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242 reviews by:
itsawrapxx
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had to sit with this one for a little bit. I wasn't fully invested in the story until the third act when we got into Selasi's POV. This was one of the books I anticipated reading the most this year, but it left me a little underwhelmed. Overall though, I was still invested in the story from beginning to end and what we learn of Selasi, Akorfa, and her mother from their dual perspective. Akorfa and Selasi's story was compelling enough but it just wasn't very impressionable for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
I felt like I read 2 different books. The very last act of the book came out of nowhere for me (I also did not read the book summary which also explains why I wasn't prepared). I also wasn't very much of a fan of how the topic of police brutality was handled in the book either.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I had such a great time with this audiobook. T-boz's narrator was perfect and the way she mimicked Left-Eyes's voice was so good. TLC has some very iconic moments and I loved how T-boz touched them all honestly from her perspective. T-boz was my first introduction to sickle cell disease. She really delves into her struggles with the disease and it was amazing how she juggled the fame and all the craziness that comes with it on top of her stints in the hospital with sickle cell. The title is so appropriate. It also made me remember just how iconic TLC is and how groundbreaking of a group they were. they definitely don't get their just due from the industry for just how definitive they were through the nineties.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book read like a play but I struggled with what exactly I walked away with by the end of it all. It is divided into 3 perspectives: the wife, the husband, and Temi the best friend of the wife. All of the characters are flawed in an unlikeable way. I feel like there was interesting commentary about who exactly 'The wife" is outside of her pleasing her family, husband, and best friend but it seemed so poorly executed that her wish-washy behavior just irritated me. This book had potential but in the end it just fell flat for me.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
I 100% understand why most people recommend the audiobook version. It felt like a conversation and at times I forgot Mariah was reading from her book. I am a self-proclaimed lamb so there were some parts of her life and career that I wish she elaborated on especially in the later half of her career with Nick Canon and after. Either way, I still did learn a lot about her life, especially her relationship with her family which is probably the most insight we've gotten into family dynamics ever in her career. This is definitely a memoir I recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual assault
sad
tense
fast-paced
I listened to the audiobook and it felt like the narrator was shouting at me the whole time, but I still enjoyed how she brought the book to life because I probably would have dropped it had I been reading it. Whew! The mess and dramatics of it all. the actual writing wasn't all that compelling, but the drama and theatrics definitely made this a page-turner for me. Also, I did not like Roddy at all and he never really became redeemable to me, I was not rooting for Yves to end up with him at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Emotional abuse
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was an honest and sincere story for me. I did like, nor agree with Jacob, but it wasn't a completely deplorable character to me. If anything, he was a flawed man whose very ridge views of gender and patriarchy caused his suffering and to have truly fulling relationships. I thought book was well done.
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I watched the film, and it encouraged me to read the book. The narrator was really the only one saving Grace, and I don't know how I managed to finish this outside of that. I'm assuming Teri Woods's later works are better developed. There are so many Characters and plot lines going on within the book that, at times it is hard to follow. There are also some inconsistencies in the plot. We don't know very much about these characters, and because of that, I don't feel this immense love that Gena and Quadir have for one another, and I didn't feel any way about his death either I believe many people might love this book for the nostalgia of it all, but I think the urban fiction genre has come a long way since the publication of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Violence, Kidnapping
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a somber read for me, but I still enjoyed it. The first half of the book left me wondering how it was all going to come together, and I thought it was a little slow. The book's second half is really the star. It took a day or two for me to process the ending and what I had read once it was all said and done. It touches on some big themes and does it so elegantly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Suicide