The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
chloeap_'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
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Terminal illness, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Child death, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, Death, Physical abuse, Suicide, Sexual content, Misogyny, Death of parent, Cancer, and Biphobia
Minor: Abortion
clovetra'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
4.0
this was a very conflicting book. but one i ultimately fell in love with.
let me start with the positives, as although i can't find too many negatives with this book, they are quite jarring.
first, going into this book, i thought the "lgbt+" tag was queerbating. did i know the story? nope. that was just my opinion. and boy am i happy i was wrong. i loved how unapologetic characters like harry and celia are, and it made my little heart sing.
i also loved jenkins reid's style of writing. this is my first time reading a book of hers, and i can confidently say i'll be reading other works of hers. this was scrumptiously written, and i adored every second.Â
one final note is that evelyn is a protagonist you love to hate, and that is one of my favourite tropes, if not my *favourite* trope, so this book gets big ticks from me.Â
now, on to the parts where this book failed.
a white woman so clearly writes this. explaining evelyn's heritage in the start and ending of the book, plus the way monique's race is described made me feel a bit sick if im honest. it was.... Not Good!
also the biphobia in this is fucking disgusting. i don't care if due to this being a historical fiction book its time accurate, as a queer reader it was fucking vile to see celia dunk on evelyn for the 50th time because she likes men and women. i wasn't too mad with how harry was portrayed up until the end. also im sorry did the d slur need to be included? im a lesbian and i feel that that word is reserved for black lesbians only. seeing jenkins reid throw that word out like nothing made me sick. and not in a good way reflecting the narrative, it soured me towards this book. i felt similar to this in regards to the misogyny & sexism present, as well as the extreme domestic violence portrayed. yes, it is reflective of the times this book is following. it still should've been written with some tact.Â
this book was very conflicting. and even writing this review i am still largely conflicted on how i feel. but, i will say, even if i find a book shit, if i don't want to put it down, in my mind its worth an additional star. and i actually could not get this book off of my mind.Â
Graphic: Death, Biphobia, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Car accident, Alcohol, Drug use, and Racism
Minor: Abortion and Addiction
sarahfeller'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
4.25
Graphic: Addiction and Sexual content
texas_reznikoff'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
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Cancer, Grief, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Outing, Suicide, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Biphobia, Car accident, Child abuse, Terminal illness, and Toxic friendship
amandab0514'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
4.25
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, and Infidelity
Moderate: Homophobia, Biphobia, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Abortion
lexi2009'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
5.0
Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Racism, Suicide, and Addiction
wing_san'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
4.25
Overall, however, the author did a very good job establishing a voice for Evelyn and making me care about her character even if I wouldn't have liked her as a real person.
I love the
I would recommend this book, with the caveat that you'll probably find yourself skimming past the parts about Monique.
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Cursing, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Biphobia, Blood, Car accident, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Death, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Classism, Drug use, Xenophobia, Eating disorder, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Outing, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy
I've put minor mentions of eating disorder above, but more accurately it's portrayals of dieting culture/actors restricting their weight for roles.kirsten1999's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Infidelity, and Car accident
Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Drug use, Gaslighting, Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicide, Sexism, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, and Body shaming
sunniva174'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
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Rape, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Abortion, Sexual harassment, Death, Suicide, Addiction, and Racism
Minor: Drug use, Outing, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
avocadotoastbee'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
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Sexual content, Outing, Suicide, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Blood, Sexism, Infidelity, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Abortion, Addiction, and Cancer