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lovelybookshelf'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
4.25
There's a trans man side character and...his first appearance included a few instances of deadnaming. Cis authors, you've got to stop doing this—if you'd been listening at all, you'd know this was established *years* ago. Other than that, the rep was quite good and felt accurate for the time period. (I'd like to see what trans men who've read and reviewed the book have to say.) Best of all, he wasn't a tragic character! So that was wonderful.
This story brought up some big feelings re: my own complicated family, about being/not being seen or understood. The ending was especially moving and tears were shed. Bennett's previous novel, THE MOTHERS, has been sitting unread on my bookshelf for a couple of years, but now that I've experienced her writing, I'm hoping to get to that book soon.
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Medical content, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
Minor: Deadnaming
morganperks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Transphobia, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, and Toxic friendship
gabgeh'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
4.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Dementia, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism
ebknits'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
3.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Death of parent
sjduncan'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
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Racial slurs, and Rape
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Dementia
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
scruffie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug use, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Alcohol
Minor: Blood
f18'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
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Hate crime, Racism, Dementia, Death of parent, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Gun violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting
colorismashleycmms'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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Medical content, and Dementia
linesiunderline's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Bennett is a subtle and gifted writer. She leaves room for the reader to make connections, slowly realizing the interconnectedness between characters and themes, and appreciate the things not said, merely suggested.
I love what this book made me think about identity. How much of ourselves do we create? How much of ourselves is our history, the legacy of family through generations? And still, there will always be parts of us that remain mysterious, even unknown, to those we love and even to ourselves.
A beauty of a story.
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Dementia, and Grief
lou_o_donnell'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
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Dementia, Grief, and Death of parent