Scan barcode
anarmandameg'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
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Cursing, Homophobia, Rape, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
caprivoyant's review against another edition
However! I did have a 1 problem with the content of the book and learned later that the marketing for the book/author was disingenuous. ⬇️
Content problem: There is no need to use the r-word.
Marketing problem: Apparently this book was marketed at a Native Hawai'ian story — the marketing also implied that the author himself is Native Hawai'ian. It might have been inspired by Native Hawai'ian myths, but this is not representative of Native Hawai'ian culture or beliefs (found this with a quick Google).
So! Read with care/caution if you choose to read at all. I didn't know. Now I know.
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug use, Racism, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Alcohol
bekarebeka'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: Death, Grief, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Drug use and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual assault
boba_nbooks's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Mother, Malia, and her husband, Augie, are struggling to provide for their family of five. Siblings Nainoa (aka Noa), Dean, and Kaui are all trying to find their place in the world. Noa was known as a savior growing up. After being saved from drowning by sharks, Noa discovers some abilities, and Malia starts to believe in the native legends and Hawaiian gods again. Malia and Augie seem to favor Noa, so Dean and Kaui are left to find acceptance elsewhere. Each sibling grapples with their identity as they grow up and try to find their place both in Hawaii and on the mainland as Malia struggles to live life without her children.
I found some of this novel to be quite slow. There were moments of beautiful atmosphere and ambiance, and the way the novel handled grief was so realistic. I loved a lot of things about it, but I just found that the story didn't have quite the impact I was hoping it would. It might be that the plot didn't hit quite as hard due to me listening to the audiobook. However, I still enjoyed the story and the writing.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
_rowantree_'s review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
allyem_reads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is not at all what I was expecting when I picked this book up. Whether that is a good or bad thing, I can't tell you. What I can say is that the ending was really unsatisfying? I feel like we didn't get any closure. But I did like how the author portrayed grief and depression. This whole book was really a study of grief, and it was well done.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Drug use, Blood, and Car accident
Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Cultural appropriation, and Injury/Injury detail
hhashisaka'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? It's complicated
Minor: Animal death, Death, Drug use, Sexual assault, Blood, and Medical content
kathrynjbrand'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
4.0
Moderate: Death, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts
dianna_reads's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, and Injury/Injury detail
Also detailed look at poverty and generational trauma of always living paycheck to paycheck without financial security_cararichardson'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
4.0
Moderate: Death
Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts