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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Somebody Loves You is told in sparse fragmentary vignettes. It’s a beautifully written story of Ruby’s growing up in a family impacted by racism, mental health issues and sexual assault. Ruby may be mute but she is an astute observer. A quietly compelling read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Mental illness
Moderate: Racism
readersreadingnook's review
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Mental illness, Self harm, Child abuse, Racism, and Vomit
sianjkh's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
i honestly didn't like the first few sections (chapters?) of this book. it was pretty and succinct but without direction. then i remembered how much my mother said she wanted to read this and decided it was likely a good book. i kept reading. even now i am not sure what exactly it is i've read, however it was very good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
Moderate: Racism
bestienicoley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
Moderate: Pedophilia, Xenophobia, and Racism
Minor: War and Death
lilybisliterate's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Rape, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Bullying, Grief, and Racism
keepreadingbooks's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Somebody Loves You is the epitome of a character-driven and virtually plotless novel, and it’s exactly how I like it. It essentially consists of little vignettes or memories from the main character, Ruby’s, childhood and adolescence, together giving the reader a delicate, lyrical, heartbreaking and even wryly humorous account of a young mute-by-choice girl coming of age in a family with a mentally ill mother, a loving but otherwise passive father, and a protective but rebellious older sister.
It’s easy to see that Arshi is first and foremost a poet, not only in the fragmented prose-poetry style of the book, but also in the sparse yet lyrical writing. Not a single word seems superfluous. The story itself may not seem very impactful at first, but it sneaks up on you and becomes gradually heavier with each “chapter” while managing to maintain its wry humour through Ruby’s observations of the people in her life, both friends, neighbours and family members. And while heavy, above all the novel still seems gentle, like Ruby herself, a soft cushion for the world’s harsh blows.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Rape and Racism
aaally's review
fast-paced
- 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
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Rape, Racism, and Sexual assault
florecita_lectora's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
2.75
This audiobook didn't do it for me.
The prose and writing itself were poetic and almost ethereal. However, the vignette-like, disjointed chapters and nonlinear storyline left me wondering often "what is going on?" and "what is the author trying to convey?". I was frequently distracted from the book or confused by it, which could've been my fault or a matter of simply reading the wrong book at the wrong time.
The prose and writing itself were poetic and almost ethereal. However, the vignette-like, disjointed chapters and nonlinear storyline left me wondering often "what is going on?" and "what is the author trying to convey?". I was frequently distracted from the book or confused by it, which could've been my fault or a matter of simply reading the wrong book at the wrong time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Suicide
redroseses's review
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Racism, and Sexual violence
actualspinster's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Body horror