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A review by thepermageek
The Unfortunates by J.K. Chukwu
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-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
A really poignant debut novel exploring the negative impact that living in a society utterly shot through with anti-Black racism, misogyny, and heterosexism can have on the mental health of Black queer women. Chukwu does a masterful job, through the first-person POV of the protagonist, at capturing the inner life of someone who has lived with depression and suicidality their entire lives.
To be honest, I think this book would have been too much for me to handle when I was at the absolute depths of my own despair. But now that I'm in a (relatively) mentally healthy/stable period in my life this book was an absolute delight!
To be honest, I think this book would have been too much for me to handle when I was at the absolute depths of my own despair. But now that I'm in a (relatively) mentally healthy/stable period in my life this book was an absolute delight!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Addiction, Racism, Self harm, Alcoholism, Drug use, Racial slurs, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, and Mental illness
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, and Homophobia