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Some bits were skimmed over and there could have been a bit more background as 1 week of trauma bonding at 17 felt a bit much for the entire basis of the romantic story. But I enjoyed all the characters and it was funny in parts.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Car accident
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Classism
I had to start this book three separate times, because the first chapter and its depiction of chronic illness was so authentic for me and what I have experienced personally, minus the part where the main character now has doctors who listen and prescription medications that help her function. Though it made me nauseous to read because I empathized so much, the disability representation in this book was honestly one of the best parts.
I also really appreciated the humor of this book when it appeared, the Black pop culture and literary references to absolute icons (Michelle Obama, Ta-Nehisi Coates, James Baldwin, Shonda Rhimes, and so many others) and the various topics this novel tried to tackle such as having a narcissistic parent, being a foster kid, alcoholism, honesty with our children about strained familial relationships, etc. This author was trying to accomplish a lot in one novel.
I do wish that the "curse" the women in Eva's family was addressed more directly for what it was earlier on, though: Being mentally and physically unwell in a country that demonizes black women, and thus does very little to provide them with/actively denies the resources or safety to access health and wellness. The story of her ancestors alone would have been an interesting book.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Drug use
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death of parent
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Car accident
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia, Suicide, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racism, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Drug abuse, Self harm
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Self harm, Car accident, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Pedophilia, Vomit, Murder