imogenreads77's review
Boring, slow-paced, predictable
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Racism
shoohoob's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.25
This book was SO interesting to read and not at all what I was expecting. So many moments where I felt actually uncomfortable with the actions taken by each character. I think this book featured really strong commentary on race, class, and white allyship. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Classism, Cursing, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment and Sexual content
kyrstin_p1989's review
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
A brilliant story that on the surface is about two people who can’t let go of the past but when you dig deeper is about their need to not be racist, no matter the cost. This book outlines the way that well-meaning white liberals (especially the women) make choices for and about the Black women in their lives, instead of treating those women like true equals and giving them the space to make their own choices. Reid highlights the way white people often think they know what is best or just for Black people without asking or trying to understand a different perspective while also telling a complex coming of age story filled with love and loss.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Classism, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Stalking, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
esophagus18's review against another edition
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- 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
one of the first books i’ve binge read in a very long time time
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Alcohol, Cursing, Police brutality, and Racism
Moderate: Cultural appropriation and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment, Body shaming, and Vomit
dezembrluft's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Alcohol and Abandonment
sarahna's review
reflective
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
2.0
2 stars.
This book wasn't what I expected at all. The premise and opening of the book was really interesting and I admire Amira for handling the situation so well. She ends up getting accused by a grocery store cop of kidnapping the white child she's babysitting. I fully understand that she doesn't want to make a big deal out of it and that getting the cop fired won't stop him from being racist to other POC in a different store.
Still, I expected to read more about her thoughts and how she processed this incident. Instead we get a dual pov of Amira, a black 25 year old babysitter who feels lost in life and Alix, a white mother of two who got rich due to a funeral accident and lives a double life making money with a blog and pretending she still lives in NYC while she actually moved to a more rural area.
SPOILERS:
My main issue was that I simply couldn't connect with either of the characters. Alix keeps creating problems herself, mentions the 6 pounds she gained and still hasn't lost since her pregnancy seemingly every other page because what worse could happen to a woman than be a bit chubbier? The way she kept mentioning the break up that happened 15 years ago without having had therapy was baffling to me. If that one line scarred her this much, why didn't she seek out help? It also rubbed me the wrong way how she kept neglecting Briar and favored her newborn daughter instead.
Amira was extremely relatable to me with feeling lost in her mid twenties and settling for less. Still, her character barely went through a development. She kept mentioning wanting to get a 'real' job with health insurance and benefits but needed her friends to practically force her into doing so. Kelley's character was completely unnecessary in my opinion. I'm still not sure whether he had a fetish for black women or wanted to be black himself. Both Kelley and Alix showed a different kind of white saviorism which was very apparent but again, neither of them really faced consequences.
The dialog was quite bad at times, especially the ones with Amira and her friends. The stark difference between her 'going out' side and professional side was jarring.
The ending was underwhelming too. I didn't like how despite her loving and being skilled at babysitting she couldn't settle for an official nanny job. No, instead it needs to be a 9 to 5 job at an office that she dislikes but hey, she has benefits.
Briar and Amira's relationship was the best part of the book and there were moments which made me think and see the negative behavior in Kelley and Alix. I honestly don't get the hype and would highly recommend reading THUG by Angie Thomas instead.
This book wasn't what I expected at all. The premise and opening of the book was really interesting and I admire Amira for handling the situation so well. She ends up getting accused by a grocery store cop of kidnapping the white child she's babysitting. I fully understand that she doesn't want to make a big deal out of it and that getting the cop fired won't stop him from being racist to other POC in a different store.
Still, I expected to read more about her thoughts and how she processed this incident. Instead we get a dual pov of Amira, a black 25 year old babysitter who feels lost in life and Alix, a white mother of two who got rich due to a funeral accident and lives a double life making money with a blog and pretending she still lives in NYC while she actually moved to a more rural area.
SPOILERS:
My main issue was that I simply couldn't connect with either of the characters. Alix keeps creating problems herself, mentions the 6 pounds she gained and still hasn't lost since her pregnancy seemingly every other page because what worse could happen to a woman than be a bit chubbier? The way she kept mentioning the break up that happened 15 years ago without having had therapy was baffling to me. If that one line scarred her this much, why didn't she seek out help? It also rubbed me the wrong way how she kept neglecting Briar and favored her newborn daughter instead.
Amira was extremely relatable to me with feeling lost in her mid twenties and settling for less. Still, her character barely went through a development. She kept mentioning wanting to get a 'real' job with health insurance and benefits but needed her friends to practically force her into doing so. Kelley's character was completely unnecessary in my opinion. I'm still not sure whether he had a fetish for black women or wanted to be black himself. Both Kelley and Alix showed a different kind of white saviorism which was very apparent but again, neither of them really faced consequences.
The dialog was quite bad at times, especially the ones with Amira and her friends. The stark difference between her 'going out' side and professional side was jarring.
The ending was underwhelming too. I didn't like how despite her loving and being skilled at babysitting she couldn't settle for an official nanny job. No, instead it needs to be a 9 to 5 job at an office that she dislikes but hey, she has benefits.
Briar and Amira's relationship was the best part of the book and there were moments which made me think and see the negative behavior in Kelley and Alix. I honestly don't get the hype and would highly recommend reading THUG by Angie Thomas instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Body shaming, Hate crime, Racism, and Toxic friendship
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