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A review by spinesinaline
We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
So, so good
Short review: this book was incredible. Also, probably my favourite book cover of the year, it’s stunning.
From the content warnings alone, it’s clear this book covers a lot. Even in the blurb, when the publishers pitched it as a romance and murder mystery and family story, it seems like it’s trying to do so much at once. But somehow it works and it never feels overstuffed or confused in its direction. All these parts contribute to the whole.
There’s also some fun humour and some warm, lovely characters who make this town really feel like a home (along with some not so nice folks), each with their own background of trauma and life experiences.
This is really a story about grief. Avery’s grief over the short time she’ll get with the grandmother she barely knows, and the pervasive grief over the loss of multiple people in this town that their family members are still coming to terms with and trying to understand.
(Vague spoilers about ending) It’s something so beautiful when a book gets an ending that’s as powerful and well-written as the story. It’s not the one all the characters are hoping for but I appreciated that we could check in with everyone we’ve met throughout this book.
Short review: this book was incredible. Also, probably my favourite book cover of the year, it’s stunning.
From the content warnings alone, it’s clear this book covers a lot. Even in the blurb, when the publishers pitched it as a romance and murder mystery and family story, it seems like it’s trying to do so much at once. But somehow it works and it never feels overstuffed or confused in its direction. All these parts contribute to the whole.
There’s also some fun humour and some warm, lovely characters who make this town really feel like a home (along with some not so nice folks), each with their own background of trauma and life experiences.
This is really a story about grief. Avery’s grief over the short time she’ll get with the grandmother she barely knows, and the pervasive grief over the loss of multiple people in this town that their family members are still coming to terms with and trying to understand.
(Vague spoilers about ending)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Grief, Racism, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Murder, Police brutality, and Homophobia