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lizzym126's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Police brutality
haileyhardcover's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
While I was reading, I wondered if maybe there was something I was missing. Some context that I, as a white woman, could not understand that made this book - its plot and especially its characters - better than I was perceiving them to be. After finishing it and looking up reviews written by Black women, I think my gut instinct was right. This book reads like it was written by an “OBG.”
I will not comment further on the lived experience of the characters or real Black women. I encourage you to read reviews written by Black readers, especially Black women, if you’d like more thoughts on that.
I will say more about the writing, though. This book is rough. It’s slooooooow going, and then all of the action takes place in the last 50 or so pages. I can see what the author was going for with the ending, but it didn’t hit the way I believe she intended. I think 60% of the first 300 pages could have been cut entirely, and the ending would’ve made a great mid-point, leading up to the rising action and either a MORE shocking climax or a more triumphant one. Comparing this to The Devil Wears Prada (as a quote from The Washington Post does on the cover) is inaccurate and bizarre - the only similarity is that the fmc is an assistant, but her circumstances, the industry, her boss, everything else is completely different from TDWP. I think a better comparison would be to Jordon Peele’s Get Out - there is even a reference to the sunken place in the book. You’re gettjng conspiracy, evil white people, suspicious substances, altered states… it could’ve been SO. GOOD. But sadly, it’s just not.
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Bullying and Gaslighting
Minor: Gun violence, Hate crime, Police brutality, Cursing, and Murder
lycheejelly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Stalking, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Police brutality
Minor: Colonisation, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, and Hate crime
parasolcrafter'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: Classism, Gun violence, Gaslighting, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Cursing
sorcha's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Gaslighting and Racism
Minor: Infidelity, Gun violence, Hate crime, Drug use, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Alcohol, and Death
bootsmom3'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
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Gun violence, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, and Stalking
babayagaofficial's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Racism, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Stalking, Sexism, and Bullying
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Hate crime, Gun violence, Infidelity, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Slavery, and Kidnapping
Workplace bullying and undermining.