jamiejanae_6'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
3.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, Hate crime, Infidelity, Medical content, Murder, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Racism, Bullying, Infertility, and Sexual content
dominic_t'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
3.0
The ending really got to me.
Spoiler
It broke my heart to see Gee fuck up his relationship with Noelle beyond repair. I was rooting for them! Although I will give the author props for the late reveal. Totally surprised me.Graphic: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Drug use, and Racism
Moderate: Miscarriage and Racial slurs
beklovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Overall a pretty depressing book as people are constantly using one another, tolerating neglect, and there’s just so much graphic emphasis on sex!
Interesting perspective of poverty, race, and generational trauma.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Gun violence, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infertility, Bullying, Classism, Xenophobia, Abortion, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Trafficking, Vomit, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, Slavery, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
d0505'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
3.5
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Racism, and Infidelity
jenniferduannfultz'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
4.0
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Miscarriage
kmorris85'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: Sexual content
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Infidelity
marielaabrown'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
The ending was simultaneously perfect and too messy ~ maybe i wish it was longer
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Abortion, Miscarriage, and Infidelity
kimveach'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
3.5
Graphic: Racism and Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Murder, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Addiction, Car accident, Grief, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Blood, Drug use, Abortion, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, and Sexual content
myinfinitetbr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Told over the course of 30 years in the perspectives of a Black mother and her son, and a white mother and her half-Latina daughter; each mother determined to see her child have a better life. Their kids become involved in a school play together, and create ties that bond them for decades to come.
I really liked that the narrative included the perspectives of both families with the mothers and their teens. Though the characters were well written, I found my investment in them lacking, which may have been due to the frequent shift between timelines. I still enjoyed the commentary on family dysfunction, race, identity, motherhood, and the decisions that cause a ripple effect through generations.
⚠️ Addiction, Racism, Violence, Death of a Parent, Infidelity, Abortion
Thank you Grand Central Pub for the gifted copy! All opinions are my own
Moderate: Addiction, Infidelity, Racism, Violence, Abortion, and Death of parent
ktdakotareads'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
3.0
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Cancer, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, Addiction, Cursing, Death of parent, and Medical content
Minor: Abortion, Violence, and Gun violence