raneyak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The story is told in a non-linear fashion, jumping back and forth in the timeline while different characters (personalities/identities within the main character) tell stories from their perspectives. This choice worked excellently for the story being told, with story pieces being told not in order of time but instead in order of personal significance.
This book was quite explicit, though, and while the language was lyrical it still talked about self harm and suicidal ideation. Be very careful reading it if you have a history of mental health issues.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Transphobia, Blood, Child abuse, Rape, Grief, Dysphoria, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol, Medical content, Outing, and Homophobia
lizziaha's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Eating disorder, and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug use, Child abuse, Death, Transphobia, Infidelity, Homophobia, Alcohol, Grief, and Outing
Minor: Religious bigotry
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
eliakine'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
I really enjoyed reading about Ada, and Emezi so skillfully wrote from so many different perspectives and voices this truly was a wonderful time. :)
Graphic: Medical content, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Child abuse, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Minor: Physical abuse, Violence, and Outing
krsnris'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
4.75
Graphic: Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Outing, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Drug use
kmgard'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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Violence, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Body horror, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Outing, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, and Drug use
emily_journals'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? It's complicated
4.5
I found this to be a very intriguing exploration of identity, gender, and sexuality through the lens of Igbo religion and culture. This book was heartbreaking and profound and is a book that I will be rereading in the future to fully appreciate and absorb everything portrayed in this book.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Rape, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Outing, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Stalking, Transphobia, and Homophobia
jamie_reads_stuff'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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Biphobia, Blood, Car accident, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Outing
Moderate: Medical content, Transphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, and Lesbophobia
thebakersbooks'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
5.0
It's odd to call such a dreamlike book relatable, but the main character of Freshwater was easy to connect to even when her specific struggles weren't ones I'd experienced. Ada's exploration of gender and sexuality were particularly special to me as someone with similar experiences. I'd be remiss not to mention that intersections of cultural and sexual/gender identity are unique to those who live them; as a white U.S.ian reader, I'm sure much of the nuance of being Black, Nigerian, an immigrant, etc. AND queer went over my head. That didn't diminish my enjoyment of reading it at all, and I hope will add to the richness of the experience for readers who do share those identities as well.
Freshwater is a short book but not necessarily a quick read; it grapples with a number of serious topics including rape, trauma, and grief. Nevertheless, the hints of magic and myth, whether real or allegorical, add a bit of lightness and much-needed distance from events that happen to Ada. There is joy amidst the pain that overshadows much of Ada's life, and the payoff when she eventually begins to understand herself more and come into her own feels like its own kind of magic. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time, a standout as both a literary work and a fantasy novel. I highly recommend this book to adult readers.
Content notes: accidental child injury (graphic); self-harm throughout; rape; eating disorder/anorexia; abusive relationships; drug use; alcohol addiction; gender dysphoria; outing a trans character; mild/brief homophobia; child sexual assault; suicide attempt
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, and Blood
Minor: Eating disorder, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Outing, and Transphobia
lycheejelly'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: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Cursing, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Blood, Suicide attempt, Eating disorder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Dysphoria, Vomit, Biphobia, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, and Homophobia
Minor: Outing, Transphobia, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Religious bigotry