A review by aweekinthelife
How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue

dark reflective tense
  • 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? Yes

4.0

i appreciated the alternating perspectives with chapters from "The Children" then chapters from Thula's family. my fault for expecting a different type of outcome at the end, how things played out were consistent with the storytelling, it was just upsettingly realistic. 

i was a little uncomfortable that when Thula arrives in NY, Austin is described kind of like a father figure? and the ritual that the twins subject her to didn't seem to have any further reason in the story.
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