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lovelybookshelf'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
There's a trans man side character and...his first appearance included a few instances of deadnaming. Cis authors, you've got to stop doing this—if you'd been listening at all, you'd know this was established *years* ago. Other than that, the rep was quite good and felt accurate for the time period. (I'd like to see what trans men who've read and reviewed the book have to say.) Best of all, he wasn't a tragic character! So that was wonderful.
This story brought up some big feelings re: my own complicated family, about being/not being seen or understood. The ending was especially moving and tears were shed. Bennett's previous novel, THE MOTHERS, has been sitting unread on my bookshelf for a couple of years, but now that I've experienced her writing, I'm hoping to get to that book soon.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Classism, Dementia, Abandonment, Grief, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Body shaming, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Dysphoria, Medical content, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
Minor: Deadnaming
morganperks'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
4.0
Graphic: Transphobia, Body shaming, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Classism, Murder, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Deadnaming, Dementia, Gaslighting, Racism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, and Hate crime
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
daisiesandbees's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Body shaming, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Grief, and Drug use
gabgeh'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
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Abandonment, Body shaming, Classism, Racial slurs, Violence, and Physical abuse
ebknits'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
3.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Racism
sjduncan'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
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Cursing, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Dementia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Hate crime
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Transphobia, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Bullying, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Sexism
scruffie'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
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Gun violence, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug use, and Medical content
Minor: Blood
f18'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
3.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death of parent, Dementia, Dysphoria, Hate crime, and Racism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Drug use, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, and Murder
colorismashleycmms'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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Body shaming, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, Medical content, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Dementia
linesiunderline'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
4.5
Bennett is a subtle and gifted writer. She leaves room for the reader to make connections, slowly realizing the interconnectedness between characters and themes, and appreciate the things not said, merely suggested.
I love what this book made me think about identity. How much of ourselves do we create? How much of ourselves is our history, the legacy of family through generations? And still, there will always be parts of us that remain mysterious, even unknown, to those we love and even to ourselves.
A beauty of a story.
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Racial slurs, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, and Transphobia