Reviews

Life and Other Love Songs by Anissa Gray

jenniehenn's review

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

quirabb's review

emotional mysterious reflective sad

3.0

amandamita's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

cgreddy's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad 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

4.5

suzannemseidel's review

emotional reflective sad medium-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

5.0

chandlerb's review

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

jaydionne's review

5.0

This was quite the unexpected story. I enjoyed this

torireadsnz's review

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

cleches's review

challenging emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

serendipitysbooks's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

 Life and Other Love Songs is the story of a Black American family whose father mysteriously disappears. It unfolds in three main time periods and from three points of view - Oz, his wife Deborah, and their daughter Trinity- a structure that worked well. It touches on many key aspects of Black history like the Jim Crow South, the Great Migration and the Civil Rights movement. The impact of guilt and trauma are key themes. This is a well-drawn character study. I did struggle with Oz’s decision-making despite knowing his reasoning. That says as much about me and my relative privilege as it does about the character and the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, and Rape

Moderate: Homophobia