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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
lahars_little_library'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
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
chattie_the_mad_chatter'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
The Book structure flips from present to past and between characters, so if you enjoy a nonlinea structure you will appreciate this.
I enjoyed how we were made to care about some chatacters strongly just within one chapter.
The Book explores freedom, performing and passing, family and choices. It also includes transman representation, which i fekt was authentic and positive. Although colourists is explored, it is not the main focus it is much more about the characters and their individual situations.
Graphic: Bullying and Racism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Dementia, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Classism
ruthmoog's review against another edition
4.0
The reality of colorism and racism is laid out in the pages, and the impact of Stella's decision is greatly felt by her family, especially the children - who's own stories make up about half the narrative, if not more.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Pregnancy and Gaslighting
zara89'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Medical content, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Cursing, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Dementia, Death of parent, and Classism
bethsbookshelf'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
Wow - I loved, loved, loved this book.
Things I loved:
🪴 The writing!! The first thing that pulled me in was the writing. From the first page, I was hooked. From the first chapter, I was emotionally invested. As they say, the characters leaped off the page, and I felt like I was really living their lives with them. The writing is simple, yet rich, and has some stunning and beautiful details. I underlined so many quotes. For instance, "Now, this was comfort - a languid morning spent floating across a swimming pool, a two-story house with cabinets always filled with food, a chestful of toys for her daughter, a bookshelf that held an entire encyclopedia set. This was comfort, no longer wanting anything."
🪴 Speaking of the characters, they were vivid and dimensional and complex and somehow yet, lovable. I understood all of their reasoning and decisions; their motivations and traumas were so thorough. I loved how they all contrasted each other and complemented each other at the same time. The entire cast was so great, even the minor side characters. I could seriously read a whole series about each character.
🪴 The sisterhood relationship between Desiree and Stella. They were polar opposites, but not in a way that felt lazy or stereotypical. One was loud, one was quiet, but they changed and shifted as time moved along. Their relationship was codependent yet completely independent at the same time. They longed for each other and needed each other but also required space from one another to grow. Despite them being apart for most of the book, as a reader, you feel like you're reading about them side by side. The author so fluidly flipped between the two in a way that felt so natural yet so fitting to the story.
🪴 The exploration and portrayal of race. This book exposes both race and what it means to be a victim of it. But it also exposes colourism within the Black community and how people treat each other depending on the various skin tones. Stella and Desiree are both light-skinned Black women with the possibility to pass as white. Stella does, but Desiree doesn't. I can understand both women. One wants to escape racism and live a privileged life; the other wants to be true to herself. Both are valid, and it's racism's fault that this difficult choice exists in the first place. At the end of the day, identity is something we can control slightly, but our roots and true selves will always squeeze through the cracks our masks leave behind.
🪴 The theme of motherhood. Stella and Desiree aren't perfect mothers, but the theme of nature vs. nurture is so poignant yet subtle. I really liked taking notes on this throughout and noticing little things the author did to portray this.
I do think everyone will love something about this book. I hope you pick it up!
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
maess'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Classism
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
cptnstphy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism
kyrstin_p1989'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Classism