ashleysbookthoughts's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
absolute_bookery's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Another great character driven story from Tayari Jones! I loved the dual perspective and how it explored both sides of their lives and how they experienced being the 'other daughter'.
carolineeckels's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
orch_la's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
charliesmith1564's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Abandonment, Rape, and Racism
annaem's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
abbie_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
I loved this, I was completely hooked all the way through! Better than An American Marriage in my opinion. I’m not sure what it is about reading about messy, complicated lives… In a discussion section at the end, Jones says she hopes people will read this book and come away with more tolerance and compassion for people who find themselves trapped in messy situations, and you really do feel for Dana, Chaurisse, Laverne and Gwen… but not James. James can piss right off.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
bonbongirl's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
noodletime's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I liked the writing style, premise, and the way the story felt, but I found the ending disappointing and the execution incomplete.
wellreadsinger's review against another edition
challenging
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If the point of this book was to simply explore the complexity of familial relationships and how those in unfortunate situations navigate them, then it fulfilled it’s purpose. However, that doesn’t mean I’m not going to point out some things that were problematic.
I struggle reading about women who not only willingly accept the bare minimum, but also allow that type of behavior to imprint on their children and then are confused as to why they make the decisions that they do. Gwen and Laverne had the mentality that half a man is better than none. We see this toxic mindset manifest itself in the boyfriends both Dana and Chaurisse had as teenagers. They experienced physical and emotional abuse at the hands of those young boys.
While I was rolling my eyes and yelling “GIRL GET UP!” at the mothers, I wanted James, the bigamist stuttering coward at the center of this nonsense, to get a hot pot of grits thrown on him. Raleigh, you not safe either; I hope someone breaks that camera into tiny pieces.
This is a character driven book, that I think if told in a alternating dual POV (a chapter in Dana’s POV then Chaurisse’s and so on) it would have made for a more pleasant read. The characters aren’t necessarily likable nor do they undergo any true development throughout the novel.
What these characters endured is a reality for many so I respect the author for choosing to shed light on these issues. Gwen and Laverne exemplify there is no limit to a mother’s love, but I just wish they loved themselves enough to see how their decisions impacted their daughters in the long run.