Reviews with content warning for Racism - Let's Talk About Love

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann

60 reviews

courtneyfalling's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? Yes

3.0

This was... fine? I wanted to like it based on the concept more than I actually liked it based on the execution. Some sections were a little too drawn out while others were a little too quick, and a lot of the main subplots (Alice's friendship difficulties with Feenie and Ryan or her struggles with her parents and older sister in particular) stressed me out because Alice was so non-confrontational in them to her own detriment and they never truly get openly, fully resolved (or concluded, if not resolved perfectly). And it kept me from liking Alice as a main character, vs. kind of tolerating her and hoping she could learn. Also I feel like as much as I loved Takumi, he always came across as an idealized figure and never as his full, own character. Not to mention the book never really addresses the weird age and knowledge gap between them? Like there's actually a kind of hefty differential here?

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maple_dusk's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative reflective 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? Yes

4.0

I love that the platonic love between Alice and Takumi was explored first, and for a long time, before the romance.

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themessyannotator's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-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? It's complicated

1.5

I really loved the representation in this book (especially as someone who relates to the biromantic label) and part of the love story were fun to read about. Overall, though, the writing and plot was just lacking for me. The story felt really disjointed, the timelines skipping weeks at a time, and the relationship between Takumi and Alice was just confusing at times with the skips in timeline. Also, the writing felt somewhat young for the age of Alice’s character and there were a lot of details/narrative that I felt were unnecessary and excessive.

It was the first book I’ve ever read with biromantic rep which I loved but overall the writing was not good and I felt it lacked in character development and plot development.

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dollys_island's review against another edition

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4.25

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aromarrie's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.25

01/20/21: this book made me smile so much, it actually hurt after a while.

unfortunately, i don’t have as much of a well-thought review as i would like reading this story the second time around. but i will say this: “let’s talk about love” is so incredibly charming and absolutely bursts with so much heart, it actually brought me close to tears because a story this good? it can get me through anything. and obviously that’s a stretch because who knows what life will throw at me?

but our main character, alice, is so bubbly, so affectionate, and she cares with all that she has. just like the people who are lucky enough to be in her orbit. and anyone who suggests otherwise just because of her sexuality needs to get a grip and check themselves. we all deal with her conflicts; the fact that this story didn’t just focus on romantic love but also platonic love, family love—that means the absolute world to me.

alice’s relationship with her parents, feenie & ryan, and takumi—they’re all so precious but there’s always faults that come with it. it was so uplifting to see how she also had to learn more things about herself and what she truly wants—for herself and in her relationships with the people she loves. small pieces here and there in the story as she was seeing a counselor was so beneficial for her and it just further made me root for her to find the happiness that she deserves.

i have a long way to go with my own happiness, but it just felt good to lie down late in night and see a character that felt so real to me find her own.

i can’t ever forget this story for that.

content warnings //: consumption of alcohol, acephobia, racism (against the main character, who is Black + also depicted in a past event recounted by another character who is East Asian), mention of cheating, and sexual harassment

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mxbluet18's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

Trigger warnings for Let's Talk About Love include: ableist language; acephobia, alcohol, anxiety, assault, bullying, cheating (both past and mentioned); manipulation, microaggressions, racism, sexism, sexual harassment and toxic friendship.
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☢Old Review ☢
This book made me cry at least 3 times in the space of about 10 minutes, and if that isn't ringing endorsement then I don't know what is. But seriously, this book explained things about me that I haven't yet had the words to explain. And it gave me some much needed ace representation. I loved it from start to finish, and I read it cover to cover in two days. The characters are relatable and real in a way that writer's don't always manage and that's in part what made me love this book so much. I also loved that this book subtly tackled and removed the stereotypes around being queer, and ace specifically, as well as the racial stereotypes of being black, and Japanese. Obviously there are some issues, namely Margot and Feenie, and those are never addressed, but overall, for me, this book was incredible.
~
☢New Review☢
I loved this book just as much as the first time I read it. I believe it was the first book I read with asexual representation, and it put words to feelings I couldn't describe for myself. I love how it discussed the stereotypes asexual people have to deal with, but how it also gave the best example of what you should do when someone comes out as ace, and the things you shouldn't say.
~
That's not to say that there aren't also the opposite examples too, of the typical things people say to asexuals, and the things that make someone feel guilty or ashamed for the identity, but those, for me are far overshadowed by Takumi and the way he handled Alice telling him.

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melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition

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lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

4.0

This was a super cute and fast, character-driven read! I really liked Alice and how she learned about herself throughout the book. I loved the discussions of asexuality and showing a character who wants love and romance but not sex. I thought this did a good job explaining how asexual people can still love someone just as much as an allosexual person! That being said, this book didn't have a ton of a plot, and not much happened other than Alice just figuring things out.

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theinvulnerabletide's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

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unwise_samwise's review

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emotional 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

A wonderful book and a delightful read

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betweentheshelves's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

Okay I loved this. Yes, some of the time jumps were weird, because at points I was like, how did you do so much in so little time?? I didn't actually realize that much time was passing. Which also could have been because I was listening to the audiobook. But Alice felt so real, and her struggles with her sexuality also felt real. And Takumi! Her relationship with Takumi was adorable. I loved it.

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