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lucybbookstuff's Reviews (376)
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The most boring "thriller" I've ever laid eyes on, if I'm being honest. 😬
Don't get me wrong, I really dig the idea and the allegory, I just found the execution and the writing lacking. The characters, both main and side, didn't go deep enough for me, were based heavily on stereotypes, and were largely unlikeable. And there were a few too many loose ends. She could have dropped a few side plots.
I kept expecting cliffhangers at the end of chapters, like any great thriller, but there rarely were any. The actual reveal was pretty crazy and did have me gripped, but everything before and after was kinda meh.
Honestly, the whole Aces conspiracy was so outrageously huge that I wish the author had leaned fully into this being some kind of fantasy/sci-fi alternate reality. I had a very hard time suspending my disbelief. Like, the actual injustices DO happen in real life. It felt weird to put the allegory for it also in real life?
And this is hard to explain, but the literal writing had some really odd moments. Some sentences that were attempting to be deep but made little sense. Idk. Also why do Chi and her white Italian father have a Nigerian last name??? How did that make it through editing??
But also, I fully recognize this book wasn't really written for me. I definitely see why it's popular and I don't dispute that. I like what she was trying to do. And I believe the author has a fantastic vision and will continue to write great books, especially as she gains some years.
(P.S. This book also contains one of my sleeper pet peeves... non-American writers who place their fiction novel in the USA and clearly didn't do quite enough, or any, research on cultural differences. Those things always stick out like a sore thumb for me and get really distracting.)
Don't get me wrong, I really dig the idea and the allegory, I just found the execution and the writing lacking. The characters, both main and side, didn't go deep enough for me, were based heavily on stereotypes, and were largely unlikeable. And there were a few too many loose ends. She could have dropped a few side plots.
I kept expecting cliffhangers at the end of chapters, like any great thriller, but there rarely were any. The actual reveal was pretty crazy and did have me gripped, but everything before and after was kinda meh.
And this is hard to explain, but the literal writing had some really odd moments. Some sentences that were attempting to be deep but made little sense. Idk. Also why do Chi and her white Italian father have a Nigerian last name??? How did that make it through editing??
But also, I fully recognize this book wasn't really written for me. I definitely see why it's popular and I don't dispute that. I like what she was trying to do. And I believe the author has a fantastic vision and will continue to write great books, especially as she gains some years.
(P.S. This book also contains one of my sleeper pet peeves... non-American writers who place their fiction novel in the USA and clearly didn't do quite enough, or any, research on cultural differences. Those things always stick out like a sore thumb for me and get really distracting.)
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Pretty slow and repetitive in the first half. Still cute tho. Honestly I kind of prefer the way it played out here a tiny bit better than the show. BUT the show did still make it a lot more interesting.
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Had to read quickly for book club, and I didn't find that hard to do. But it never really grabbed me. I liked some aspects of the magical realism, but I found the moths kind of silly and confusing, and I didn't love having to wait until the very end to find out what their deal was. And even then, I still don't really get it.
But the characters and their relationships were endearing.
Looking forward to discussing at book club!
But the characters and their relationships were endearing.
Looking forward to discussing at book club!
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 because by the end I was fully invested, but it took way longer than I expected to get into it. The beginning was far too confusing. I know we are supposed to find out everything along with Bree, but I found it a bit too frustrating being in the dark. At least with no glossary! The book needs a damn glossary!!! And some maps. I also was rolling my eyes a bit at how fast everything happened.
Otherwise, perfection.
Otherwise, perfection.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Got too curious after watching the show so many times, so I finally caved.
The show definitely imrpoved upon this one. Made the story a lot more interesting. I found the duke pretty gross in the book and their relationship pretty boring.
But I found the writing to be fun and the Bridgerton family super charming, so I'm going to keep giving the series a shot!
The show definitely imrpoved upon this one. Made the story a lot more interesting. I found the duke pretty gross in the book and their relationship pretty boring.
But I found the writing to be fun and the Bridgerton family super charming, so I'm going to keep giving the series a shot!
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
In general, I really liked it. It was a very bittersweet coming of age story that took a good look at grief and trauma, though I honestly think it could have looked even harder at it.
I'm not sure how I feel about a few things (meaning I feel vaguely negative about the following):
- the back and forth timelines, I think I would have preferred the whole story of the crash to be told upfront (maybe saving the cause for the end)
- being made to feel things about a bunch of people I knew were going to die :(
-Edward and Shay ending up together romantically. I don't hate it, but I do sometimes wish an author could just let a boy and a girl be friends.
I'm not sure how I feel about a few things (meaning I feel vaguely negative about the following):
- the back and forth timelines, I think I would have preferred the whole story of the crash to be told upfront (maybe saving the cause for the end)
- being made to feel things about a bunch of people I knew were going to die :(
-
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
:')
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
Guess I never wrote a review lol. Well, I just reread this on audio this time, a few years later (Aug 2025)! Great memoir. Gonna keep its 4.25 rating.
This memoir was the first one that made me realize I don't prefer memoirs written entirely in the past POV. I also wish she expanded on her healing towards the end. Of course, it's her story and if she's uncomfortable chronicling all the unpacking she did about her mom, that's totally fair. I just would have liked to hear more about it.
Any which way though, it's a fantastic memoir and I'm glad she has gotten the help and freedom she desperately needed. ❤️🩹
This memoir was the first one that made me realize I don't prefer memoirs written entirely in the past POV. I also wish she expanded on her healing towards the end. Of course, it's her story and if she's uncomfortable chronicling all the unpacking she did about her mom, that's totally fair. I just would have liked to hear more about it.
Any which way though, it's a fantastic memoir and I'm glad she has gotten the help and freedom she desperately needed. ❤️🩹