Reviews with content warning for Abortion - Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?

I think the convention of writing historical fiction in dual timelines, past and present, is getting a little tired. Kitty’s story was compelling and interesting, although i think could have been fleshed out a little further. Elise’s story seemed like an afterthought and I didn’t find myself caring much at all about that side of the book. Probably would have given a 4 if it had just focused on Kitty.

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aposthuma's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This book tackled a lot of heavy issues. Overall it was an enjoyable read and would definitely make a great book club read, but the present-day POV at the beginning really dragged, and I had a hard time keeping up with so many characters.

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emma_ekb's review against another edition

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reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.25

kinda bummed writing this review because i really wanted to love this book, but i just feel so-so. the message and topic is so important and i love the historical, evelyn hugo type vibe. the author had a lot of interesting things to say about colorism and privilege and legacy.

BUT! this book needed a better editor. the pacing was allllll off, it started so slow but by the end it was going way too fast and i got confused. the author dwelled too much on small details while skimping on bigger pieces of the story. the parts with kitty were great and i wish it had just all been her. there were too many characters and it was hard to keep track. the ending was good but rushed and ultimately predictable. overall just not my fave but i will say it kept me hooked - would probably make a good tv show!

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haley49's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Such a great story but the ending felt unfinished. There were so many questions for both timelines, I wondered why the author didn’t stick to one. The psychology of the main leads were understandable but their development progression and/or the supporting cast needed more space for that extra umph.

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caseyvlyons's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad medium-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

3.0

This was a good story and good look at issues in society current and during the civil rights movement. The ending felt rushed to me, I was not a big fan of Elise, I felt like we missed a lot of backstory about her and her mom and her fiancée, and I also wish we’d gotten more of Nathan after finding out Kittys secret and how Sarah grew up. The plot was very focused on civil rights and I think it was important and understand the reasoning I just grew attached to the characters too and wanted to know more about them. We didn’t get much of Kittys life sans Sarah before she passed too and the ending of Briar House. Or why the FBI was looking into it in 2017??? And questioning Elise and the St. John’s. Overall I w joyed the story very much but I wanted more and I do feel like that is partially a compliment and complaint because I liked the characters that much!

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everamplify's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring 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

5.0

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iamloreal's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative mysterious slow-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? No

2.75

This book was a slow start for me. It took a while for me to get a true feel for what the book was about because for almost a quarter of the book it had nothing to do with Elise St. John or her family, their backstory, etc. I wish the author would have just focused on Kitty’s life because her character saved this story.

I appreciate the lengths the author went through to depict life for black people post slavery, and the struggle for those that could pass. How their treatment from those in community with them shaped their views of themselves and how painful decisions were often made to secure chances at a better life.

I was let down, though, by the author’s attempt to bridge these timelines together. Elise’s storyline felt like more of an afterthought. Kind of how you’re eating a meal and you get to a small bit on the plate that needs a little seasoning. There were so many questions I had that won’t be answered. Why was the St. John family dynamic strained? Who else knew the secrets? What happened with the investigation? And what happened to the other characters from Kitty’s side of the story?

All in all, this book was ok. I’m glad I opted for the audiobook over a physical copy because it would’ve been a DNF. 🥴

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mdal26's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

I loved the concept, the story and the characters. Kitty and her friends were interesting and kept me engaged.

That being said, I wish that the storyline in the present had gone deeper - I forgot at times that the story had two timelines because there was a strong focus on the past, and the present felt disconnected at times. In particular, at the end, I wanted to understand the impact and implications of what had happened in the past on the present day characters.

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