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shubbard116's review against another edition
2.0
I definitely should’ve researched this book before diving in. Here’s the deal, do I have differing values and beliefs, yes. But that’s not my issue with this book, because I enjoy reading books out of my comfort zone to help me expand my understanding of people. The thing that annoyed me was that they added so many over-sexualized scenes that I felt took away from the depth of the story. People in the reviews talked about how this book would be historic, transforming the world of reading/writing etc etc. First of all, the main love story is between COUSINS. They share the same grandma! Now I could’ve looked past this because I know other cultures have different views around marrying relatives. But then they created this weird friend group where basically everybody slept with everybody and it was just normal? And when the lover was grieving the loss of Vivek, he slept with Viveks best friend as a way of paying respect to him?? Literally like one day after his death. It wasn’t painted as a sex scene, it was portrayed more as an act of memorial to Viveks death. And what’s more is they had ghost Vivek comment on how he was so glad this happened, loved watching this beautiful act, and felt it was the most meaningful way his lover and best friend could pay their respect to him.. days after his death. ???? The book would’ve been exponentially better, probably a 4 star read for me, if it didn’t have these bizarre sexual encounters that seemed to be added in just because sex sells so they thought let’s sprinkle some of this in even though it doesn’t help the story at all. Ok rant over.
marylee507's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia
mirandyli's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
A beautiful story about transness and queerness in Nigeria. Very sad and will probably make you cry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Incest, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Transphobia, Infertility, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Outing
viviantuyle's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
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? Yes
5.0
sweetiekeke's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
katiegilley's review against another edition
3.0
“I’m not what anyone thinks I am. I never was. I didn’t have the mouth to put it into words, to say what was wrong, to change the things I felt I needed to change. And every day it was difficult, walking around and knowing that people saw me one way, knowing that they were wrong, so completely wrong, that the real me was invisible to them. It didn’t even exist to them. So: If nobody sees you, are you still there?”
This was a gorgeous book set in Nigeria. It opens with a mother finding her 20-something son, Vivek Oji, dead at her front door. We slowly find out what happened to Vivek as the book unfolds and we meet a group of young people quietly and desperately searching for their own identities while living under oppressive circumstances.
I decided to give this book 3 stars on Goodreads. I wanted to give it 4, but felt like there was too much gratuitous sex. There were several scenes that felt integral to the story and just as many that felt unnecessary and over the top. Perhaps I’m a prude – I can live with that!
This was a gorgeous book set in Nigeria. It opens with a mother finding her 20-something son, Vivek Oji, dead at her front door. We slowly find out what happened to Vivek as the book unfolds and we meet a group of young people quietly and desperately searching for their own identities while living under oppressive circumstances.
I decided to give this book 3 stars on Goodreads. I wanted to give it 4, but felt like there was too much gratuitous sex. There were several scenes that felt integral to the story and just as many that felt unnecessary and over the top. Perhaps I’m a prude – I can live with that!
patches_of_purple's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
bubblegumcreams's review against another edition
4.0
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4.5 stars
Book Trigger Warnings (highly recommend taking a look at these before reading): BookTriggerWarnings.com and Reviewer-Provided Trigger Warnings with the Storygraph
Initial thoughts after reading:
the only words I have right after finishing this are... that this book was absolutely heartbreaking. Need to gather my thoughts.
Review after processing:
This is a hard-hitting, uncomfortable book that covers the impact of death, and the complex experiences of grieving, gender, and sexuality. Honestly, throughout the beginning and middle of this novel, I felt underwhelmed and mainly stuck with it due to the reviews and the included in the story. By the end of the novel, I understood why this book was described as heartbreaking; the conclusion absolutely tore me apart. For weeks after finishing this, I cried anytime I tried to think or talk about the novel. I felt the was introduced like it was a storyline, but it wasn't addressed in the end. Overall, this book was quite difficult for me to read and not a 5 star read due to the . These two aspects of the story made it very uncomfortable, but this was indeed a heartbreaking novel with beautiful elements.
4.5 stars
Book Trigger Warnings (highly recommend taking a look at these before reading): BookTriggerWarnings.com and Reviewer-Provided Trigger Warnings with the Storygraph
Initial thoughts after reading:
the only words I have right after finishing this are... that this book was absolutely heartbreaking. Need to gather my thoughts.
Review after processing:
This is a hard-hitting, uncomfortable book that covers the impact of death, and the complex experiences of grieving, gender, and sexuality. Honestly, throughout the beginning and middle of this novel, I felt underwhelmed and mainly stuck with it due to the reviews and the