anayyuh'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
4.25
• interesting
• didn’t really like to kumbaya ending but overall enjoyed the experience
Moderate: Drug use, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Miscarriage, Abandonment, Child death, Death, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Racism, Alcohol, and Infidelity
support_lesbian's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
the content can be quite explicit and graphic as just something to be aware of
Graphic: Fatphobia, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Child abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Body shaming, Bullying, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Incest, Lesbophobia, Pedophilia, Classism, Infidelity, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcoholism, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Child death, Colonisation, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Rape
garciaga's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Rape, Slavery, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Racism, Transphobia, and Infidelity
hannahbailey'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
Generally I prefer not to read character-vignette novels written in third-person. But this novel just goes to show that when done well, I can really enjoy them! I loved the distinct voice of each character and how they would be name-dropped in one chapter only to be the main character of the next one. It built such an interesting and creative narrative without leaving me feeling I didn't know enough about them–which is usually the case for me with character-vignettes.
Surprised to see some reviews stating the character dialogue and mix of poetry/prose was hard to believe and unrealistic. I completely disagree! The inner dialogue of the female characters was relatable and familiar. I enjoyed the exploration of womanhood and motherhood and how this intersects with race in Britain. It was an interesting and sobering read.
It was almost 5 stars, but there was a part where the character overcomes drug addiction by sheer willpower–they literally stay at home for a week without any form of support and somehow recovers? This didn't feel realistic to me especially given the vulnerability and young age of the character. That said, this was one of the chapters that really stood out to me in its exploration of body/gender dysphoria and trans joy.
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Lesbophobia, Racism, Alcohol, Abortion, Addiction, Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug use, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Slavery, Transphobia, and Xenophobia
ye_li's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, Xenophobia, Death, Transphobia, Sexual assault, Rape, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Racism, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: War and Slavery
lilacwhisker'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: Drug use, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Abandonment, Infertility, Infidelity, Racism, Miscarriage, Transphobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Deadnaming, Rape, Sexual content, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Addiction, Alcoholism, Classism, and Colonisation
Minor: Police brutality
efride's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Infidelity, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Deadnaming, and Child death
jo_lzr'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: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Child death, Death of parent, Drug use, Gore, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Addiction, Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Emotional abuse, Grief, Islamophobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Police brutality and Confinement
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Cancer
georgiaaaaa's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Homophobia, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Biphobia, Infertility, Racism, Infidelity, and Transphobia
Minor: Vomit
thedisabledreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Incest, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Ableism, Alcohol, Child abuse, Classism, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Transphobia, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts