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eclecticreadswithash's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
WOW! More people should know about this book!!
Patsy, a Jamaican woman, gets a visa to America, longing to be with her childhood friend and crush Cicely. In doing so, she leaves her five-year-old daughter, Tru, behind. What follows is a beautifully written, nuanced story of immigration, motherhood, and growing up feeling unwanted. It smoothly alternatives between Patsy and her undocumented life in New York, and Tru still in Jamaica trying to get by without her mother.
This book was gut punch after gut punch. I was truly in awe of everything that Patsy and Tru went through. It didn't leave me always rooting for Patsy and I think that's really important. Patsy's decisions were never easy, but that also doesn't make her a good person.
It's an incredibly relevant story to tell today with immigration being such a hot topic and I'd encourage anyone to give it a try. It will stick with you for a while!
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Body shaming, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
nefariousbee's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
I ugly cried. I relate to Patsy and Cicely's story and seeing the culmination broke something in me. my heart doesn't let go either. and this was a very painful reminder of that.
above all, this books is so honest about so many *ugly* things. the reality of being undocumented, the illusion of ingrained motherhood, the social pressure on queerness. I appreciate the book for all of that so much.
it's not an easy read, but it's one that stays with you.
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Transphobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Gun violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Deportation
thelaurasaurus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
klawrence1206's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Classism
yuyuv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Abortion, and Alcohol
bluberrybooks'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
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Animal death and Miscarriage
zombiezami'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: Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Outing, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug use, Gun violence, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Abortion, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Colorism, Gentrificationannaledbetter'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
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Drug use
knkoch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
There’s a well-observed beauty in the author’s descriptions of both Jamaica and Brooklyn, but some relationships were very hard to read about, particularly the maternal ones. There’s a brutality there that makes it hard to imagine rereading this one. But the romantic relationships are elegant and visceral, and the ending wrapped things up in an unexpectedly satisfying way.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
rachaeldamms'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: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt