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shaynicole's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, and Suicide
kfmcf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
First, I want to start off by saying that the prose and historical aspects of this book are lovely. Tia Williams is and will be an incredible writer, no matter the genre.
However, this book was not for me. I love magical realism, I do, but this one kept trying to toe the line of both being and not being magical realism throughout the entire book. I was far more interested in the Harlem Renaissance chapters than I was anything with Ricki (sorry). Or even Della! I would have loved this to be a look through Della's life. I just really struggled with Ricki and Ricki's schticky family.
Also, this book doesn't get into the real meat of the magical realism until around 60% of the way through. It leaves you wondering what is going on as if there is going to be a big payoff - and there really never is. The exposition of what's going on feels a bit underdeveloped and underwhelming. And why were they so drawn to each other? Maybe I just too much of a skeptic to really 'get' the Fated Mates trope, but I could not suspend my disbelief that they were a perfect match. What did they even have in common?
This book left me pretty frustrated throughout the majority of it and that's disappointing, to say the least.
However, this book was not for me. I love magical realism, I do, but this one kept trying to toe the line of both being and not being magical realism throughout the entire book. I was far more interested in the Harlem Renaissance chapters than I was anything with Ricki (sorry). Or even Della! I would have loved this to be a look through Della's life. I just really struggled with Ricki and Ricki's schticky family.
Also, this book doesn't get into the real meat of the magical realism until around 60% of the way through. It leaves you wondering what is going on as if there is going to be a big payoff - and there really never is. The exposition of what's going on feels a bit underdeveloped and underwhelming. And why were they so drawn to each other? Maybe I just too much of a skeptic to really 'get' the Fated Mates trope, but I could not suspend my disbelief that they were a perfect match. What did they even have in common?
This book left me pretty frustrated throughout the majority of it and that's disappointing, to say the least.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Emotional abuse
heyitsbee's review against another edition
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
libellumartinae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
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
3.75
Alrightie, Tia Williams does it again, confirming herself as one of the few romance authors I can read wihtout cringing all too badly. Still, I couldn't help but find this book inevitably lacking especially in style and plot-writing compared to «Seven Days in June» (which was mentioned and it made my heart flutter ). The characters were funny, quirky and interesting but felt more like characters than tridimensional real people and I felt like the plot was at first introduced as a grand mystery between realism and fantasy but the solution felt a bit... underwhelming.
All in all, it isn't a bad book and I do love the fact that it focused on both love as romantic and as platonic and familial (albeit I couldn't help but feel a bit meh about it, especially as it was a bit confusing considering this had been sold to me as a romance book, but instead if felt more like fiction), I just think that it isn't the best of the author, although it was an enjoyable read!
Thank you for it!
All in all, it isn't a bad book and I do love the fact that it focused on both love as romantic and as platonic and familial (albeit I couldn't help but feel a bit meh about it, especially as it was a bit confusing considering this had been sold to me as a romance book, but instead if felt more like fiction), I just think that it isn't the best of the author, although it was an enjoyable read!
Thank you for it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, and Classism
bookwitch's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The book standing on it's own is just fine; fun magical realism twist plus partial historical fiction to lend support to the romance. It was well written and I loved that it was from a black perspective. The story itself is pretty predictable and a bit long winded if you ask me. The only shock that got me was Ms. Della's connection . Not bad! But not my favorite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Suicide
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Drug abuse and Miscarriage
annamay1021's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Suicide
paidays's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Sweet love story with a lot of poignant moments. I appreciated the richness and texture the author provided in her descriptions of Harlem past and present. I found the plot predictable and there were a few lines of dialogue that made me fully cringe, but overall an enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child abuse, Death, and Sexual violence
aditirg's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
literary_lyette's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Racism, Slavery, and Suicide
Minor: Addiction and Drug abuse