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babsbee's review
- 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
4.75
It's a challenging read but also a very fast one, and one that I highly recommend for everyone to read.
Graphic: Classism, Abandonment, Abortion, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Racism, Grief, Misogyny, and Rape
obfuscatress'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
3.25
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, and Abortion
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Incest
readalongwithyasmin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Child abuse, Rape, Gaslighting, and Classism
amy_park's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the originality of the book being separated by the first half being told by Akorfa and second half from Selasi's perspective. I found it engaging and having both perspectives you really digged deeper into the characters and storyline.
Many heavy areas were explored, which emotionally drew me in. I would read more from this author and definetly would recommend reading via audiobook.
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Racism, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Rape, and Abortion
linda_elaine's review
4.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Rape, and Racism
emziesreads'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? It's complicated
3.75
Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Rape
jouljet's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Rape, Grief, Medical content, Racism, and Sexual assault
alisonannk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Body shaming, Classism, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Toxic friendship, Racism, Sexual harassment, Blood, Rape, Abortion, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Police brutality, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
bookswithlydscl'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
5.0
The subject matter at times is tough, and it's so endlessly frustrating in many ways, but that's what makes this such a human and enriching story.
I liked the split POV and feel that it was so strongly written that even when we were covering Selasis's side of the same story encountered in Akorfa's narrative that it didn't feel repetitive.
I wanted to take this book slowly and did that during Part One, but once we got to Selasi and started catching up to their adult lives, I just couldn't stop reading. I wanted to see how the story would close, and Part Three brought everything together perfectly and gave me the ending that I hoped we would get. Much like real life, there is an element of ambiguity and openness to the closing of this novel, but I also felt this chapter of their lives had the conclusion it needed.
I'm so glad I picked this up due to its Women's Prize Longlisting and feel that I could come back to it again in the future.
Moderate: Abortion, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault
tiamia1084's review
- 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: Death of parent, Classism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Racism, Bullying, Misogyny, Grief, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexism, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault
Such a good book! Picked it up randomly at work because the cover was pretty but this book was so good! At times very frustrating to see how the two main characters that such different lives and yet had gone through many of the same struggles. They were bound from speaking of their experiences because of tradition, family honor, class, societal pressures, pressure from corrupt government, racism. This was such a complex and multi-level story. It was so good so so good.