megfussell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Vomit
rebeccaquinton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Police brutality and Racism
dannythestreet'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: Abandonment, Classism, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Racism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Misogyny, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Kidnapping, and Grief
Minor: Cursing, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
montyalmoro'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Police brutality, Gaslighting, Racism, Classism, and Racial slurs
erinmcav's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Police brutality
1yn23's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Police brutality and Vomit
In the very first chapter, there's a pretty descriptive scene of a non physically violent interaction of a security officer and the main character, Emira. He never touches her, and she is not arrested but he is holding her in a grocery store for no reason and it is described vividly. In a date scene, there's an explanation of a racist event in a white man's past where someone says the n word, hard r. The white man,Spoiler
Kelly,Spoiler
a white teenager calling the cops on teenagers of colorSpoiler
ThanksgivingSpoiler
Breyerpointlessmoss'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
5.0
For real though, I LOVE the writing and the story and the characters. I feel like I was reading about real people, not made-up fictional characters. Emira has my heart. I enjoyed myself the whole time and I felt so satisfied with how everything came together. So glad I picked this book up :)
Part of me wants to recommend this to everyone I know, but the other part of me knows not everyone will get invested in a slice-of-life story with this type of writing. I also want to hear what other people took away from this book! I'm curious to see what other interpretations of the story might be, and what I may have missed!
Graphic: Racial slurs, Cursing, and Racism
Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Animal death, Bullying, Police brutality, Fatphobia, and Stalking
readinghavoc'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? It's complicated
4.25
Spoiler
my heart is still breaking for Emira and for Briar. The way Reid wrote those characters and their dynamic felt like a punch to the gut, and I hope they’re okay. Emiras struggle to know herself in a world that’s desperate to define her was enheartening and tragic and utterly relatable. I’m so proud of her and I’m so hopeful for Briar. Fuck everyone else besides them, Zara, Shaunie, and Sefa. And seriously, fuck Alix ChamberlainGraphic: Racism
Moderate: Police brutality and Racism
Minor: Racism
chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Racism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Fatphobia
Minor: Police brutality and Pregnancy
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual content, Vomit, Slavery, Alcohol, Animal death, Police brutality, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty