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fengxin'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
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Police brutality, and Grief
sadhbhprice'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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
reminiscences'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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Police brutality, Car accident, and Alcohol
chellareads'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? It's complicated
4.75
It's Black and it's London.
It's raw and lyrical.
The second person POV won't suit everyone, and the poetic style of prose might pose a hurdle too, but it's worth persevering, if you find the style difficult. That said, it's not dense or difficult, but it is singular.
This is a startling debut, which sounds like one of those trite soundbites to sell a book, but in this case it's genuinely true.
This book cuts deep. It's about love, friendship, being Black in a world that looks at you without seeing you. But it's also about the hurt and fear carried and hidden by Black men and how that plays out for Black women.
This book is short, but it's saying so much. Highly recommend. It should be on literature reading lists. So good.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Police brutality
revoli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Blood, Police brutality, and Grief
alisonfaith426's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
deideo'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: Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, and Police brutality
discarded_dust_jacket'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? It's complicated
3.5
“You know that to love is both to swim and to drown. You know to love is to be a whole, partial, a joint, a fracture, a heart, a bone. It is to bleed and heal. It is to be in the world, honest. It is to place someone next to your beating heart, in the absolute darkness of your inner, and trust they will hold you close.” (Pg. 112)
This is a story that tackles the tenderness of love but also the terror of being truly seen. It’s a story about existing as a Black man, and the constant fear that any day could be your last when the world (especially the police) looks at you and sees something dangerous. It’s a story about masculinity, mental health, and the suppression of emotions. It’s a story about Black art, music, culture, and joy.
If you like your prose to flow like poetry, this is the love story for you. This was gorgeous.
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Police brutality
Minor: Gun violence
lindseyhall44'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
4.5
While this is a love story, it does have incredibly hard topics to read, such as police brutality, so keep that it mind when picking it up!
Ultimately, I look forward to returning to Open Water many times in my life, as well as seeing the future ahead of this talented author.
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, and Grief
thecatconstellation'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Police brutality, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content, Slavery, and Blood