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leaisjx's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
2.5
mrhewhanson's review
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
kerriboland's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
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? It's complicated
2.5
I loved the patois in this book and found myself having to read much of the dialogue aloud - what a treat. That said, I struggled with much of the writing. The flashbacks in the middle of paragraphs were jarring and confusing and didn’t add anything for me. Also, I wish the jacket hadn’t said anything about the challenges of being a lesbian in Jamaica - I just kept waiting for it. Lastly, why is the sister such a bitch?! No thank you, I’m not here for that.
rendezvousgirl's review
dark
emotional
sad
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
3.0
This is ultimately a novel about grief, especially how it manifests in interpersonal relationships. I quite liked how grief is portrayed, and the immature and almost childlike qualities in Akúa and her relationships with her family. I found her character to be lovable though complicated, and she felt realistic. The writing style was easy and compelling, and the use of imagery results in an amazing establishment of setting.
I agree with other reviewers about the day countdown being unnecessary, and there is quite a lot of onomatopoeia especially in the beginning, which gets annoying. I really wish there were paragraph breaks or clear markers between present and flashback because it was confusing and could’ve easily been fixed.
My biggest complaint is that I wish it had been longer, to allow for more character development and depth especially in the side characters. The ending felt rushed, and the last third of the book felt disjointed from the first two.
Despite some issues, I enjoyed this and think it had a lot of potential, and I hope to see more from this author.
I agree with other reviewers about the day countdown being unnecessary, and there is quite a lot of onomatopoeia especially in the beginning, which gets annoying. I really wish there were paragraph breaks or clear markers between present and flashback because it was confusing and could’ve easily been fixed.
My biggest complaint is that I wish it had been longer, to allow for more character development and depth especially in the side characters. The ending felt rushed, and the last third of the book felt disjointed from the first two.
Despite some issues, I enjoyed this and think it had a lot of potential, and I hope to see more from this author.
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Grief, Hate crime, Death of parent, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Violence
baileylizhi's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
granddoody's review
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
sharonwashington's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
readwithchar's review
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
3.0
kellcalista's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Broughtupsy, meaning good manners, or probably home training, takes us on a poignant journey with a Jamaican family as they navigate through the complexities of grief, loss, migration, and sexual identity. It's a deeply emotional read that offers a powerful insight into the human experience through the lens of the main character Akua.
schnurln's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0