Scan barcode
tanwe's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Abortion, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racial slurs and Suicide
anule's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- 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
3.75
Fast read, well-written. The descriptions of mundane items and tasks were captivating. The phrase “a tongue of hair” , used to describe cleaning a drain, is stuck in my head forever. I didn’t love any of the characters, per se, but I understood them and their motivations, to an extent. I didn’t quite “get” some of the narrator’s motivations, though I understand that might be intentional. She doesn’t fully know herself, so neither shall the reader
Overall, good book! Love a book when a book envelops me into a character’s psyche. Could even be a beach read if you’re looking for novel that is approachable yet kinda heavy.
Overall, good book! Love a book when a book envelops me into a character’s psyche. Could even be a beach read if you’re looking for novel that is approachable yet kinda heavy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Minor: Vomit
liliths_brood's review against another edition
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Blood
Moderate: Suicide
lilyblum's review against another edition
3.0
This book was nothing like how I had imagined it to be. I thought it was going to be spicey, steamy and chaotic, however, it was depressing, messy and tense.
I felt so sorry for Edie and I would not have been able to handle her life circumstances. So in a sense this book was written so well that it made me feel a lot, even if negative emotions. Edie reminded me of that one woman in Cleopatra and Frankenstein and the dreamlike story telling of the one in Hot Milk. Messy, flawed and broken female characters seem to be on my radar lately. I despised Eric and felt ambiguous about Rebecca -as you are supposed to probably- but felt so much gentleness for Akila.
A short and confusing read, not sure if I’d recommend it but definitely look up trigger warnings in advance!!
I felt so sorry for Edie and I would not have been able to handle her life circumstances. So in a sense this book was written so well that it made me feel a lot, even if negative emotions. Edie reminded me of that one woman in Cleopatra and Frankenstein and the dreamlike story telling of the one in Hot Milk. Messy, flawed and broken female characters seem to be on my radar lately. I despised Eric and felt ambiguous about Rebecca -as you are supposed to probably- but felt so much gentleness for Akila.
A short and confusing read, not sure if I’d recommend it but definitely look up trigger warnings in advance!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Drug use, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Pregnancy
kellylynnthomas's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
What a gorgeous novel! Leilani's prose has teeth. Although the book is light on traditional plot, it reads like a thriller. The relationships in this book are so fraught that I found myself holding my breath more than once, waiting to see what would happen next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racism, and Sexual content
Minor: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Police brutality
risqkae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There wasn’t too much to the plot, but you wouldn’t really notice because the author’s writing in the book was beautiful and easy to get through. Being only a year older than Edie at the time of me reading this book and also being an African-American woman, it was refreshing to see someone who looks like me so nicely crafted, even with the traumatic and dark parts to her personality and life. Nuanced representation is still hard to come by. It didn’t feel like any of the heavy topics that were brought up were being forced into the book either, just made it more interesting to read. I’ve read some reviews where they said that the plot of the book in general was unrealistic, but I would have to disagree. You hear out of pocket crazy stories all the time on the news and on social media so a 20 something black woman ending up in her white lover’s house with his equally white wife and adopted black child actually doesn’t seem too far-fetched in this day and age. Each character was distinctly their own person and their interaction with each other also felt very authentic. My only critique would be I wanted to see if Edie had more pockets of true happiness and joy and I don’t think we ever got that for real, it was always for one split second. I feel like everybody has the capacity for those moments even if their life is tragic. Overall, the book felt like one big intrusive thought and I loved that about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, and Abandonment
jessicaapenny21's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Every time I opened this book, I wanted to give up on it. I found the narrator unbearable- her apathy was exhausting. The cover promised a funny, sexy book but I just felt depressed reading it. That said, I would still give Leilani's other work a go as I enjoyed their writing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual violence, and Abortion
its_hanya's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
3.0
It took me a minute to get into the book fully, but once I got aquainted with the writing style, I enjoyed the strange yet incredible scenes the writer cooked up. Exploring dark themes such as loneliness, desire and racism in a detached and sometimes funny style, Edie our narrator paints a powerful picture.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Blood, Police brutality, and Abortion
Moderate: Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Abandonment
norcalchris's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
Some of the most impressive and daring writing I’ve ever experienced. Darkly funny at times, vaguely sinister, and shines an unflattering light on the rotten ugly within and around us.
