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tlaynejones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Ableism, Infidelity, and Homophobia
Moderate: Gaslighting, Fatphobia, and Abandonment
stellahadz's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
This book perfectly captures the feelings of shame and disappointment that come with adult life not panning out the way you wanted or expected. I loved Mickey's voice and her introspections about her work, her relationships, her family, and the level of control she can exert (or not exert) over her own life. I also thought the book did an amazing job of expressing the complex feeling of being known and seen in different ways by people from different parts of your life. Tembe Denton-Hurst is a very talented writer, and I look forward to reading more from her.
My only complaint is that the book's description felt a little misleading - the "media scandal" that brings Mickey back into the spotlight doesn't happen until very late in the book, and as a result the last 75 pages or so feel quite rushed and the ending wasn't as satisfying as I would have liked. I expected a bit more flashy drama, but the book was overall on the introspective side. I still enjoyed it, but I think the premise of Mickey returning to her hometown to escape her disappointment in herself and her life would have been strong enough to stand on its own.
Moderate: Infidelity, Racism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Fatphobia, Cultural appropriation, and Body shaming
mackenzbee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Racism
brotestantethic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Every single character in this book is a walking red flag, including main character Mickey. Mickey victimizes herself in her interpersonal relationships to an overwhelming extent, which contributes to the rawness of it. I really liked the notion that a woman can both stand for Black queerness and be flawed. I do think this would have been effective had she grown in a more obvious way. The homecoming is smart in that it suggests a rebirth, but Mickey falls back into the same patterns when she moves back to New York. At the end, she’s succumbed to capitalistic expectations that she previously criticized.
The plot is poorly spaced. The beginning is arguably the best part of the book, the middle is drawn out, and the ending is severely rushed.
Graphic: Sexual content, Infidelity, and Racism
Moderate: Lesbophobia
peachani's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Racial slurs, Abandonment, Alcohol, Fatphobia, and Cultural appropriation
maceydowns's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Mental illness, Homophobia, Racism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Classism, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Body shaming, Drug use, Fatphobia, and Gaslighting
hawk_just_hawk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Drug use, Sexual content, Alcohol, Racism, Racial slurs, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Minor: Religious bigotry
gracescanlon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The characters, their relationships, and their interactions were believable and well-fleshed out. Mickey’s frustration at the unfairness (at best) of her situation was palpable.
I’d expected the story to primarily be about the racism, micro-aggressions, etc. that Mickey and other POC experience, as well as the effect of her letter and the fallout from its going viral. That was what appealed to me most when I read the inside cover at the library. However, the story focused primarily on Mickey’s current romantic relationship and her reuniting with her first love. It was a good story, but I was still incredibly disappointed that the story I’d been promised was not what I got when I read the book.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Homophobia
Minor: Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, and Abandonment
deetabz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Lesbophobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Toxic friendship, Cultural appropriation, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Infidelity, Racial slurs, and Fatphobia
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, and Religious bigotry
ukponge's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Racism