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A review by sirjen
Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Well this book is absolutely heartbreaking and also one of my new favourites. I honestly don't know where to start talking about this book. I guess firstly: trigger warnings for child abuse, child neglect, deaths of minors, slut shaming, homophobia, explorations of grief, repercussions of gentrification, brief mentions of miscarriage and some depictions of violence.
Monday's Not Coming deals with heavy topics that are unfortunately really common today. Youth going missing (specifically BIPOC folx), failures in the child and family welfare system, issues with school systems for POC and neurodivergent kids, elitism even in the Black community, gentrification and obviously different forms of abuse. But there is something really engaging about how Tiffany D Jackson writes these topics and I think its down to the characters she creates and the pacing of her story.
Our main character Claudia is a fully realised person who just loves her best friend so much. Her parents I think might be the best portrayal of parents I've ever read and I also liked how Jackson portrayed the siblings of our other character, Monday. I related really hard to the friendship dynamic and sisterly dynamics between Monday, Claudia and April especially.
There is a light romance in here which made me nervous when it was first being hinted at. I actually enjoyed how deftly Jackson incorporated this but honestly I wouldn't have minded if it was there or not.
I will say this book had a few moments where my heart was racing and my jaw dropped. If that's what reading thrillers is like I might have to explore the genre more because I've never been so physically drawn into a book like I did this one.
My only hiccup was the different timelines got confusing for me. However, I was listening to the audiobook and this might not have occurred if I read it physically. I will say the narrator of the audiobook, Imani Parks, did such a stellar job and I'm interested to find more work she's done.
I personally want everyone to read this book. It's so well done and delves into topics we need more discussion of these days. If you haven't read this yet, please go out and find a copy.
Monday's Not Coming deals with heavy topics that are unfortunately really common today. Youth going missing (specifically BIPOC folx), failures in the child and family welfare system, issues with school systems for POC and neurodivergent kids, elitism even in the Black community, gentrification and obviously different forms of abuse. But there is something really engaging about how Tiffany D Jackson writes these topics and I think its down to the characters she creates and the pacing of her story.
Our main character Claudia is a fully realised person who just loves her best friend so much. Her parents I think might be the best portrayal of parents I've ever read and I also liked how Jackson portrayed the siblings of our other character, Monday. I related really hard to the friendship dynamic and sisterly dynamics between Monday, Claudia and April especially.
There is a light romance in here which made me nervous when it was first being hinted at. I actually enjoyed how deftly Jackson incorporated this but honestly I wouldn't have minded if it was there or not.
I will say this book had a few moments where my heart was racing and my jaw dropped. If that's what reading thrillers is like I might have to explore the genre more because I've never been so physically drawn into a book like I did this one.
My only hiccup was the different timelines got confusing for me. However, I was listening to the audiobook and this might not have occurred if I read it physically. I will say the narrator of the audiobook, Imani Parks, did such a stellar job and I'm interested to find more work she's done.
I personally want everyone to read this book. It's so well done and delves into topics we need more discussion of these days. If you haven't read this yet, please go out and find a copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Miscarriage
slut shaming, repercussions of gentrification