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peggy_racham's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
zefancifulreader'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
4.75
It is a story of grief, which isn’t very sexy but I think it does a disservice to our human-ness to ignore a very powerful emotion that is so closely linked with Love.
It’s also one of the horniest books I’ve read in a while. Feyi is so delightfully thirsty and it was so fun to watch her mess unfold.
The book also had some of my favourite obscure troupes such as: “NO 3rd Act Breakup” and “Main Character goes to Therapy”!
The real standout for me was the incredible maturity of Alim and Feyi. Ya, it’s a large age-gap but these two characters have a boat load of trauma and have done the WORK of piecing themselves together even before the book starts. These are two adults who know how to COMMUNICATE and it’s honestly the sexiest thing.
Add the beautiful, lyrical writing style that Akwaeke Emezi is known for and you’ve got yourself a gorgeous, unapologetic, hot mess and I 100% recommend it.
Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction and Alcohol
sadhbhprice'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Biphobia, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
pm_me_book_recs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Romance is def not my typical area of enjoyment, but this was so entertaining and the overall message was heartfelt. I really want to see this on screen! There also seems to be a pattern of me enjoying food focused romance??
The amount of growth and healing that happens across the board, even with periphery characters, is so good to see. With the numerous shenanigans and circumstances Feyi gets into, it does get comedic, but never degrading. I love the honest and upfront relationship Feyi and Joy have, we all need someone like Joy! The family drama is raw and painful, the matter of consent is constant and normalized, the writing and descriptions are gorgeous. I also loved that we get to see closure across the board and that Feyi is not the only focus!
The beginning is hot and heavy, but the rest of the story is mostly steam-free aside from imaginings and a few happenings later on.
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Car accident
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, Biphobia, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
lynxpardinus's review
4.25
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Child death, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Self harm
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, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
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: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Alcohol
thecriticalreader'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: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Alcohol
nefariousbee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
okay for real, Emezi is a wonderful author, I absolutely adore their characters and the way they portray relationships. in their most raw, messy state. what I missed here is hard to out I to words; I just wanted *more*. more messy, raw feelings. everything happened too all at once for my tastes. but i still absolutely loved it and I think I'm gonna read the rest of their books as well, now that I only have two more to go.
also I gotta say, I was really surprised by the average rating. what is here not to love? I'm gonna read some reviews later but I have string suspicions it's the purity culture and pearl clutching that's so prevalent in the younger generation again and I don't fuck with that. fiction is such a great place to figure out fucked up situations and Emezi does just that here. and they do it well.
Graphic: Biphobia, Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Alcohol