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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Often infuriating, yet compulsively readable.
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Abortion, Pregnancy, Classism
The ending…. Though fictional, it was a great story and very interesting to get insight into the black experience in a European country from an author based in that country. Not surprised how Brittany’s story concluded… happy for what I imagine is next in Kemi’s story… But Muna! Poor poor Muna. I just knew she would get her happy ending after an amazing turn of events. I never anticipated that is how her story would end.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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:
No
The stories outlining the lives of these 3 women were captivating and intriguing. I did initially read the book waiting for the the author to bring the 3 separate stories into 1 plot but was pleasantly surprised by the minimal interactions of the characters. The character development was great and the different issues being addressed were well conveyed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Vomit, Islamophobia, Grief, Murder
I have a lot of qualms about this book. I was definitely intrigued throughout my entire time reading it, so keeping my attention was not a problem that this book has. The writing itself is actually also good but storytelling is lacking in many aspects. I felt as though Muna’s story was very compelling but also haphazardly thrown in without much connection to other parts of the story. I also was hoping for some sort of payoff for the Black women in the book. That their suffering would be worth something or at least give them something in the end. I did not get that and maybe that’s because real life doesn’t give Black women that payoff. Regardless of that fact, I still was not content with how the book ended. We have one woman right back where she started, one woman trapped in a loveless lie of a marriage with a child that will never have a normal life, and one woman lost to suicide. I get that this is how the world can work for Black women, but that’s just not what I was seeking out of this book. There’s already too many real and fake stories of Black women getting nothing out of life, I was looking for something different here.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for sending me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
I struggle when reviewing books with a main character I don't like. Did I not like them because they were poorly written? or did the author intentionally create an unlikeable character? In the case of Brittany-Rae, the main character in this book, I lean more towards the former.
As I delved into the Q&A with the author, I discovered the intention was to humanize Brittany-Rae. However, my journey into her inner world only solidified my perception that she was the selfish money-driven person that everyone thought she was. She says explicitly that one of the reasons why she was attracted to Jonny was because of his wealth. She sought out wealthier men because she thought their money could shield her from the dangerous experiences she had previously as a model. While there might have been some love there, her curiosity in Jonny peaked when she discovered his wealth, which overshadowed the knowledge she also gained on his past relationships with brown girls who resembled her.
However, if you are a woman living in the world you should know that money doesn't grant you safety, especially as a Black woman. ESPECIALLY as this particular Black woman who went through a traumatic sexual experience. That's why I found Brittany so unbelievable. I felt like it would have been more believable if she consciously went into the relationship knowing that something weird was up. It also surprised me that she would allow a stranger to take such control over her body after the assault she experienced. In the first few interactions with Jonny we read about some panic and concern in his possessiveness but after that she's just fine with it?
Learning about her husband's past felt like a predictable revelation, given his early red flags of obsessive behavior. Her relentless pursuit of a relationship built on unequal footing, driven by financial motives, was far from love. It seemed she hadn't healed from her past, hindering her ability to scrutinize her present situation. Ignoring her family's warnings, particularly as Jonny's parents stood them up, raised significant red flags in my eyes.
Clearly, Brittany's narrative exhausted me, but I don't want to overshadow the fact that the book weaves a compelling tale through the perspectives of the other two main characters—Muna and Kemi. Their experiences navigating Sweden added depth and interest to the storyline. Kemi's constrained success due to societal limitations and Muna's heart-wrenching struggle with grief resonated with me. Had the book focused solely on fleshing out Kemi and Muna, or making Brittany more believable my overall satisfaction would have been much higher. I'd recommend this read if you can endure chapters centered on a woman imploring empathy while consciously marrying into a racist family.
(Even though this review was mostly centered on Brittany's character I do want to stress that Kemi and Muna's chapters are well worth the read and I would skim through Brittany's plot to get some sense of the character which taking my time on the other characters)
As I delved into the Q&A with the author, I discovered the intention was to humanize Brittany-Rae. However, my journey into her inner world only solidified my perception that she was the selfish money-driven person that everyone thought she was. She says explicitly that one of the reasons why she was attracted to Jonny was because of his wealth. She sought out wealthier men because she thought their money could shield her from the dangerous experiences she had previously as a model. While there might have been some love there, her curiosity in Jonny peaked when she discovered his wealth, which overshadowed the knowledge she also gained on his past relationships with brown girls who resembled her.
However, if you are a woman living in the world you should know that money doesn't grant you safety, especially as a Black woman. ESPECIALLY as this particular Black woman who went through a traumatic sexual experience. That's why I found Brittany so unbelievable. I felt like it would have been more believable if she consciously went into the relationship knowing that something weird was up. It also surprised me that she would allow a stranger to take such control over her body after the assault she experienced. In the first few interactions with Jonny we read about some panic and concern in his possessiveness but after that she's just fine with it?
Learning about her husband's past felt like a predictable revelation, given his early red flags of obsessive behavior. Her relentless pursuit of a relationship built on unequal footing, driven by financial motives, was far from love. It seemed she hadn't healed from her past, hindering her ability to scrutinize her present situation. Ignoring her family's warnings, particularly as Jonny's parents stood them up, raised significant red flags in my eyes.
Clearly, Brittany's narrative exhausted me, but I don't want to overshadow the fact that the book weaves a compelling tale through the perspectives of the other two main characters—Muna and Kemi. Their experiences navigating Sweden added depth and interest to the storyline. Kemi's constrained success due to societal limitations and Muna's heart-wrenching struggle with grief resonated with me. Had the book focused solely on fleshing out Kemi and Muna, or making Brittany more believable my overall satisfaction would have been much higher. I'd recommend this read if you can endure chapters centered on a woman imploring empathy while consciously marrying into a racist family.
(Even though this review was mostly centered on Brittany's character I do want to stress that Kemi and Muna's chapters are well worth the read and I would skim through Brittany's plot to get some sense of the character which taking my time on the other characters)
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There were aspects of this book I enjoyed, like how the author was able to create three specific characters, but the plot really fell flat. I hated that two of the strong female leads fell prey to shitty and boring men, for seemingly no reason at all. I wish the three stories had tied together more and I was really disappointed with the ending of all three. This book lasted a really long time with no clear ending; it could have kept going but I would not have kept reading.