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belgianpenguin'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, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault
autumn33344's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Transphobia, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use, Murder, Dysphoria, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Alcohol
eedle_cacleberry'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: Hate crime, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Transphobia
artemy_se'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
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, and Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs
Colorismmaryconney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Hate crime, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, and Classism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Slavery, Medical content, and Alcohol
helhas3letters'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
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Dementia, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexism, Medical content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Deadnaming, and Alcohol
mid_reads_books's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Years later, we discover the aftermath of their decisions, not only for themselves but also for their daughters, as each of them try to make it through this world.
I had expected to really love this book. Generally, I'm a huge fan of multi-generational historical fictions that center around identity, family and love. This book had all that and I also appreciated the trans representation here. The writing was beautiful and the characters were all interesting. The way identity was explored in it really allowed me to think more about my own relationship with the various elements of my identity and I really enjoyed that.
This book started falling short of my expectations a little over halfway through though. At first I really found the vague, detached writing style intriguing because it gave this air of mystery to the story. As it progressed, I had hoped for a more in-depth approach of each characters' thoughts and it didn't happen. For a book that is so centered around the theme of identity, that was a little disappointing.
The book is written in an ominous point of view that makes it easy to switch from one character's focus to another and stylistically, I thought it was a really interesting choice but in terms of execution, it ended up impeding on the book's potential because it ends up being very surface level.
In a way though, it really cemented that feeling of detachment that every character experiences. It helped carry the concept of the "vanishing half", not only as twins growing apart but also characters struggling to fully grasp their own identity as there is always a part of them that they're running from or trying to (re)connect with.
I'd still consider it a nice book despite all and would highly recommend if those themes interest you.
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Ableism, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, and Death of parent
alyxinthestars'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
4.75
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Medical content and Death of parent
Minor: Transphobia
oaxara's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Bullying, Homophobia, and Dementia
hdkroon'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: Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment