A review by abhirupa
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I loved this book so so much! I am in awe of how many different stories Bennet was able to fit into this single narrative--it seemed like every character she introduced, even the minor ones, had at least two to three pages of character development/exploration. My favorite characters were Jude, Reese, and Early, but even the insufferable ones like Stella and Kennedy had their moments. The only thing stopping me from giving it a full five stars is because of how it dragged on at some points, especially the parts with Stella and her life in the suburbs. I felt like her part of the book was the longest for no reason, especially since I would have liked to hear more about Desiree's life after Jude left Mallard. All in all, though, one of the most masterfully crafted books I've read this year!
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