richy_qu33r_readzz 's review for:

Model Home by Rivers Solomon

5.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

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I am so enamoured with Rivers’ writing. The beautiful flow of it, the skill of the craft to make a cohesive story that also deeply and respectfully shows the perspective of a person with DID, with trauma, who is genderfluid and autistic. Each of which can be difficult to portray well on its own, let alone all mixed up in each other. And to also include other perspectives so distinctly with such different voice, experience, and neurotypes. I am truly in awe. The horror was real. Too real. Goosebumps and sick to my stomach, angry ranting, this is a radical book in that it radicalized me all over again. The weaving of fantastical horror and the horrific realities & hardships of existing while Black in America, of making sense of it all was expertly crafted.
This is God-tier writing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia