cadefritz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
sci_mom's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. Such an amazing story. It is full of themes and experiences that are unfamiliar to me, yet I felt like I was fully immersed and living through every minute. With unauthorized immigration the hot topic that it is at the moment, the telling of Patsy's story became even more poignant. I was also profoundly impacted by how she dealt with not being ready for motherhood and wondered if she ever would have been...or if in another world, she would have remained childless by choice forever. Ultimately, there are too many compelling pieces to give proper credit in a review, but I do highly recommend this book. The author has a way of sweeping you into the telling and revealing little by little that, while we love our happy endings, reality is messy, even more so for those who start with many strikes against them.
raeanne's review against another edition
2.0
>Made it 21%, Chapter 9
>It's good, it hurt to read, but I was kinda bored and couldn't go any farther.
Quotes:
Jesus is the only viable excuse a young woman can use to deny the penis.
Tru's face closes as though she has already figured out that promises are merely sweet lies.
But more than the name itself is the irony--to come to a place with so much freedom, only to take care of another child.
>It's good, it hurt to read, but I was kinda bored and couldn't go any farther.
Quotes:
Jesus is the only viable excuse a young woman can use to deny the penis.
Tru's face closes as though she has already figured out that promises are merely sweet lies.
But more than the name itself is the irony--to come to a place with so much freedom, only to take care of another child.
evilanchovy's review against another edition
4.0
Complex characters and very interesting commentary on motherhood, but also very sad.
bella_ruth's review against another edition
5.0
This book just felt so real to me. The characters both underwent powerful self discovery and faced extreme challenges all while navigating their place in the roles that they have been assigned in society. Overall it’s a wonderful, moving book full of love, loss, and navigation of selfhood.
jcpdiesel21's review against another edition
4.0
A unique immigrant story that grapples with many unexpected topics along the way. Patsy should be a wholly unlikable protagonist, especially as she abandons her child early on to pursue a relationship in America, yet I found myself engaged in her journey of self-discovery and rooting for her to succeed. I was not expecting dual narratives given the title, and it was interesting to compare and contrast the experiences of mother and daughter as well as witness how Patsy's desertion helps shape Tru as a person. The book occasionally feels too long and the ending wraps things up a little too tidily given everything that comes before it, but I enjoyed the writing and strongly drawn characters here.
womanwill's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.75
minty's review against another edition
2.0
This book was hard for me because I just did not like Patsy. I did not find her very sympathetic, and so it was hard to spend so much time following her bleak life. Parts with Tru weren't much better, but I found Tru to be a more interesting character.
namatayi's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
5.0