A review by witchythey
Make Your Home Among Strangers by Jennine Capó Crucet

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

the pace of this book was either breakneck or dragging. it felt like i had skipped pages at points because the main character would do things so out of left field. the complicated and emotional family dynamic is excellently written and full of dissatisfaction and nuance, which feels so universal and real. but i had a huge issue with the novel's use of an elian gonzalez stand in -- ariel hernandez. it felt pretty insensitive to the people who had been traumatized by that extremely public situation, and i wish the plot had been more distanced from real events. the book's nonsensical final chapter ends in a lackluster sentence alluding to the 2000 election, which i found both milquetoast and hackneyed. overall the book was emotionally gripping and very relatable in terms of having an identity crisis via higher education, and the strife of being a marginalized person surrounded by ignorant peers and simpering adults. but the ending left an awful taste in my mouth, which soured what good opinion i may have harbored for the novel itself.