A review by ganzareads
In Every Mirror She's Black by Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström

dark sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

I do not understand the high rating of this book. There was no story, just three black women suffering page after page because of their skin color. It was really hard to root for Kemi and Brittany who kept on falling for white men who were OBVIOUSLY racist and/or fetichist? Muna deserved so much better though. Throughout the book, the author decided to paint the characters as lacking any sort of agency and just being victims of racism? This book especially the ending made me so angry. This felt like black trauma porn and I wish I had been warned. 

PS: Also wtf with the Jonny's autism being used as an excuse for his racist and predatory behaviour throughout the book only for the author at the end to imply that if he had been accepted as being on the autistic spectrum and supported with appropriate tools he would be less racist? Ugh I'm so angry 

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