Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Stay with Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀

25 reviews

georgia59's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I actually think this is a four star book, but because of the subject matter and the way it left me feeling I've only given it three (more precisely 3.75).

Well structured, well written.  Distinct voices for each of the characters and a clear division between two timelines. 

 
One of my most disliked tropes is infidelity and this novel had a hefty dose of it.  What Yejide and Akin do to each other is painful and unpleasant to witness and I didn't enjoy the reading of it.  This, more than the subject of child loss (despite being a mother myself), was the thing that brought the novel down for me.   

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Sexual content

bookishkellyn's review against another edition

sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I thought this was just going to be a dual POV novel about an infertile couple (Akin & Yejide) and the second wife (Funmi) forced upon them in the tradition of polygamy. But the book’s synopsis barely touches on the real drama that unfolds in the rest of the story–lies, deception, infidelity, murder, death. Akin was THE most duplicitous character in the book. He reminds me of a quote: “Imagine the messiest person you know. It’s a man, isn’t it?” The plot twists were an A+.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Infertility, Child death, Abandonment, and Grief

Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Mental illness

Minor: Gun violence, Excrement, and Murder

emily_koopmann's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Infertility, and Sexual content

Minor: Infidelity

kellyofcali's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A very tough story - not for those who cannot deal with a series of crushing blows - but well written and I did feel it paints a picture of a certain place and experience. I don't know if I can say I enjoyed it, per se, given the heaviness, but I am glad I read it. I will say it is "pitched" mush differently than it reads - it's more about being in a marriage, relationships, and being a parent than about a second wife. I also found it ended a bit suddenly for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Grief, Child death, Dysphoria, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Infertility, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Abandonment, and Physical abuse

Minor: War

prairiek's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Gaslighting, Violence, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Infidelity

Minor: Sexual content, Bullying, Death of parent, Chronic illness, and Death

mikebond's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Meraviglioso romanzo sul legame tra genitori e figli che nemmeno le tragedie della vita possono rompere completamente.
Bella  'impostazione con due voci narranti che si alternano e raccontano i fatti dalla propria prospettiva.
Un romanzo che fa piangere, arrabbiarsi, ma anche sperare. Lo consiglio!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Medical content, and Grief

Moderate: Infidelity and Pregnancy

Minor: Police brutality, Violence, and Sexual content

laurawil's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Sexual content

maduvanthivenkatesan's review against another edition

challenging hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death and Sexual content

rachelkreadsbookz's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Infertility, and Infidelity

Moderate: Sexual content

katharina90's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

A strong debut with lots to unpack, especially patriarchal and familial expectations around having kids and how damaging that is for couples struggling with infertility. 

I didn't find the characters very likable but my heart still broke for them. 

The audiobook is narrated well and helped transport me to Nigeria where the story takes place.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infertility, Mental illness, Child death, Sexism, Infidelity, Gun violence, and Grief

Minor: Sexual content