capriqueen's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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
3.0
This started off really strong for me. I like Feyi as a character and Joy is really funny, their relationship was my favorite. I liked reading about a woman working though her grief and learning to own her life and sexuality again
The main romance was enticing to me only when it was in the pre-stages. The forbidden flirting and shameful desire. I was gasping and kicking my feet
But as soon as everything got real, that’s when it got boring imo
The main romance was enticing to me only when it was in the pre-stages. The forbidden flirting and shameful desire. I was gasping and kicking my feet
But as soon as everything got real, that’s when it got boring imo
Spoiler
The long drawn out (but very realistic) conversations about what to do, the disaster it brought to the family, all over a brand new relationship. I get it on one hand in-story but also found it hard at times to suspend my disbelief. And the titillation was gone. But I love Feyi’s development in the end
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
caitlinemccann's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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: Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, and Car accident
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Sexism
Minor: Biphobia
klausington's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Car accident, and Death
offbrandclubsoda's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Grief, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent
queenkath32's review against another edition
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Alcohol, Blood, and Death
gabichatslit's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
4.5
“Imagine that, Feyi. We’re alive, and I love you.”
I don’t even know what to do, what to say, where to go from here… Like, this was amazing. The way Emezi tackled grief, what it means to feel alive, the uncertainty of choosing yourself above all else. I’m just truly shocked. I completely understand why in all the reviews I’ve seen of this book, no one has ever been able to fully articulate how amazing this story is.
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 hadn’t been able to explain before.
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 Feyi’s messiness, in her uncertainty, in her commitment to being alive— 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.
Do I agree with everything that Feyi did? No. However, I think when approaching Feyi’s 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 hadn’t planned for and that was unfamiliar. And then she found herself on an island with someone who she didn’t 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.
I don’t even know what to do, what to say, where to go from here… Like, this was amazing. The way Emezi tackled grief, what it means to feel alive, the uncertainty of choosing yourself above all else. I’m just truly shocked. I completely understand why in all the reviews I’ve seen of this book, no one has ever been able to fully articulate how amazing this story is.
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 hadn’t been able to explain before.
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 Feyi’s messiness, in her uncertainty, in her commitment to being alive— 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.
Do I agree with everything that Feyi did? No. However, I think when approaching Feyi’s 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 hadn’t planned for and that was unfamiliar. And then she found herself on an island with someone who she didn’t 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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Death, and Car accident
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.5
I didn't love this but I did enjoy how it explored/handled finding love after losing someone. I also enjoyed how a big focus was discussing trauma that can negatively affect a relationship openly with someone whom you feel safe with/will understand and how being patient and understanding of that trauma can allow for a loving relationship to grow/thrive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Emezi is one of the best writers I have read from. they write such full characters. the characters have flaws but can also be so loveable. while i could point out many “flaws” in this book, it doesn’t matter. i loved it
Content Warnings
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Now, I knew this book was about grief and romance going into it, but that's honestly all I knew. I really want to diversify my reading and this book had such high acclaim. Plus I found the title quite compelling so I picked it up and I was shockingly surprised at how much I enjoyed it (well, once the story picked up).
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. After reading this book, I understand how others may not like it and aren't able to see past the events that take place and that is completely understandable, but I surprisingly enjoyed it. It explored elements of grief, casual dating + love, bisexuality, art, food, and choosing yourself.
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.
Spoiler
Don't think just because I said his feelings were justified means that I encouraged his destructive behavior. Although the author lowkey tried to justify it, Feyi did take (maybe not deliberately) advantage of Nasir. Even though they weren't technically dating, Feyi obviously knew how much Nasir cared for her. Like what type of dude would fly out his situationship across the country for a week and offer her a chance to jumpstart her career? He had every right to be upset that she was fooling around with his dad of all people. While I do like her and Alim together Nasir and Lorraine are completely justified with their anger.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Blood
barbarella85's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Sexual content, Death, and Grief
Minor: Injury/Injury detail