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bethuhm's review
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It was an easy read and the illustration of the cover is lovely. The writing felt disjointed, I understood the abstract flow and storytelling but it felt empty. Lots of story’s in the book about other characters were left untold, David, Kirsty and the SA. There were areas of the story where I wanted to understand more, especially the mother’s mental health. I think there was a lot to take from the writing and the story to link to the mother but it took a while to see where it was going. I liked the gardening aspect and the escapism theme within the book. I felt like it was a conversational tone, and there wasn’t a plot, and maybe that was the point of the book as it was Ruby’s POV.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
lilyreads01's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Rape
tinytoulmin32's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
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
marymclellan's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Grief, Racial slurs, Miscarriage, Death, Child abuse, Rape, and Gaslighting
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