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euhfubeuh's review against another edition
challenging
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Stalking
imaginefishes's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
The book delves into topics of racism and racial segregation, but my main takeaway from the story was about one's desire and attractedness to the possibility of change and metamorphosis. I deeply enjoyed the writing style and characterisation used in the story, and as the separate stories of each individual began to intertwine with each other, culminating in a grand intersection in the final few chapters, I teared up a little. Strangely enough, what stuck out to me most were the parents of the twins, and the two very different deaths they experienced, one more violent and the other more melancholic . I find this book, although fictive and possibly a little unrealistic, reflects well our human desires to be something more, or even to be someone else. I'm glad the book ended the way it did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Dementia, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying and Dysphoria
sighclopss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.75
A very thought provoking book, I'd rate it closer to 4.75⭐
This was such an interesting read with compelling characters, my main let down was the ending wasn't enough for me. I could have easily read another 200+ pages! I still have so many unanswered questions! But I understand with this type of philosophical story there can't ever really be a satisfying ending.
I found the topic of colorism/racism and being biracial intriguing. Cultural identity vs ethnic. The theme of 'passing.' It had many confronting themes, some I related too, others that helped further expand my world view.
This was overall a complicated story, I felt like the author did the complexity justice. The writing style flowed easily, and I loved every second of reading it.
This was such an interesting read with compelling characters, my main let down was the ending wasn't enough for me. I could have easily read another 200+ pages! I still have so many unanswered questions! But I understand with this type of philosophical story there can't ever really be a satisfying ending.
I found the topic of colorism/racism and being biracial intriguing. Cultural identity vs ethnic. The theme of 'passing.' It had many confronting themes, some I related too, others that helped further expand my world view.
This was overall a complicated story, I felt like the author did the complexity justice. The writing style flowed easily, and I loved every second of reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Dementia, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Slavery, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Colonisation
rachelagurley's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Racial slurs and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Dementia
aniyapapaya10's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
Brit really did her thing with this book! I admired the commentary around colorism, sexuality, and family dynamics. All of which can be difficult for black women/people to find for themselves and I think this book really shows examples of that struggle from different perspectives. My favorite character was Jude, the daughter of Desiree Vignes. I see Jude as the beacon of hope for black women everywhere because she was labeled as unlovable from a you g age, but she found a love so strong not even distance could stop it. Really a beautiful read. The only thing I wish for is a more detailed or eventful end, but the end also feels just right.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
accidentalfolklore's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
4.25
4.25 Stars: Exceptional - A truly exceptional book that deserves to be celebrated for its originality, depth, and impact. It pushes the boundaries of storytelling and challenges readers to think deeply about the world around them. It’s a must-read for anyone who appreciates the power of literature to inspire, educate, and entertain.
Great book that had me invested in the story and characters. The ending is a little flat as others have mentioned. That’s because this story is more about the characters and how people grow over time. Thing about something like the Color Purple, Fried Green Tomatoes, Where the Crawdads Sing. I get the same vibe from those books where you have a rich world and characters who are enveloped in it with feeling separate from it. I loved the addition of an LGBTQ+ character. Im on the spectrum but a different one. I felt it was done very authentically but I’ll let people who identify in that category speak on how well it was portrayed. I’m being vague only for spoiler purposes since I wasn’t expecting it but loved how it was introduced and evolved with story progression.
Great book that had me invested in the story and characters. The ending is a little flat as others have mentioned. That’s because this story is more about the characters and how people grow over time. Thing about something like the Color Purple, Fried Green Tomatoes, Where the Crawdads Sing. I get the same vibe from those books where you have a rich world and characters who are enveloped in it with feeling separate from it. I loved the addition of an LGBTQ+ character. Im on the spectrum but a different one. I felt it was done very authentically but I’ll let people who identify in that category speak on how well it was portrayed. I’m being vague only for spoiler purposes since I wasn’t expecting it but loved how it was introduced and evolved with story progression.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Slavery, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
samanthaleereads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Medical content
nina_mk's review against another edition
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Medical content, Dementia, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism
kitaface's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Dementia, Death of parent, and Abandonment
ashely_56's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
I choose to read this story for black history month, and this story takes you on an emotional journey as guides you through intergenerational African American search for identity and how severing one connection to their past and identity can lead to them feeling lost and alone.
It demonstrates how whiteness is purely a creation of perspective. Yet it proves how deadly and cruel that perspective is.
Stella makes a choice and she has to live with the consequences of that choose everyday.
While climax of the story was a quieter storm than I anticipated it didn't make it any less impact full or the grief less palpable.
The story does not end as neatly or with the amount of closure most readers like myself were hoping for. However that is more reflective of real life, our complicated relationship often don't end with the right amount of closure we need and we end of living with that grief.
This story is one of how each women lives with her grief and how that impacts their relationships with other.
This book is definitely a new favorite.
It felt like it took quite a while for the story to get started, but once it did it was outstanding and gripping!
Overall an impressive and impact read for Black History Month.
It demonstrates how whiteness is purely a creation of perspective. Yet it proves how deadly and cruel that perspective is.
Stella makes a choice and she has to live with the consequences of that choose everyday.
While climax of the story was a quieter storm than I anticipated it didn't make it any less impact full or the grief less palpable.
The story does not end as neatly or with the amount of closure most readers like myself were hoping for. However that is more reflective of real life, our complicated relationship often don't end with the right amount of closure we need and we end of living with that grief.
This story is one of how each women lives with her grief and how that impacts their relationships with other.
This book is definitely a new favorite.
It felt like it took quite a while for the story to get started, but once it did it was outstanding and gripping!
Overall an impressive and impact read for Black History Month.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Murder, and Abandonment