guessgreenleaf's review
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Murder
Minor: Sexism and Sexual content
fraise's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Classism, Drug use, and Animal death
psistillreadyou's review against another edition
challenging
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Child abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexism
Minor: Drug abuse and Sexual assault
ferdie's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Had me reflecting on my relationship with my sister and what loyalty and understanding a person mean.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault and Death of parent
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
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
zazzyb's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
first thoughts ----Holy crap this family is messed up. Her sister is a true psycho.
I really enjoyed this book, I started it years before, gave up and it lived on my bookshelf for ages.
So dec came and I was nowhere near my yearly target so manic short book reading it was. I will say this book felt very short, I would have liked it to have been longer and more detailed.
Braithwaite really manages to draw you into her world, you want to know who the next victim will be, will Korede ever get her happy ever after. Its full of slight twists and you really do feel for this woman who puts her family first without any thought to her happiness.
Great read and a really interesting concept, wish it was longer and more in-depth however
I really enjoyed this book, I started it years before, gave up and it lived on my bookshelf for ages.
So dec came and I was nowhere near my yearly target so manic short book reading it was. I will say this book felt very short, I would have liked it to have been longer and more detailed.
Braithwaite really manages to draw you into her world, you want to know who the next victim will be, will Korede ever get her happy ever after. Its full of slight twists and you really do feel for this woman who puts her family first without any thought to her happiness.
Great read and a really interesting concept, wish it was longer and more in-depth however
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Minor: Police brutality
junefish's review against another edition
dark
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual harassment
Minor: Medical trauma, Medical content, and Infidelity
galexy_brain's review
challenging
dark
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Murder
Minor: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Death, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Medical content, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Sexism
sedgewren's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Although this was a gripping, fast-paced book that I couldn't stop listening to until I'd finished it all in one sitting, I think the actual story itself was underwhelming. There is no character development, side characters and sub-plots drop off and go nowhere, and the sister is as inscrutable at the end as at the start. Korede is, in her words, an "opinionated pushover", which is so frustrating it makes me want to scream at her when she just goes along with her mum's and sister's wishes with no pushback even though you know exactly what her thoughts are. This may be the intent of the author and a sign of her mastery over writing, but it was still irritating to me.
I will say, the story is a touching exploration of the bond between sisters, the long-standing effects of abuse, and the particular flavour of misogyny in Nigeria. Nigerian life is portrayed in all its colours and vigour, and I liked the setting of the hospital and all the catty behaviour was fun to hear about. A quick, light read despite the heavy subject of murder, even if the story is unsatisfying.
I will say, the story is a touching exploration of the bond between sisters, the long-standing effects of abuse, and the particular flavour of misogyny in Nigeria. Nigerian life is portrayed in all its colours and vigour, and I liked the setting of the hospital and all the catty behaviour was fun to hear about. A quick, light read despite the heavy subject of murder, even if the story is unsatisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Death, Murder, Child abuse, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship