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eviecheesepuff's review against another edition
emotional
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
This one is a complicated one.
I really wanted to love this book. The premise was interesting, the diverse list of characters was inspiring and the cover is gorgeous (which is always a plus).
However the way these topics were executed really put me off reading and I struggled to finish the book. I really wanted it to turn around on the second half and so I pushed myself till the end. I regret that now and I wish that I would have dnfed it.
I feel like diversity in a book is a necessity. Everyone is mixed together in this goldfish bowl that is earth. However, this book felt to me like it was trying harder to check every diversity box more than actually invest time and depth on the characters and their struggles. For some reason the few times the author started to do so, her main character (who is a grown adult with her own business) would make terrible decisions and crack jokes about them. I think this was an attempt to lighten the mood, but it actually prevented the few good points made throughout the novel to hit home. It was just like when you’re watching Pirates of the Caribbean and the scene is extremely dramatic but you’re distracted by Jack Sparrow being a fool in the background. I love that on my Disney movies, but not on a novel that advertises itself as social commentary dealing with struggles of queerness and racism.
For example, this book has a Latina trans woman. As a Hispanic woman who emigrated to USA myself, I was expecting to really bond with that character, however shes such a stereotypical Hispanic person that I felt I was being made fun off most of the time. There is not a single sentence she speaks that does not include a Spanish word. I can not talk like that. Hell, not even Gloria from Modern Family does that so often! It was disappointing that I couldn’t see myself in the character targeted to me in a book so full of minorities.
Writing a book is really hard, so before leaving a bad review, I like to research and ask for other people’s opinions before actually making my mind completely, as sometimes it’s hard to see out of one’s bubble. I read passages of this book to my friends. All of them (Hispanic, Black and White) agreed that this book has a really bad habit of villainizing white characters. I understand that there are very real and serious racist issues in the world regarding the mistreatment at the hand of white people and the privilege they have in comparison to others sometimes (I’ve seen instances of this throughout my life), but this book (which was presented to me as a media that was trying to bring light into this issues) is actually, if anything, adding to them. Which sucks because I was really hoping to be able to list this book as a staple of modern social awareness regarding mistreatment of POC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Transphobia, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Cultural appropriation
wherethewildreadsare's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Police brutality
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, and Death of parent
mbedrosian's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Police brutality, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, and Sexual harassment
bookswithmybulldog's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Police brutality
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Infertility
stacy837's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
medium-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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
kylieqrada's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
5.0
I was so unimpressed with June's BOTM picks. I was like ugh I don't want to get any of these blah woe is me. I finally decided to go with this one since it features LGBTQIA+ themes and is by a Black author. AND IM SO GLAD I DID. This book is laugh-out-loud funny, incredibly heart-warming, and has amazing character development, all while tackling some truly real family dynamics, trauma, AND police brutality. I absolutely adored it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Police brutality, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
maria1085's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Skye Falling is about so many things. I loved the central idea of the novel of reconciling your past in order to move on for the future. Skye is an almost 39 year old woman who lives in Philly when she isn't traveling. She had a rough past, and is not to big on the idea of having any close relationships. She has up these walls around her stemming from her childhood, adolescence, and twenties. She is quick to run away when it gets too tough, and does not trust others easily. When she finds out that there is someone out there who she really can't run from will she give up her independent lifestyle and put down roots? I loved Skye as the narrator, she's funny, blunt, stubborn, and fierce. Mia McKenzie writes with laugh out loud humor, and created this world that took on so many current societal issues. I loved the setting of West Philly, the cast of characters and Skye's voice telling the story. Thanks Netgalley and Random House for the advance e-copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Police brutality