Reviews

Las Madres by Brit Bennett

anniepoferl's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

kim_j_dare's review against another edition

4.0

A compelling story about the insidious nature of secrets. During her senior year of high school, Nadia dates Luke, the wild preacher’s son whose dreams of a football career were shattered with a leg injury. The two share a secret that will twist their relationships with each other, with Nadia’s friend Aubrey, with their parents and community.

A Greek chorus of elder church mothers provides a thread throughout the years that the novel spans.

This was such a great debut. Brit Bennett polishes her craft in The Vanishing Half, and I will definitely get my hands on anything else she writes.

mnm1015's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

allisonmc's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• 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

3.0

chavion's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.25

jordan_adee's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

shimmery's review against another edition

4.0

Set on the coast of California, this is the story of two girls without mothers and the friendship they form.

I loved this book. I thought the writing was beautiful, the pacing spot on and the characters well developed. I love stories about 17 year old girls as I think that’s such a pivotal age — the two girls at the centre of this story inhabit it so differently and the contrast worked well. I liked that although much of it seemed to be about a boy, it wasn’t really about the boy.

I’ll definitely be looking out for more from Brit Bennett.

nike_1212's review against another edition

3.0

I really enjoyed this piece. The writing was just chefs kiss. So much nuance and emotional subtlety, a raw exploration of love and loss and the past. One thing I didn’t really like was the meta voice, the overarching narrator, it was a little detracting from the story at times. Besides that I am honestly stunned this is a debut- a really good piece of literary fiction once again!

mettataylor's review against another edition

4.0

I am only rating this book 4 stars because I absolutely love the story as an independent account of lives intertwined, and not so much as an underpinning discourse. The prose is beautiful and melodic and I enjoyed how easy it was to return back to the setting every time I opened the book. As a larger commentary about abortion, motherhood, religiosity, love, and friendship, I feel like there were some things left to be desired. Nadia’s autonomy wavered incongruently to what the larger message seemed to be in my opinion and that’s really my only gripe. Overall, I am left with a chill that only an amazing book can give me and I am grateful to have spent my time reading this one.

charlypeters's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

Another engaging read from Bennett, touching on challenging topics and different perspectives.