Reviews

On Sundays, She Picked Flowers by Yah Yah Scholfield

gravery's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.5

There were some formatting issues in my copy, which I guess is to be expected from a self-published book bought on Amazon, and many typos that might have been fixed with a beta reader or two. The pacing also felt inconsistent, but for a debut novel it wasn't bad. I also wish that we had seen more of Jude's adulthood prior to her mother's murder, which happened only 25 pages in.

That being said, Yah Yah's use of language is poignant and haunting. They paint evocative pictures, vivid and grotesque with their use of metaphor and imagery. The characters are three-dimensional, their relationships real and beautifully dark - the romance between

Jude and Nemoira

was an unexpected, but nevertheless pleasant surprise that added both tension an depth to the story. On Sundays is a delightfully Gothic debut novel, one for which Scholfield deserves some recognition, and I look forward to seeing what they come up with next.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Child abuse, and Blood

Moderate: Racism and Cannibalism

Minor: Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Vomit

wlwism's review against another edition

dark

• 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

5.0

A beautiful read with stunning, raw imagery. Easily one of my favorite reads of the year 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, and Cannibalism

year23's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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? No

4.25

Bringing down a little bit the rating because of the typos - took me out of the narrative too often. Apart from that though, strange, intense, and oddly empowering tale. Will not say more as this book is meant to be discovered, very much enjoyed the atmosphere and evocative writing. 

hsheehan85's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? It's complicated

3.0

callmemaben's review against another edition

This book was beautifully written. The writing is lyrical and lush but the story just never grabbed my attention. 

xpressionless's review against another edition

dark 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

4.0

curioreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.0

amethystslib's review

5.0

y'all. this book here??? lovely. 10/10. Yah-Yah ate down with this one. I need another installment if at all possible. A healthy mix of horror and unconventional romance. love it

takesthecake_'s review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.0

Indulgent, romantic, fleshy, frightening

Confronting what you dont want to know about yourself. Or believe about yourself

About making a home for yourself,  outsider perceptions of disability, knowing the one you love is bones and meat in the back of your trunk

I have a physical copy in paperback—Lots of passages circled, lines underlined with blue and black pen, highlighted words with lime green pen


Jude hadn’t quite reconciled the beast and the woman

sturgeonfish's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

sooo good... the characters are amazingly written. plot is a bit meandering but the descriptions of settings + mood + violence are sooo vivid and amazing.