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jenfantoni's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book and the intertwining story lines. It didn’t end how I would have preferred but it was still a satisfying read.
faithhoffmanxo's review against another edition
4.0
Compelling. Lost one star because of coincidences. Really liked the characters though.
irxren's review against another edition
3.0
The Vanishing Half tells the story of twin sisters, Stella and Desiree, who grow up in a small, almost invisible town. As they reach adulthood, their lives take very different paths. Stella chooses to pass as a white woman, while Desiree marries a dark-skinned man. The book spans about thirty years and explores the lives of the sisters and their daughters.
The premise of the story is incredibly interesting. It explores themes of identity, race, and family in a unique way. Bennett’s writing is truly beautiful. The way she describes emotions and settings pulls you in and makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters. However, for me, a good story also needs characters I can root for. Unfortunately, I found it hard to connect with any of the characters. They each have their struggles and flaws, but I didn’t really like any of them. This made it difficult for me to feel invested in their stories.
The premise of the story is incredibly interesting. It explores themes of identity, race, and family in a unique way. Bennett’s writing is truly beautiful. The way she describes emotions and settings pulls you in and makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters. However, for me, a good story also needs characters I can root for. Unfortunately, I found it hard to connect with any of the characters. They each have their struggles and flaws, but I didn’t really like any of them. This made it difficult for me to feel invested in their stories.
kayhaun's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
hphil721's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
marie_brum's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
vdaank's review against another edition
5.0
A captivating story that I don’t think I’ll be forgetting for awhile.
brittneygrace's review against another edition
3.0
This novel was fine but I just don’t know. It spans literal decades and the story is just so drawn out that it lacks depth and detail. I wanted more from these characters. I wanted more from the relationships too. It was fine but just felt shallow.