Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah

11 reviews

ciaobellareads's review against another edition

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dark reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I did not enjoy this book as much as I did when I read it while younger. Rereading it as an adult has given me a different perspective. I did not enjoy the main character at all. There were no redeemable qualities about Winter at all. She was super selfish and continued to make bad decisions based off her immaturity. I was also annoyed that the author included herself as a character in the book. I've always lived Midnight, hut I've also realized that I didn't care too much for him either. He wasn't as great as he thought himself to be. I am glad I read the book, but I don't think I'm interested in ever reading it again.

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elisa26's review against another edition

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reflective 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

3.5


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doomluz's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced
  • 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

4.0

Winter is one of the most infuriating protagonists I’ve read, but she’s also not the worst. She’s selfish, but she knows what she wants. Though she's willing to use other people to get it. A raw story. 

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terriep's review against another edition

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Language, didn't care about the entitled teenager & her wants, got bored with it.

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uglypopcorn's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75


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amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0


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eggbreadcryptid's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

 this book really got under my skin, and I truly want to write something about it because I think it deserves that. 
 It’s automatically engaging as Sister Souljah draws you into the surprisingly privileged and materialistic world of Winter Santiaga. There is an element of being overwhelmed and glamoured by her extravagant life that you also feel whiplash when her life is suddenly changed by tragedy and betrayal. 
 This book is overall a morality tale, a cautionary tale for anyone who should long for a life like Winter. I kept turning the page wondering and wondering when she would hit rock bottom what would make her change what would be the moment that would make her realize she needed to make real internal changes. I think that’s what really keeps the reader invested. 
 I admired Souljah’s ability to show the inevitability of repeating history if we don’t learn from the past. I also was surprised at how well she inserted herself (literally) into the story. It works because intentional or otherwise she comes of vulnerable and flawed, her wisdom which is lauded by other characters can’t seem to get through to Winter.
Her stoically heartless response to Midnight pouring his soul out to her in a letter chilled me almost as much as anything Winter did in the Story.
 
 I think this book is worth a read for everyone. There’s a lot to think about here if you agree or not. See CW though because this book has in my opinion many an outdated and harmful view on some things. 
 

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chloemia's review against another edition

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dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


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miak2's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

 
“Now I realized that me and him were just alike. We were both born to win. And, when we were not winning, it was OK 'cause we were busy planning to win.”


There's a lot to like about this book. As other reviewers have shared, it was raw and authentic, with a quick pace and lots of highs and lows.

Unfortunately, the things that frustrated me about this book greatly overshadowed the things that I appreciated. Winter was an incredibly fun character to follow, but many of her choices were so mind-boggling and selfish that it was hard for me to root for her at all. While I appreciated her sharp wit and strategic thinking, she'd contradict her own plans the page later with some irrational action. Certainly realistic, given that she was a teenager fighting to make it during such a tumultuous time, but frustrating to read nonetheless. And, I think, that's where my biggest issue with the book lies. After everything Winter endured, it doesn't appear that she'd learned anything at all. Sure we as readers could walk away having learned from Winter's actions, but it's less than satisfying that Winter herself had very little growth.

Actually, scratch that. My biggest issue with the book was it's constant depictions of sex. I completely understand that sex is a major part of Winter's life, and sharing all of those details is part of what makes this book so authentic. But I both couldn't relate and also had no interest in reading about a teenager's explicit sexual activities. (Especially when so many of them were non-consensual and the book just brushes that off. Yikes).

I'm glad that I read this book, it certainly has a lot of value. But it just didn't resonate with me for a multitude of reasons.
 

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amanda's review against another edition

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reflective tense fast-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

3.75


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