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eclecticreadswithash's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
5.0
WOW! More people should know about this book!!
Patsy, a Jamaican woman, gets a visa to America, longing to be with her childhood friend and crush Cicely. In doing so, she leaves her five-year-old daughter, Tru, behind. What follows is a beautifully written, nuanced story of immigration, motherhood, and growing up feeling unwanted. It smoothly alternatives between Patsy and her undocumented life in New York, and Tru still in Jamaica trying to get by without her mother.
This book was gut punch after gut punch. I was truly in awe of everything that Patsy and Tru went through. It didn't leave me always rooting for Patsy and I think that's really important. Patsy's decisions were never easy, but that also doesn't make her a good person.
It's an incredibly relevant story to tell today with immigration being such a hot topic and I'd encourage anyone to give it a try. It will stick with you for a while!
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Body shaming, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
missmarguerita's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Minor: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Grief, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Classism, and Deportation
nefariousbee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I ugly cried. I relate to Patsy and Cicely's story and seeing the culmination broke something in me. my heart doesn't let go either. and this was a very painful reminder of that.
above all, this books is so honest about so many *ugly* things. the reality of being undocumented, the illusion of ingrained motherhood, the social pressure on queerness. I appreciate the book for all of that so much.
it's not an easy read, but it's one that stays with you.
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Transphobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Gun violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Deportation
yuyuv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Abortion, and Alcohol
radfordmanor's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
emmalange102's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Rape and Abandonment
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Blood, Abortion, and Alcohol
bookishandlegal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This was a slow paced, primarily character driven story. I usually love character driven stories but parts of this one really dragged for me and it was hard to get into. I think I was in a weird headspace and had I read this at a different time it would have been an easy 5 stars for me. But I found the beginning half of the book really slow and I was finding myself sloughing through it and forcing myself to read it. The chapters generally got shorter after the first third or so of the book and that definitely helped me feel like I was reading faster. The switching perspectives between Patsy and Tru (US and Jamaica) also worked really well and kept the story engaging.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend it! Especially for fans of character driven, slower plot stories.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Body shaming, Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
sophieh's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
rachaeldamms's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt