mattyvreads's review against another edition
5.0
It is a courageous exploration of Layson’s personal navigation through addiction, discrimination, physical and emotional abuse, eating disorders, mental health, grief — all underscored and interwoven with the racial and gendered perspective of his lived experience.
The book is incredibly accessible, offering not just a baseline understanding of issues on racism and feminism, but through personal stories, working the reader up to examples of intersectional discrimination, examples of misogynior, and examples of a complex relationship with the human body. He offers critique of the elitism and inherent racism of major universities.
But, somehow, the book is not “preachy” whatsoever. (And even if it was, I’d still be here for the ride.) It’s tender, it’s emotional, it’s personal in a way that says: “this is my experience. This was my friend’s experience. This was my mom’s experience.” It’s incontestably honest and indefatigably moving.
I can’t stop thinking about this book.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Child abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, and Racism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, and Rape
Minor: Misogyny
bootsmom3's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Classism, Cursing, Racism, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Fatphobia, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Infidelity, and Medical content
Minor: Dementia
michelle_my_belle's review against another edition
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
michellektong's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Addiction, Child abuse, Rape, Gun violence, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Racial slurs, Self harm, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Infidelity, Grief, Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Violence, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Eating disorder
rubyc's review
4.0
Graphic: Rape
savvylit's review against another edition
5.0
Heavy is a beautiful and brutal book that deftly covers so much: life, violence, hunger, poverty, unconditional love, self-destructive behavior, second chances, and - most of all - Black abundance.
Graphic: Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Fatphobia, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Racism, Body shaming, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Racial slurs
reneereads's review
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
tlaynejones's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Eating disorder, Grief, Child abuse, Rape, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual violence, Addiction, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
lowbrowhighart's review
5.0
Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Child abuse, Racism, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Addiction, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Islamophobia, Alcoholism, Grief, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Alcohol, Medical content, Sexism, Self harm, Police brutality, Mental illness, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Pedophilia, Death, Pregnancy, Transphobia, Car accident, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Cursing, Dementia, and Medical trauma
pradajones's review
4.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Rape, and Racism
Moderate: Xenophobia and Islamophobia