Will be an obvious reread in the future and a study piece on writing style and voice.
I’m not giving it quite 5 stars because I had no problem putting it down halfway through and reading a full other book before I picked it back up and at times the long streams of consciousness became exhausting. Regardless, will be one of the best books I read this year and glad I bought a physical copy.
Will be an obvious reread in the future and a study piece on writing style and voice.
I’m not giving it quite 5 stars because I had no problem putting it down halfway through and reading a full other book before I picked it back up and at times the long streams of consciousness became exhausting. Regardless, will be one of the best books I read this year and glad I bought a physical copy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Racism
Minor: Drug abuse, Suicide, and Abortion
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I purchased a copy of this book at a library book sale.
"Luster" follows a young twenty-something Edie as she tries to make it in her life. Edie's life seems to be crashing down around her as she is trying to build a name for herself. The only good part of her day is painting, and the married man she has just started seeing, Eric. Eric has an open marriage with his wife and has a teenage daughter. When Edie really hits rock bottom and moves in temporarily with Eric's family while he is on a business trip, her life really becomes wild.
This novel eloquently explores the difficulties women face, especially black women, when they are first starting out in their life. Edie just does not seem to be able to catch a break, and she does not want to rely on Eric or his family, but she really does not have many options.
One aspect of the book I really enjoyed was Edie's relationship with Eric's daughter. Eric's daughter was adopted and is a black girl being raised by white parents. Although Eric and his wife love their daughter, there are just things they do not know, and it is difficult for them to always care for her in the best ways. Edie really steps up as an almost guide and helps the girl come into her own and embrace her blackness. I think this was great to see as a character growth, but I think this also helped Edie with her own life.
Edie is ruthless in her attempts to make it on her own. For example, when she needs to find a new job and nothing is panning out, she gets a bike and delivers food to people. She knows how to scrap by and hustle, but she also knows how to practice self-care and not run herself into the ground. Painting is her release, and she continues to allow herself to indulge in this to maintain her sanity.
I think this is an exceptional debut that explores how difficult it can be to start out in life. I definitely recommend this to anyone struggling to find who they are and who they want to be.
"Luster" follows a young twenty-something Edie as she tries to make it in her life. Edie's life seems to be crashing down around her as she is trying to build a name for herself. The only good part of her day is painting, and the married man she has just started seeing, Eric. Eric has an open marriage with his wife and has a teenage daughter. When Edie really hits rock bottom and moves in temporarily with Eric's family while he is on a business trip, her life really becomes wild.
This novel eloquently explores the difficulties women face, especially black women, when they are first starting out in their life. Edie just does not seem to be able to catch a break, and she does not want to rely on Eric or his family, but she really does not have many options.
One aspect of the book I really enjoyed was Edie's relationship with Eric's daughter. Eric's daughter was adopted and is a black girl being raised by white parents. Although Eric and his wife love their daughter, there are just things they do not know, and it is difficult for them to always care for her in the best ways. Edie really steps up as an almost guide and helps the girl come into her own and embrace her blackness. I think this was great to see as a character growth, but I think this also helped Edie with her own life.
Edie is ruthless in her attempts to make it on her own. For example, when she needs to find a new job and nothing is panning out, she gets a bike and delivers food to people. She knows how to scrap by and hustle, but she also knows how to practice self-care and not run herself into the ground. Painting is her release, and she continues to allow herself to indulge in this to maintain her sanity.
I think this is an exceptional debut that explores how difficult it can be to start out in life. I definitely recommend this to anyone struggling to find who they are and who they want to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: Bullying, Miscarriage, Racism, Police brutality, and Pregnancy