allouise's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Drug abuse, and Physical abuse
bedtimesnack's review
- 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
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Self harm, and Rape
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, Eating disorder, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Incest, Lesbophobia, and Blood
Minor: Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, and Drug use
thatenbyisisreads'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Rape, Sexual assault, and Self harm
nicolescottwv's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Rape, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Infidelity, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Dysphoria, Eating disorder, and Adult/minor relationship
jouljet's review
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Dysphoria, Grief, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
penofpossibilities's review
4.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Grief, Outing, Physical abuse, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Confinement and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Transphobia and Religious bigotry
mfieldshalva's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Medical content, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Violence
candycain's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Violence, Toxic relationship, Self harm, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Grief, and Car accident
Minor: Abortion and Addiction
tina94's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia and Drug use
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
vanguardens's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wow. This book was a powerful read. This is the story of both Ada and Emezi themself. Ada is afflicted with the obangje, spirits that live inside her body but do not necessarily belong. Their birth was careless and harm 'the Ada' throughout the book while also giving her protection. Whether you read this book through the lens of mental illness or a pure focus of spirituality, there is a lot to be gleaned by seeing.
This is not a book for people who cannot delve into the matters of the self and dealing with and healing from trauma. It is written in a lyrical and raw way that you'll need to take breaks from. It is unmistakably heavy, especially given the amount of trauma Ada suffers over her lifetime. But if you have the stomach for it, the journey is worth it.
I loved the writing of this book. It mirrors how I think about both myself and the world at times. Emezi writes things with a pointed tongue, never letting up on subject matter that is important. This book is deeply important to me, as a non-binary person. They write to us so well, they see us so well. We were able to see each character as deeply as Ada and the other-selves could. Ada struggles deeply with humans because she is first and foremost and in-betweener yet she still struggles with seeing and being seen in a deeply human way.
“The worst part of embodiment is being unseen.”
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, and Transphobia