Scan barcode
amandadevoursbooks's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
4.0
Ok, so this book. Thank you, Eden Appiah-Kubi, Netgalley, and Montlake for the advanced reader copy of this book. The opinions are mine.
This is a loose retelling of Emma from Harriet's perspective. Maya's Hawaiian dream ends abruptly. After 6 years, she has to go home and put her life back together. Her best friend, Ant (ACE), moves his life to the mainland for her. Once home, mid-COVID, Maya has to move back in with her family and figure out her next steps. Ant has to figure out who he is with and without Maya.
There's a lot to love about this book. It tackles mental health, queerness, relationships, and the couple do not act in isolation of their community. I cried a bunch reading. It was cathartic and healing. I found the plot and the characters endearing. I know that I will be rereading this book. There were a couple of plot points that felt a little forced around the retelling, but this happens in retellings.
Side note: This book starts with a fire in Hawaii, where the center Maya loves is burnt down, and the Kanaka Maoli elder she was working for cannot rebuild. It felt a little too close to the situation in Hawaii right now. I am going to be holding reviews on my other platforms for a couple of weeks out of respect for the people who lost their lives and their community in the Maui wild fires.
This is a loose retelling of Emma from Harriet's perspective. Maya's Hawaiian dream ends abruptly. After 6 years, she has to go home and put her life back together. Her best friend, Ant (ACE), moves his life to the mainland for her. Once home, mid-COVID, Maya has to move back in with her family and figure out her next steps. Ant has to figure out who he is with and without Maya.
There's a lot to love about this book. It tackles mental health, queerness, relationships, and the couple do not act in isolation of their community. I cried a bunch reading. It was cathartic and healing. I found the plot and the characters endearing. I know that I will be rereading this book. There were a couple of plot points that felt a little forced around the retelling, but this happens in retellings.
Side note: This book starts with a fire in Hawaii, where the center Maya loves is burnt down, and the Kanaka Maoli elder she was working for cannot rebuild. It felt a little too close to the situation in Hawaii right now. I am going to be holding reviews on my other platforms for a couple of weeks out of respect for the people who lost their lives and their community in the Maui wild fires.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
More...