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theskyboi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Desiree and Stella Vignes are two identical twin sisters who grow up in Mallard, a town too small to have ever made it onto the map. Perhaps too big for their britches or too ambitious for their surroundings, they let out for greater destinies: Desiree as a Black woman and Stella passing for White.
At the center of this novel lies the struggle that Desiree faces in trying to find her long-lost twin, yet there are so many interlocked stories that sprout from this search. Jude, Desiree's daughter, inevitably sparked my interest with her lifelong journey of love and self-discovery.
Although I will refrain from revealing too much of the intrigue contained between the covers of this magnificent book, I will say that I was delighted to read a story that so effortlessly weaved its way through the intersecting identities of its characters: Black, White, trans, gay, and cis.
Bennett's care for these characters shines brightly on every subsequent page, and the attention that she paid to crafting such a satisfyingly connected, intergenerational exploration of identity formation was much more than I could have ever hoped to find.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Transphobia, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Outing, and Sexual content
mgeary2's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, and Transphobia
ekclar'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
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Murder, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Transphobia and Homophobia
cjsays's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Transphobia and Medical trauma
mia_pevensie's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Moderate: Classism, Domestic abuse, Racism, Transphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Death
chattie_the_mad_chatter's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The Book structure flips from present to past and between characters, so if you enjoy a nonlinea structure you will appreciate this.
I enjoyed how we were made to care about some chatacters strongly just within one chapter.
The Book explores freedom, performing and passing, family and choices. It also includes transman representation, which i fekt was authentic and positive. Although colourists is explored, it is not the main focus it is much more about the characters and their individual situations.
Graphic: Racism and Bullying
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Classism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Dementia
bek_p87's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Racism
Moderate: Drug use and Transphobia
Minor: Medical content
spark_879's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Racial slurs and Death of parent
Minor: Dementia, Dysphoria, and Transphobia
littlebells'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? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Dementia, Grief, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Transphobia, Racism, and Classism
Minor: Racial slurs
cadence99'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Dementia, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Death, Death of parent, Racism, and Transphobia