magmck's review
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was so fascinating. Also, FUCK TADE.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body shaming, Classism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Body horror, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
drunk_cowgirl's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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
4.25
Okay so I read this book a couple months ago so it's not as fresh in my mind. But i actually liked this book a lot more than i initially thought i would and i definitely liked it more and more as the plot went on. i enjoy reading books about unhinged, murderous, unlikeable MAIN characters. So i was a bit hesitant going into this book since it's written from the perspective of her sister who is a goody-two-shoes and not from the perspective of the serial killer sister.
I honestly didn't love this book when i started it. I almost dnf'd it so many times. But i'm really glad i didn't, because it definitely got way better. At first, the narrator just comes off so jealous and bitter that her sister is hotter and cooler than her and how swooned after she is. She's extremely bitter about how she's had to look after her sister her whole life because she's older and clean up her messes and lives in the shadows of her younger, more conventionally attractive sister. I don't have siblings, i'm an only child, so i didn't relate to this at all and it just came off super miserable and lame how much time she spent complaining about her sister. I also just don't understand or relate to the ugly duckling trope. because of this, i wanted to put it down so bad. i was like, "damn, so your sister is hot and cool and killing wack ass abusive ass men and you're hating on her for it? that's so lame! if you're so mad about it, then just stop helping her??"
HOWEVER, i'm REALLY glad i kept reading this book, because the more the plot unfolds, you can actually see how the serial killer sister is actually a horrible person and a liar and manipulator. I was rooting for her in the beginning and then as the story went on, I definitely was not. It picked up a lot the second half of the book and i was pleasantly surprised!
this book definitely critiques family roles and sibling relationships. which wasn't something i related to but by the end of the book i definitely appreciated the insight and perspective as someone who is an only child.
I really enjoyed how this novel critiqued beauty standards and how people who are more conventionally attractive get away with a lot more. there's a quote i really liked in the book where the author says "people always conflate beauty with goodness."
i also found it interesting how we learn more about the two sisters childhood with their abusive father and emotionally neglectful mother. we get to see how both of their lives took two completely different routes due to the differences in their age even though they experienced the same trauma.
but my absolute favorite part of this book was how it was written. a lot of the chapters are simply a page or two long and they are literally poetry. i've never read a novel written like this before. as a poet myself, this was super refreshing and beautifully executed. I found myself yearning for more books written in this style.
the only reason i'm not giving it 5 stars is because it starts off kind of slow and was hard to get into and because i felt like the end didn't really have a solid conclusion. i felt like i wanted more from the ending. i'm not gonna spoil the ending but you'll see what i mean. it just kinda ended with no solid character development from anyone in the story.
I honestly didn't love this book when i started it. I almost dnf'd it so many times. But i'm really glad i didn't, because it definitely got way better. At first, the narrator just comes off so jealous and bitter that her sister is hotter and cooler than her and how swooned after she is. She's extremely bitter about how she's had to look after her sister her whole life because she's older and clean up her messes and lives in the shadows of her younger, more conventionally attractive sister. I don't have siblings, i'm an only child, so i didn't relate to this at all and it just came off super miserable and lame how much time she spent complaining about her sister. I also just don't understand or relate to the ugly duckling trope. because of this, i wanted to put it down so bad. i was like, "damn, so your sister is hot and cool and killing wack ass abusive ass men and you're hating on her for it? that's so lame! if you're so mad about it, then just stop helping her??"
HOWEVER, i'm REALLY glad i kept reading this book, because the more the plot unfolds, you can actually see how the serial killer sister is actually a horrible person and a liar and manipulator. I was rooting for her in the beginning and then as the story went on, I definitely was not. It picked up a lot the second half of the book and i was pleasantly surprised!
this book definitely critiques family roles and sibling relationships. which wasn't something i related to but by the end of the book i definitely appreciated the insight and perspective as someone who is an only child.
