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A review by jesshiltbrand
The Soul Feud by Juniper Jackson
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I received this ARC from a giveaway on Storygraph.
Rate: 2.5/5
I liked this story, didn’t love it, but I liked it. As much as I wanted to love these characters and their story, I just couldn’t. I love a good enemies to lovers plot but I’m not really sure that I want to be rooting for that when half the reason for the enemies half of the story is racism? I also just didn’t feel any chemistry between Raven and Patrick because of the racism implications on Patrick throughout the first 80% of the book and then suddenly they’re hooking up or now in love. There wasn’t really a gradual shift in their relationship - which I don’t even know how there could be because for the majority of the book Patrick is this physical representation of gentrification and white privilege.
With Raven, I loved her character at the beginning, loved what she stood for as she fought to keep her family’s legacy alive… and then she just kind of gave up? I know it’s meant to be a character arc of her letting go and being okay with change, but she doesn’t even really seem to care after the initial reaction? Like how could you leave enough stuff behind - full of sentimental value and ‘legacy’ to fill up an entire restaurant? It just felt that part of what made Raven this strong and bold woman that Patrick fell in love with was just taken out at the end and called growth.
And Patrick… where do you even begin? Everything that comes out of his mouth sounds forced and creepy and unnecessarily sexual. Like I get the enemies portion of this book - which again is almost all of it until they’re somehow actually in love at the end even though they haven’t done anything other than fight and have sex - because Patrick is the worst. And every conversation he had with his dad sounds so emotionally stunted and just not how people talk. His dad is a whole other can of worms of creepy and unnatural speaking.
Overall I really did like the main story and aspects of some of the characters. I loved the way Jackson wrote the descriptive elements of the book, but this one was not for me.
Rate: 2.5/5
I liked this story, didn’t love it, but I liked it. As much as I wanted to love these characters and their story, I just couldn’t. I love a good enemies to lovers plot but I’m not really sure that I want to be rooting for that when half the reason for the enemies half of the story is racism? I also just didn’t feel any chemistry between Raven and Patrick because of the racism implications on Patrick throughout the first 80% of the book and then suddenly they’re hooking up or now in love. There wasn’t really a gradual shift in their relationship - which I don’t even know how there could be because for the majority of the book Patrick is this physical representation of gentrification and white privilege.
With Raven, I loved her character at the beginning, loved what she stood for as she fought to keep her family’s legacy alive… and then she just kind of gave up? I know it’s meant to be a character arc of her letting go and being okay with change, but she doesn’t even really seem to care after the initial reaction? Like how could you leave enough stuff behind - full of sentimental value and ‘legacy’ to fill up an entire restaurant? It just felt that part of what made Raven this strong and bold woman that Patrick fell in love with was just taken out at the end and called growth.
And Patrick… where do you even begin? Everything that comes out of his mouth sounds forced and creepy and unnecessarily sexual. Like I get the enemies portion of this book - which again is almost all of it until they’re somehow actually in love at the end even though they haven’t done anything other than fight and have sex - because Patrick is the worst. And every conversation he had with his dad sounds so emotionally stunted and just not how people talk. His dad is a whole other can of worms of creepy and unnatural speaking.
Overall I really did like the main story and aspects of some of the characters. I loved the way Jackson wrote the descriptive elements of the book, but this one was not for me.