Reviews with content warning for Sexism - The Vanishing Half

“That was the thrill of youth, the idea that you could be anyone. That was what had captured her in the charm shop, all those years ago. Then adulthood came, your choices solidifying, and you realize that everything you are had been set in motion years before. The rest was aftermath.”

Brit Bennett’s work certainly should not go unnoticed. Family values, two generations of love and pain, and each character’s journeys immediately captured a place in my heart. I became very invested with each new chapter introducing another character’s point of view. Every individual battled with identity one way or another and it was very important for Bennett to highlight their struggles with race, colorism, gender, abuse, and growing up. The cultural and historical context provided was also significant in giving the reader a sense of what kind of world these women have to live in and adjust to, especially with the time jumps between each generation and different parts of the book. Normally, I would find time skips and multiple-character POVs too stressful or hard to keep up with, but I felt very connected to each character and had no trouble with the multiple POVs. It was extremely satisfying to see the generations come together and fit like a puzzle as their lives crossed through happenchance. This book will certainly stick with me and is a reminder that you can always give yourself a chance to grow and find yourself no matter how far you are in life.

Content Warnings

samanthaleereads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

ljzsreadsandreviews's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

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? It's complicated

5.0

This was an incredible read. I found the historical components fascinating and intriguing to think about. So much of our history is horrible and this story not only highlights old problems but shows us how others overcame certain struggles. There are a lot of very important topics in this one but please be aware of maybe some sensitive subjects to some readers.

Content Warnings