I really enjoyed how this novel critiqued beauty standards and how people who are more conventionally attractive get away with a lot more. there's a quote i really liked in the book where the author says "people always conflate beauty with goodness."
i also found it interesting how we learn more about the two sisters childhood with their abusive father and emotionally neglectful mother. we get to see how both of their lives took two completely different routes due to the differences in their age even though they experienced the same trauma.
but my absolute favorite part of this book was how it was written. a lot of the chapters are simply a page or two long and they are literally poetry. i've never read a novel written like this before. as a poet myself, this was super refreshing and beautifully executed. I found myself yearning for more books written in this style.
the only reason i'm not giving it 5 stars is because it starts off kind of slow and was hard to get into and because i felt like the end didn't really have a solid conclusion. i felt like i wanted more from the ending. i'm not gonna spoil the ending but you'll see what i mean. it just kinda ended with no solid character development from anyone in the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Pedophilia
magiccheesecube's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It was a great and quick read that touches on some very interesting topics like the guilt of hiding a dark secret to protect someone you love and also pretty privilege and how fitting your country's beauty standards can drastically change how people treat you.
A perfect book for people who need a quick Book to read to get them out of a reading slump.
A perfect book for people who need a quick Book to read to get them out of a reading slump.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death, Infidelity, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Medical content
allya2259's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Violence, Physical abuse, Murder, and Child abuse
eddiesourboy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.75
this was really well written and interesting and exciting and it's a unique story about sisterhood but oh my god I don't get how they had iphones but no security cameras.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Medical content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Slavery, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
tatjanasbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, and Pedophilia
thatenbyisisreads's review
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Spoiler
Although, I didn't understand the dynamic between Korede and Ayoola, the ending helped me to understand their relationship more. After everything that they had gone through with their father, it only makes sense why Korede would hold herself to that responsibility of protecting her younger sister no matter what. Even if that cost her the loss of her former crush. Overall, as much as I would liked a more dramatic ending, it still made sense for it to end the way that it did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Murder, Domestic abuse, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Rape
particledamage's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
2.5
I've seen this book described as biting satire but while it was abundant in commentary--on colorism and beauty standards, on misogyny, on codependency and the construction of the family unit, on wealth--it feels more like "satire" here just means "Everyone is one-dimensional to make a point" rather than anything more biting, nuanced, or funny.
The book goes at a break neck pace but only because of its short chapters and time jumps, not because anything meaningful actually happens or changes. You see everything coming; it's easy to see that that may be intentional but ultimately that changes nothing, you still want to just skip ahead to have it confirmed. There is little to be lost if your eyes glaze over waiting for confirmation rather than taking in what little story this book has to offer.
That said, this book is oozing with potential. The sisterly relationship--and sometimes lack thereof--is compelling and I would have loved to seen it explored more with two fully realized characters. The idea of them both ultimately being their sister's keeper is interesting but when the story is so rote, you never see the boundaries of that relationship tested in any meaningful way. The high takes of this story and their relationship feels much like jumping out of a third story window except you're wearing a safety harness and a bungee rope, knowing you'll never hit the ground.
I think if this book committed more to being a short story, I could forgive its shallowness and lack of peak a bit more. But instead this book half-commits to being a full story and loses its steam halfway through, overextending itself with details that don't add much to the moral questions its asking (and sometimes answering).
Still, the premise alone is so refreshing and new I can't resent it for not reaching the highs I wanted it to.
The book goes at a break neck pace but only because of its short chapters and time jumps, not because anything meaningful actually happens or changes. You see everything coming; it's easy to see that that may be intentional but ultimately that changes nothing, you still want to just skip ahead to have it confirmed. There is little to be lost if your eyes glaze over waiting for confirmation rather than taking in what little story this book has to offer.
That said, this book is oozing with potential. The sisterly relationship--and sometimes lack thereof--is compelling and I would have loved to seen it explored more with two fully realized characters. The idea of them both ultimately being their sister's keeper is interesting but when the story is so rote, you never see the boundaries of that relationship tested in any meaningful way. The high takes of this story and their relationship feels much like jumping out of a third story window except you're wearing a safety harness and a bungee rope, knowing you'll never hit the ground.
I think if this book committed more to being a short story, I could forgive its shallowness and lack of peak a bit more. But instead this book half-commits to being a full story and loses its steam halfway through, overextending itself with details that don't add much to the moral questions its asking (and sometimes answering).
Still, the premise alone is so refreshing and new I can't resent it for not reaching the highs I wanted it to.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Physical abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Blood, Classism, Pedophilia, Violence, Medical content, Death, and Death of parent
rebekka_evie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Murder
Minor: Pedophilia
angievansprang's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
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
A quick, fun read with very interesting characters and a plot that keeps you turning page after page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Pedophilia