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A review by rose_play
Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I’m the same amount of Asian as I am white. Why doesn’t anyone ever call me half white? It’s confusing. I wonder if it will always be confusing
It was going well till 70% but then the pacing took a downturn, so many juvenile plot points were added just for the sake shock effect. It was a melancholy read.
Some things were handled so well and then some, very serious, stuff was just glossed over
Some things were handled so well and then some, very serious, stuff was just glossed over
I thought nobody understood the way he was. I thought I was the problem. But some people are just starfish—they need everyone to fill the roles that they assign. They need the world to sit around them, pointing at them and validating their feelings. But you can’t spend your life trying to make a starfish happy, because no matter what you do, it will never be enough. They will always find a way to make themselves the center of attention, because it’s the only way they know how to live.”
I just didn't understand the need for romantic subplot and why was it even done in the first place. I didn't feel the chemistry or even the reason they were together, it'd have been so much better with them staying friends.
Every time I talk to her it feels like I’m taking a test. Most of the time I fail before I even open my mouth.
It was such an anticipated read tho, I'm very disappointed by how certain things were handled cause I loved the Asian rep ( even tho Asian doesn't always mean shall eyes and round nose for crying out loud, South Asia exists) even then the struggle of identity and heritage while in a toxic household was set up so well but alas, the ending ruined it for me. No this is not a spoiler it's tw so here you go.... The abuser is never punished, nor was he even fucking confronted. Her mental health was represented so well, but her mother's was brushed off and honestly was poorly written.
I’m half Asian, a girl, and I believe in aliens. Pretty much every lifetime before mine would have sucked for me.”
The main character was so passive tho, in whole book she made one active decision for herself, just one. I know it was hard but damn, should've given her more agency at least in the last chapters
It always seems like the only way to keep everyone else happy is to do something that makes me unhappy. I don’t know how to grow out of that.”
Also I didn't like the theme of the book of how everything she drew came from a bad place even after moving away. I know and I have myself expressed emotions through art and writing but if ALL of that comes from a bad place, how are you ever gonna escape if you are doing this all for escapism. What happens when you are in a good place in life. Shouldn't that zeal to create come from where you really want it.
If you crave a sad and tense read you could give it a shot.
I wish I could turn to dust and disintegrate into the dark air like I don’t exist at all. It would be easier that way.
Also there's a Taylor swift reference you all!!
I could never take photographs the way Jamie does. He captures strangers like he’s invisible. And he sees the best possible version of them—it’s the way I imagine things in my head, but the only way I can make it real is to paint it. To me, ideals don’t exist in real life. I have to make them up.But Jamie sees them everywhere. Imperfection is his ideal, because it’s real and tangible, and he knows how to translate it into a frozen moment in time that will be beautiful forever.
The writing is beautiful.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, and Pedophilia