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emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Over a decade ago I looked up books to read and made a long list from several articles of books to convince my mom to buy. She didn't buy a single one. I remember this being on the list. And now I'm like, why? Thank goodness I found this at a used bookstore shop in Pasadena. It was a cute read, very creative, very fun. Beautiful gowns. I have the opinion that white people can't / shouldn't write magical realism because they never quite get it right. This book is only more evidence toward my theory, but it was a good effort, Miss Bender. I'll give you that. I had fun but I wasn't blown away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Suicide, Grief, Abandonment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Eating disorder
Minor: Ableism, Medical content
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Eating disorder, Infidelity
Minor: Death, Vomit, Toxic friendship
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness
Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Infidelity, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief
Minor: Addiction, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Terminal illness, Death of parent
The addiction I perceive in this book is so nontraditional, even magical, that I didn't give it more than a "minor" designation, but to me, the theme of addiction is pervasive.
The disordered eating in this book is similarly magical, but because the book is centered around food and eating and the protagonist's struggle with these things, I marked it as 'graphic.'