Reviews

This book was fascinating! I knew nothing about Jamaican history so I was happy to learn more about 1970s Jamaica. I love how this book was written; I will always love a dual POV. This book was so sad in the end! I think I would’ve enjoyed this even more as an audiobook to hear the Jamaican Patois properly pronounced.

annineamundsen's review

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4.0

3.5⭐ I didn't know much about Jamaica's history, so this was very interesting in that regard. The friendship and fighting annoyed me, and especially the fact that they didn't make up.

CW: murder, civil war, colorism, racism, internalised homophobia, classicism

averyadventurous's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-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

5.0

A YA sapphic romance set during the political unrest in Jamaica in the 1970s. I don’t even know what to say. I received this book as an ARC but didn’t get around to reading it until now… but wow am I glad I did. Not only did I learn a lot about 1970s Jamaica, but I also experienced so many emotions while reading this book. It tackles colonialism, colorism, classism, and so many other heavy, but important, topics. Tragedy after tragedy strikes but the rage and hope for a better tomorrow pulls you through along with the characters and makes the ending that much more impactful.

larseb13's review against another edition

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5.0

PHENOMENAL!! This is a must listen - you must listen to the audiobook. Easily the best book I read this year. It’s beautiful and heart wrenching and I loved it.

CW: violence and politically charged

lavenderluvsbooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

This book is like the color purple but jamaican. I really enjoyed it and made a playlist but it still didn't truly have a happy ending because she didn't love romantically or sexually anyone else and tell anyone. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5S4rtHBWipf1VxtOt6l4Mh?si=0-sKbfZIQ12dDDcNSju5RA&pi=dRjYL9HsQ_mpB

Content Warnings

reflectiverambling_nalana's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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? No

4.5

I could not ask more of a novel. It is YA at its best, exploring the emotional and life realities of teenagers growing up in that age and social circumstance. It is a great gateway to modern history. It is also an absolutely love letter to the power of art and of revolution. while I may have liked the abrasiveness nature of one family to be a little more subtle, I think there was enough work done to show how the more privileged character could come to her mindset in a believable manner. As the more crucial element to make the book feel sincere, I'd rather have the later than the former.

oceansshellsandpages's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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? It's complicated

5.0

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