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aaliyah3315's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I liked a lot of the book. I liked Edie as a character she was layered and interesting and I wish when the book had ended she had become less alone. I loved the relationship between Edie and Akila, they both seemed to be just what the other needed. There were real layers of what it is like to be the only POC in an area and how to navigate the world as a woman of colour.
I was not too fond of some aspects of the book, but the ending seemed kind of sad I wished there was a resolution of sorts for the characters but it just ends quite abruptly. The particular writing style of the book was very artistic and somewhat detached making it difficult to care about the main character. Also, the story's plot seemed far-fetched I didn't believe that the wife would let the girlfriend live in her house with her daughter. I didn't care for any of the other characters, I couldn't stand Eric I thought he was awful.
I would recommend this book to older readers who enjoy complex female characters.
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, and Abortion
al_davies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
geesammy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Pregnancy
dingakaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Medical content
Moderate: Physical abuse and Blood
Minor: Animal death and Abortion
jules44's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
readingotaku's review against another edition
Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Sexism
thevioletfoxbookshop's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Miscarriage, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Police brutality, and Abortion
Moderate: Drug use, Physical abuse, and Sexism
thesawyerbean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The actual premise was intriguing - the commencing few chapters were not particularly enthralling, but the pace did pick up later on in the novel. The portrayal of nihilistic self-destructive sex was raw and ugly, knitted together in a web of nuanced discussions on race, sexuality, feminism and capitalism which I found very interesting and affecting. These are the parts that dragged this book up in its rating.
However, I overall found this to be quite a slog to get through. I powered through the final half in one sitting, and the concluding chapters were immaculately done. But in the end I wasn’t particularly enthralled or interested in Edie as a character.
I stand by my appreciation for Leilani’s prose, and I finish my review with this quote that I found powerful:
I am inclined to pray, but on principle, I don’t. God is not for women. He is for the fruit. He makes you want and he makes you wicked, and while you sleep, he plants a seed in your womb that will be born just to die.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
emilykthelin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Medical content
Moderate: Eating disorder, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Racism, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexism, Suicide, Vomit, and Grief
travelseatsreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It's a no holds-barred, unrestrained, raw, fresh and feisty look at race, sex and modern loneliness. This completely captivated me and if this is what Leilani's debut is like I cannot wait to see what's to come.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, and Abortion
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism