The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
alli_andrews's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Minor: Ableism, Alcohol, Car accident, Mental illness, Biphobia, Drug use, Grief, Sexual content, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Cursing, and Homophobia
taleofabibliophile's review
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Homophobia, Biphobia, Violence, and Car accident
Minor: Drug use, Death of parent, and Child death
caitlinemccann'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
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, and Car accident
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Sexism
Minor: Biphobia
queenkath32's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Alcohol, Blood, and Death
gabichatslit's review against another edition
4.5
I donāt even know what to do, what to say, where to go from hereā¦ Like, this was amazing. The way Emezi tackled grief, what it means to feel alive, the uncertainty of choosing yourself above all else. Iām just truly shocked. I completely understand why in all the reviews Iāve seen of this book, no one has ever been able to fully articulate how amazing this story is.Ā
The writing in this book is just so beautiful. I would find myself pausing to just marvel over these jaw dropping sentences that felt so real, like Emezi finally gave me the language for emotions/feelings I hadnāt been able to explain before.Ā
There were moments when reading this book felt like watching a train crash and being unable to look away from the inevitable collision. But there was so much honesty in Feyiās messiness, in her uncertainty, in her commitment to being aliveā knowing what it felt like to just exist. I loved her inner monologue, she felt so real and flawed and thoroughly fleshed out. And I applaud Emezi for taking it there, for not being afraid to have Feyi make a wild ass decision and then sitting with us and unpacking how she got there.Ā
Do I agree with everything that Feyi did? No. However, I think when approaching Feyiās story from a place of compassion, you can sympathize with a woman who lost her lifeline and had been trying to fit herself into a life she did not recognize. One that she hadnāt planned for and that was unfamiliar. And then she found herself on an island with someone who she didnāt feel like she needed to stuff her grief down for. Someone with whom she could let herself be soft with. And knowing how precious life is, she refused to let that go.
This book will stay with me for awhile. And I look forward to all the things I take away from my next read.Ā
Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Death, and Car accident
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Graphic: Terminal illness, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Cancer, Death of parent, Cursing, Infertility, Medical trauma, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
meeklovestoread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I went not knowing the tropes of this book and I think this proved to be beneficial for me because if you were to tell me the tropes that were in this book initially I probably wouldn't have picked it up. As the book goes along you'll see that it turns into a forbidden romance with a significant age gap. I don't really care for tropes in books, however, these are usually things I don't gravitate toward which is why it came as a surprise how much I enjoyed reading the romance for this book. The characters seem very sweet, mature, and considerate of one another. I love how consent is an ongoing motif in this book considering we don't really see that much in romance books. And I did enjoy the friendship between Feyi and Joy (although I do wish they wouldn't encourage each other's bad decisions).
Now although I did enjoy the romance between the two characters, I feel like Nasir's feelings were completely justified.
Graphic: Cursing and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Blood
zombiezami's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Sexual content, Blood, Violence, Death, Car accident, and Grief
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Outing
Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Cancer, and Biphobia
pia_h's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Racial slurs, Grief, Death of parent, Death, and Car accident
Minor: Alcohol, Violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
jamie_rich'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: Death and Car accident
Moderate: Grief, Cursing, Alcohol, and Blood