slangston10's review against another edition
4.0
parts were unbelievable but I was thoroughly entertained and this was a time and place I'd never considered.
elisabeth_li's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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? No
5.0
Love this book! This author is amazing, and I enjoy many of her works
Spoiler
I especially like how the main character’s romantic relationship is a subplot, and does not take away from her firey spiritSpoiler
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Racism
Minor: Racism, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Infidelity
thereadingrabbit's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so so good! Now I need to read more Stacey Lee!!
abigailjuice's review against another edition
4.0
I’m not sure what to say about this one yet but I loved it SO much.
fmardi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
squishies's review against another edition
4.0
Super charming coming of age book that deals with racism and misogyny in the late 1800s.
Lee writes simply, but well - her characters are well-realised and the story had a good pace to it.
There were a couple surprising turns in the story that kept me on my toes.
Lee writes simply, but well - her characters are well-realised and the story had a good pace to it.
There were a couple surprising turns in the story that kept me on my toes.
books_plan_create's review against another edition
1.0
I had such high hopes for this book, but was sadly highly disappointed. At 40% I am putting this book away and moving on to something else.
I never connected to any of the characters in the book, and in fact, the more I read, the more I began to dislike the characters. The plot of Jo writing the help column doesn't make sense to me as logistics go...Living in someone's home doesn't logically make sense to me.
And the worst is, I don't even care about the "twist" that will be revealed. I've read another review that discusses it and at that point I know I would be questioning it. Not that passing was not a thing, as it was, but I don't know...this just seems off to me.
All in all, I was bored and just not wanting to finish, and it disappoints me :(
I never connected to any of the characters in the book, and in fact, the more I read, the more I began to dislike the characters. The plot of Jo writing the help column doesn't make sense to me as logistics go...Living in someone's home doesn't logically make sense to me.
And the worst is, I don't even care about the "twist" that will be revealed. I've read another review that discusses it and at that point I know I would be questioning it. Not that passing was not a thing, as it was, but I don't know...this just seems off to me.
All in all, I was bored and just not wanting to finish, and it disappoints me :(
c_sch's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to the audiobook and the reader was outstanding in creating the voice of Jo, a Chinese girl in antebellum Atlanta. As a lover of words, I appreciated the profusion of similes, metaphors, Confucius-like wisdom, and wit from Miss Sweetie (Jo’s pseudonym). The story itself, though, felt like it creeped at the pace of stifling hot Southern summer afternoon.