ret1234's review
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Slavery, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Kidnapping, Police brutality, and Racism
Moderate: Deportation, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Addiction
wackly93's review
4.25
Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Classism, Torture, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Police brutality, Murder, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, and Medical content
Minor: Slavery
mandi_lea's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Classism, Forced institutionalization, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/injury detail, Police brutality, Suicide, Death, Kidnapping, Confinement, Medical trauma, and Torture
Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders
the_vegan_bookworm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Though it feels obvious throughout where the book is going, I still found myself anxiously following along to see where the story would go and what the ultimate result of the plot would be. The things that are revealed about all the characters, sometimes even just briefly, add so many additional layers to the storyline.
Spoiler
At first, I didn't like the ending and thought it was rushed and too positive after encountering such an all-powerful villain. But after some reflection, I like what it says about resilience of Black communities and about community care defeating even the most powerful structured oppression. "Too positive" or not, I feel like those are messages I want to see in the world and it makes me happy to see them reflected in this book.My only actual complaint is that some elements of the story are never really resolved and just sort of forgotten in the end, like Sydney's fear of bed bugs and why Drea was working with the enemy (or even how long she was or what the story was there).
Fans of Get Out or The Other Black Girl would definitely like this book.
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Murder, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Suicide
zakiyaj's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Torture, Injury/injury detail, Death, Stalking, Racism, Violence, Racial slurs, Murder, Hate crime, Classism, and Colonisation
madmantha's review
- 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
4.75
Thrilling, anxiety-inducing, emotional and yet hilarious at the same time.
Can’t wait to suggest this read to others, I loaned it from the library but will definitely be purchasing my own copy. This is something that deserves to be remembered and celebrated for years to come.
Graphic: Confinement, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, and Torture
Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Blood, Body horror, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, and Medical trauma
Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Homophobia, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, Vomit, Alcohol, Addiction, Hate crime, Outing, Racial slurs, and Slavery
roguesaw's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Graphic: Classism and Racism
Moderate: Gore, Torture, Police brutality, Confinement, and Gun violence
mysterymom46'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Racism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Murder, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Torture, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Injury/injury detail, Gaslighting, Grief, and Blood
Minor: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, Cultural appropriation, and Drug use
Spoiler
bedbugs and a character scratching herself too much, leaving skin damage; on page sex scenedcm7918's review
- 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, Death, Drug use, Medical trauma, Addiction, Death of parent, Medical content, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Racism
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Torture, and Sexual content
annibear_bookworm's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Bullying, Body shaming, Classism, Alcohol, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Violence