we view those around us, evidenced by the ways we interact, write people off, and develop preconceived notions.
It’s an incredibly human story. Edie is, for me, a relatable character. It’s a story of survival, trying to fulfill our most basic needs, and figuring out where we belong.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Police brutality, Abortion, and Pregnancy
eilidhbear's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
slow-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage, and Medical content
Moderate: Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, and Police brutality
alexisbashta's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual content, and Suicide