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A review by mercyelle
Flip by Ngozi Ukazu
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
So, the first thing I've read from this author was the webcomic, Check, Please! The very much gay, very much white hockey webcomic that I binged when it was still in webcomic form. I enjoyed it wholeheartedly as it was hilarious, heartfelt, and just a fun read in such an interesting cinematic layout in comic form. Even as a black woman, I didn't think much about its whiteness until one day, I clicked on the About page and saw that the author's name was incredibly Nigerian.
It was then was I like *huh*. Not saying it's a problem, only that I was incredibly shocked to find out about it. Honestly, I loved that she created something like this. I didn't read her other book Bunt yet, but that's when I did start to realize that hey, this time it featured a black lead. And then, here came this book but with something more on the nose, and maybe serving as an iconic/ironic commentary of sorts but here starring a black woman body swapping with a white man. Like, there's layers to this lmao.
No matter what, though, I was sold. And, I'm glad for it. I was PRAYING for this ARC to get approved. I love bodyswapping as a trope, and Ukazu captured it so well between the unique presentation, the humor, the horrors and ofc the commentary! When she later states that Flip was basically an autobiography, I felt that! I too was in PWI and had a habit of wanting attention from the predominant race. I felt Chi-Chi's degree of self-loathing and loved that while that was a core part of her, there were so many other elements and aspects of her that rounded her out and that she needed to appreciate.
It also would've been too easy to just have Flip be the imperfect/perfect stock character of a white guy. I loved that he too is fleshed out with his own backstory with his familial situation and other negative aspects that are integral to his conflict with and foil to Chi-Chi. Ah, they made each other (gradually) become better people by the end of it and I was here for it!
The whole cast was great, and like Check Please! It is something I would love to see as a TV show. Overall, this was a really good read, and I definitely gotta buy it when it officially comes out. I'm curious to see what Ukazu will write after this.
received as an ARC from NetGalley
It was then was I like *huh*. Not saying it's a problem, only that I was incredibly shocked to find out about it. Honestly, I loved that she created something like this. I didn't read her other book Bunt yet, but that's when I did start to realize that hey, this time it featured a black lead. And then, here came this book but with something more on the nose, and maybe serving as an iconic/ironic commentary of sorts but here starring a black woman body swapping with a white man. Like, there's layers to this lmao.
No matter what, though, I was sold. And, I'm glad for it. I was PRAYING for this ARC to get approved. I love bodyswapping as a trope, and Ukazu captured it so well between the unique presentation, the humor, the horrors and ofc the commentary! When she later states that Flip was basically an autobiography, I felt that! I too was in PWI and had a habit of wanting attention from the predominant race. I felt Chi-Chi's degree of self-loathing and loved that while that was a core part of her, there were so many other elements and aspects of her that rounded her out and that she needed to appreciate.
It also would've been too easy to just have Flip be the imperfect/perfect stock character of a white guy. I loved that he too is fleshed out with his own backstory with his familial situation and other negative aspects that are integral to his conflict with and foil to Chi-Chi. Ah, they made each other (gradually) become better people by the end of it and I was here for it!
The whole cast was great, and like Check Please! It is something I would love to see as a TV show. Overall, this was a really good read, and I definitely gotta buy it when it officially comes out. I'm curious to see what Ukazu will write after this.
received as an ARC from NetGalley