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nkhensani_m's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
The phrase "zany adventure" comes to mind. When incidental siblings come together to keep one of them out of Big Trouble, the story we read is one about family, the difficult consequences of all our choices, history and the way it reverberates for generations, and love in all its complicated glory.
I was worried when the first big "twist" was revealed because I could see that the author was asking me to suspend all disbelief and just support these people as they tried to figure things out. I pushed through and found quite a few moments of reflection and tenderness.
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Physical abuse
Moderate: Abandonment and Body shaming
habibaa20's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Moderate: Murder, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Fatphobia, and Injury/Injury detail
larkken's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Minor: Kidnapping
emilo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fatphobia, Sexual assault, and Abandonment
Moderate: Murder and Blood
Minor: Racism and Sexism
sidekicksam's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Cyril Pennington has 5 children with 4 different women, and one day he decides to have them all meet, because if you don't know you're related, you might end up shagging. While they don't stay in touch, Dimple decides to call her big sister for help when she's hit a snag. But it's not the reunion the rest had expected.
I loved getting to know all five Pennington-children and the exploration of family-ties; absent parents, mothers fulfilling the role of both parents, but also the sibling-bond. Despite a lot happening plot-wise, it really is a character-driven book. If you'd ask me why I loved it, it's because I loved Lizzie (yeah idk why either), Carty-Williams' funny and engaging writing, the themes explored and how it made me feel while reading it. I was invested.
Definitely pick this up if you enjoyed the stories/vibes of I'm Sorry You Feel That Way or Anansi Boys.
Minor: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Blood
creepycrawlybookworm's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Addiction, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Sexual content, and Mental illness
Minor: Body shaming
kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, and Misogyny
nicolaparty's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, and Violence
just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Body shaming, Medical content, Racism, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Abandonment, Blood, Cursing, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
znvisser's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
Graphic: Blood, Abandonment, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, and Grief