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A review by hayleyjames24
Homebodies by Tembe Denton-Hurst
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Never really keen on an open ended ending - especially in a contemporary novel that is absolutely a stand alone.
When we finally got to read her letter that blew up her life, I did think that it was incredibly written.
Not a huge amount of character development, we don't see Mickey necessarily right her wrongs, but we do get the start of her doing something about it. But I definitely rooted for her. Just wanted her to sort her shit out tbh haha.
Mickeys flaws and the industry she works in (journalism) were the main focus of this book, but there were also so many themes that hit different for young women.
It was a really interesting look at dream careers, being a black person in your dream career, going viral (or wanting too) going home to people who never left and thinking what if? The good ol mid/late twenties what the fuck am I doing with my life? Am i making the right decision? What the fuck IS the right decision? Disappointing family and awkward family dynamics. Trauma in relationships
Loved Mickey's grandma and she felt like a real character to me.
It was kinda giving way less unhinged Yellowface by R.F Kuan and a better written and less pop culture
heavy The List by Yomi Adegoke which I enjoyed. I like a deep dive into a particular industry and looking at it through the lens of racism, or homophobia etc (I do wish this gave us more of that - it focused a massive amount of plot time to interpersonal relationships andinfidality
Idk whether it's just because I've read so many literary fiction messy girl in their twenties blowing up their career books that have been coming out recently that it didn't quite hit for me the way I think it would and could for someone else. I can feel it's on the precipice of greatness and it would be earth shattering for someone who has been in similar situations as Mickey so definitely acknowledge that just because I read it at a time I didn't really need what it had to say (in terms of relationships, family trauma, not being over old love, struggling with self within love although the themes of career, not knowing who you are in terms of career and wanting your words to mean something, and needing outside validation to figure out whether you are what you see yourself as is what i deeply deeply related too) it was powerful regardless.
It was a very easy and quick read, I found myself keen to pick it up again. Would recommend for someone who likes this genre and isn't oversaturated with it. I do wish that she had focused more on the manifesto that goes viral a little sooner in the book cos thats what the back leads you to believe is the focus but it's a lot of Mickey making terrible decisions and spiralling.
Would definitely read more from this author.
Not a huge amount of character development, we don't see Mickey necessarily right her wrongs, but we do get the start of her doing something about it. But I definitely rooted for her. Just wanted her to sort her shit out tbh haha.
Mickeys flaws and the industry she works in (journalism) were the main focus of this book, but there were also so many themes that hit different for young women.
It was a really interesting look at dream careers, being a black person in your dream career, going viral (or wanting too) going home to people who never left and thinking what if? The good ol mid/late twenties what the fuck am I doing with my life? Am i making the right decision? What the fuck IS the right decision? Disappointing family and awkward family dynamics. Trauma in relationships
Loved Mickey's grandma and she felt like a real character to me.
It was kinda giving way less unhinged Yellowface by R.F Kuan and a better written and less pop culture
heavy The List by Yomi Adegoke which I enjoyed. I like a deep dive into a particular industry and looking at it through the lens of racism, or homophobia etc (I do wish this gave us more of that - it focused a massive amount of plot time to interpersonal relationships and
Idk whether it's just because I've read so many literary fiction messy girl in their twenties blowing up their career books that have been coming out recently that it didn't quite hit for me the way I think it would and could for someone else. I can feel it's on the precipice of greatness and it would be earth shattering for someone who has been in similar situations as Mickey so definitely acknowledge that just because I read it at a time I didn't really need what it had to say (in terms of relationships, family trauma, not being over old love, struggling with self within love although the themes of career, not knowing who you are in terms of career and wanting your words to mean something, and needing outside validation to figure out whether you are what you see yourself as is what i deeply deeply related too) it was powerful regardless.
It was a very easy and quick read, I found myself keen to pick it up again. Would recommend for someone who likes this genre and isn't oversaturated with it. I do wish that she had focused more on the manifesto that goes viral a little sooner in the book cos thats what the back leads you to believe is the focus but it's a lot of Mickey making terrible decisions and spiralling.
Would definitely read more from this author.