elderwoodreads's review against another edition
emotional
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
This book has a slow start but once you are in you're in! I did not want to put it down. I think the way racism is handled in this book is so interesting and important, especially as it pertains to racism in white spaces that espouse themselves as liberal. Highly recommend!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Racism
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual content, Racial slurs, and Bullying
Minor: Body shaming, Classism, Infidelity, Vomit, Pregnancy, Animal death, and Fatphobia
brookey8888's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
I really enjoyed this and it made me cry which I wasn’t expecting at all. I do have to say it’s not a full five stars because I felt the dialogue was a little odd and it didn’t flow. I did really like our main character and her relationship with the child she babysat(she was probably one of my favorite parts of the book). I think the topics about white feminism and fetishization was really well done. I also enjoyed her friend group and how they were all there for each other. Most of the characters in this are so annoying but that’s the point. I also didn’t really like the ending, but it makes sense for the character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Classism, and Cursing
greenglass67's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a beautiful book. A little slow for me at times, but it is a very heartfelt story. Emira’s journey is one that so many of us go through in one way or another. The novel really explores how difficult it can be to choose yourself over others in your life, but how absolutely critical it can be as well. The characters in this novel feel so real, and each one is a complex network of flaws and positive traits alike.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Hate crime, and Racism
Moderate: Body shaming, Vomit, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death and Cursing
readingwithmeredith's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Cursing and Sexual content
dannythestreet's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
Simply perfect
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Classism, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Racism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Misogyny, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Kidnapping, and Grief
Minor: Cursing, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
pointlessmoss's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The lesson I learned from this: white people need to stop meddling!! And they should also stop trying to outdo one another in an imaginary competition of "Who is the least racist" (unless it's for my personal amusement).
For real though, I LOVE the writing and the story and the characters. I feel like I was reading about real people, not made-up fictional characters. Emira has my heart. I enjoyed myself the whole time and I felt so satisfied with how everything came together. So glad I picked this book up :)
Part of me wants to recommend this to everyone I know, but the other part of me knows not everyone will get invested in a slice-of-life story with this type of writing. I also want to hear what other people took away from this book! I'm curious to see what other interpretations of the story might be, and what I may have missed!
For real though, I LOVE the writing and the story and the characters. I feel like I was reading about real people, not made-up fictional characters. Emira has my heart. I enjoyed myself the whole time and I felt so satisfied with how everything came together. So glad I picked this book up :)
Part of me wants to recommend this to everyone I know, but the other part of me knows not everyone will get invested in a slice-of-life story with this type of writing. I also want to hear what other people took away from this book! I'm curious to see what other interpretations of the story might be, and what I may have missed!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Cursing, and Racism
Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Animal death, Bullying, Police brutality, Fatphobia, and Stalking
juleskr02's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
3.75
i absolutely loved the fashion in which this novel was written!! reid does a fantastic job at writing both in multiple points of view but also in third person narration. the subtle changes of how she addresses the character make it clear which experiences belong to which person within the entire novel, and i surprisingly found this writing style easy to read.
lost a bit of star-age because i’m not quite sure if i enjoyed the ending. i sort of wanted more between briar and emira, or even a better ending for kelley’s and emira’s relationship, but i could see how the ending can be appreciated. the last line of the book was beautiful.
this book tackles race and class in a way that allows you to think while being fully entertained. there was drama at every point, but also reflection and happy moments too. i think it’s so important to note that rich and upper class people do sometimes tend to ignore the ways of the world, and are many times oblivious to the fact that their upbringing impacts how they live their own lives, and how that then impacts their relationships with others who might not have as much wealth as them! any scene with briar made my heart so happy. i love to see a relationship between an inquisitive child and loving caregiver. briar being emira’s favorite aspect of her life rings so true with me, especially since my aspirations are to work with children.
i also enjoyed the lowkey plot twist that reid included, with showing the truth about alix’s past and how that relates to the present. i really think this book was paced very well!
a fantastic book!
lost a bit of star-age because i’m not quite sure if i enjoyed the ending. i sort of wanted more between briar and emira, or even a better ending for kelley’s and emira’s relationship, but i could see how the ending can be appreciated. the last line of the book was beautiful.
this book tackles race and class in a way that allows you to think while being fully entertained. there was drama at every point, but also reflection and happy moments too. i think it’s so important to note that rich and upper class people do sometimes tend to ignore the ways of the world, and are many times oblivious to the fact that their upbringing impacts how they live their own lives, and how that then impacts their relationships with others who might not have as much wealth as them! any scene with briar made my heart so happy. i love to see a relationship between an inquisitive child and loving caregiver. briar being emira’s favorite aspect of her life rings so true with me, especially since my aspirations are to work with children.
i also enjoyed the lowkey plot twist that reid included, with showing the truth about alix’s past and how that relates to the present. i really think this book was paced very well!
a fantastic book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Racism
Minor: Classism, Cursing, and Toxic friendship
chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition
tense
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Fatphobia
Minor: Police brutality and Pregnancy
taylorsevalia's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Cursing
Moderate: Hate crime, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, and Body shaming
shoohoob's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
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
This book was SO interesting to read and not at all what I was expecting. So many moments where I felt actually uncomfortable with the actions taken by each character. I think this book featured really strong commentary on race, class, and white allyship. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Classism, Cursing, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment and Sexual content