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jojo_'s review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Abortion, and Death of parent
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy
Minor: Infertility, Sexual content, and Racial slurs
kristiak's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Abortion, Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, and Suicide
nebraskanwriter'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
1.5
The author’s observations and commentary on race, culture, age, youth, I really enjoyed and for the first half of the book, I was highlighting a quote on almost every other page. There were several that made me take a step back and really thing about our world and how it treats the black community.
But after the 50% mark, the main characters development is utterly wasted and they stay stagnant for the rest of the book. Neither of them grow, they only become more toxic and worse people. Everyone lies, no one is faithful, everyone is selfish. Loved it until the 50% mark and then hated the rest of the book.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, and Medical content
zoebill96's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Suicide, Abortion, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Racism, Infertility, and Sexual content
Minor: Car accident, Child death, Grief, and Gun violence
nothingforpomegranted's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The first-person plural narration by "the mothers," the female church elders, establishes a sense of nostalgia and spirituality in the novel, and I loved all of their gossipy interjections. Bennett demonstrates a mastery of description, adding details about each character without getting bogged down in adjectives, and every character comes to life on the page. The development of the plot was predictable, yet still engaging with an overarching intrigue that propelled the story forward even when not much was happening at all.
Graphic: Abortion, Suicide, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
justkimmithings's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Abortion, Death of parent, Grief, and Suicide
Moderate: Infidelity and Infertility
laurataylor's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Death, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Chronic illness, Toxic friendship, Violence, and War
Minor: Racism
gtrue21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Abortion, Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
zenneth_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Abortion, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicide
editoryalizing's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Abortion, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Infertility, Grief, Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Adult/minor relationship