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soapgrace's review against another edition
4.0
Going into this, I knew nothing. I saw a hardcover copy in a used bookstore for 9 dollars, went 'oooooh pretty!', and bought it. A few weeks later I opened the page, and was surprised to find myself in a scene of misery: a girl lying in a pool of blood with no idea how she got there. And that was just the start.
This was probably the most distressing and disturbing book I've ever read, so massive trigger warnings for anyone looking into it (there's a helpful list of trigger warning on the first page of the book).
For me, it was one of those stories that made me go 'oh, I haven't really thought that deeply on this issue', and allowed me to understand more. It was a similar experience as It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, but this one didn't have any funny moments in between the emotionally intense ones.
This was probably the most distressing and disturbing book I've ever read, so massive trigger warnings for anyone looking into it (there's a helpful list of trigger warning on the first page of the book).
For me, it was one of those stories that made me go 'oh, I haven't really thought that deeply on this issue', and allowed me to understand more. It was a similar experience as It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, but this one didn't have any funny moments in between the emotionally intense ones.
nicki_has_thoughts's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.75
_tyna's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
sarahrose2002's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
mysteriesofmar's review against another edition
5.0
i know i previously lauded tiffany d. jackson as a pyschological thriller master, but i made a mistake in not crediting her commentary on social issues enough. i don't want to backtrack too much, but the social commentary that monday's not coming and allegedly made were just as impactful, if not more so than their plot twists.
i urge you to read this book not for the thrill of finding out whodunnit but for the commentary on the abuse of power and how young people learning how to navigate relationships are often the victims of it. this book should scare you and make you feel sick, especially knowing that this is a fictionalized insider view of an abuse that many young people have suffered at the hands of older partners.
now please excuse me, i still feel sick and need a minute to collect myself again.
i urge you to read this book not for the thrill of finding out whodunnit but for the commentary on the abuse of power and how young people learning how to navigate relationships are often the victims of it. this book should scare you and make you feel sick, especially knowing that this is a fictionalized insider view of an abuse that many young people have suffered at the hands of older partners.
now please excuse me, i still feel sick and need a minute to collect myself again.
hummingbird_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Tiffany D. Jackson’s “Grown “ hits hard, fast, and leaves you reeling, much like the shady world it exposes. This novel isn't your typical YA, and I’ll warn you now—it’ll have you throwing your bookmark across the room more than once. But like a train wreck you can't look away from, you'll stay glued to the pages.
Enchanted Jones, the 17-year-old protagonist, dreams of becoming a famous singer but instead gets swept into the dangerous orbit of an R&B superstar. What follows is a story that expertly balances suspense, tragedy, and the bitter realities of exploitation. And let me tell you, Jackson pulls no punches with the emotional rollercoaster she puts her characters (and us!) through. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you might even consider enrolling in therapy by the end.
The writing is sharp and fast-paced, and Jackson does a stellar job making Enchanted’s voice resonate in a way that will have readers simultaneously rooting for her and wanting to jump into the pages to scream, “Girl, run!” The thriller aspect of “Grown” keeps you hooked, but it’s the nuanced look at abuse, power, and the loss of innocence that will linger long after you’ve finished.
Now, this isn't a five-star read for me simply because I occasionally found myself needing a moment to process the whiplash of events, and Enchanted’s decisions, though realistic, sometimes left me scratching my head. But hey, if we were all 17 and making flawless choices, we’d be too boring to read about, right?
Enchanted Jones, the 17-year-old protagonist, dreams of becoming a famous singer but instead gets swept into the dangerous orbit of an R&B superstar. What follows is a story that expertly balances suspense, tragedy, and the bitter realities of exploitation. And let me tell you, Jackson pulls no punches with the emotional rollercoaster she puts her characters (and us!) through. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you might even consider enrolling in therapy by the end.
The writing is sharp and fast-paced, and Jackson does a stellar job making Enchanted’s voice resonate in a way that will have readers simultaneously rooting for her and wanting to jump into the pages to scream, “Girl, run!” The thriller aspect of “Grown” keeps you hooked, but it’s the nuanced look at abuse, power, and the loss of innocence that will linger long after you’ve finished.
Now, this isn't a five-star read for me simply because I occasionally found myself needing a moment to process the whiplash of events, and Enchanted’s decisions, though realistic, sometimes left me scratching my head. But hey, if we were all 17 and making flawless choices, we’d be too boring to read about, right?
violentdelights's review against another edition
4.0
An absolute page turner, I absolutely devoured this book despite how difficult it was to read due to its subject matter. At first, I found myself turned off by the juvenile writing style, but it was soon apparent that that was to highlight the juvenile nature of the main character, similar to how the constant reference to Disney movies grounded us in her youth despite her maturity and “grown” nature. It wasn’t a very subtle book, but the issue of grooming especially with Black women is so overlooked that I don’t know if it would be as effective if it was subtle.
ewurabena_reads's review against another edition
I'm sorry, enjoyed what I could, great foundation laying. But my hackles are up and I can't continue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
lexiskat's review against another edition
5.0
This book was cray cray. If you heard about the me too movement then you would understand. Literally this book was about all the f* up stuff rkelly did. Like so much of this book was related to the things that we have heard and seen on video. Just sickened how men groom young girls.
carlyneely's review against another edition
3.0
More of a book for teens. It had a good plot and development however the tone was still a bit juvenile. Wish I would have read this in my high school years.