A review by booksbagsandbadideas
Evil Eye by Etaf Rum

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is such a gut punch. There are many important conversations had and emotions at play; everything from depression to generational trauma which is so important, but can definitely be hard to read. 

Rather than flashbacks to provide the historical context, we visit Yara’s journal where she is telling the stories from her childhood that have stuck with her and had a far greater impact than she had previously believed. 

I saw some other reviews comment that there was too much repetition and though I see where they are coming from, I don’t know that those reviewers have ever been in a place mentally or emotionally where you keep spiraling and can’t move passed certain events/feelings. Though repeating the same struggles may not make for as engaging a story, I feel it makes for a more accurate one. 

I highly recommend this book though I also highly recommend that people check out the content warnings if they are concerned about triggering elements. 
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