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kaitsbooked's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Infertility
theblushbookworm's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Come for the friendship, stay for the social justice; the authors’ inside joke tagline for this novel encapsulates it perfectly! Jen, who’s White, and Riley, who’s Black, have been best friends since childhood, but when Jen’s cop husband plays a part in the murder of a young Black boy their lives are torn apart. This novel reminded me of “Such A Fun Age” in the alternating perspectives of White and Black women though the dynamic is very different. Riley ‘s struggles as she processes this event and tries to tell the story as an objective journalist was the most interesting part of the read for me. Jen felt a little one-dimensional at times, but then she’d hit me with a line of dialogue that showed her nuance. Jen was one-dimensional to brilliantly serve the purpose of illustrating the thinking of unconscious racism. Overall this is a must read for me, but check trigger warnings!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Racism, and Police brutality
lucyreadsbooks12'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, and Police brutality
wellreadmegs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book was obviously a heavy but necessary read. I think this book is great for book clubs especially to have tough conversations and discuss the issues of race and police brutality in America. I thought the book started out strong and took a strong stance on the issue that unfortunately didn't carry throughout.
I thought the ending was swift and almost made it feel swept under the rug - as most of these cases do. I appreciated the authors didn't offer forgiveness or unloading of burdens for the Murphy's but I also feel like they got off pretty easy in the grand scheme of things.
I would have given this book 5 stars if it included the court proceedings, trial, and character witness statements. I think that would have been very impactful. Personally, I didn't think we needed a love story of any sort for Riley in this book - it felt like an afterthought until the end.
Again I think this book is great to start a dialogue, especially for white men and women, and would recommend to any book club but left a few things to be desired from the ending.
I thought the ending was swift and almost made it feel swept under the rug - as most of these cases do. I appreciated the authors didn't offer forgiveness or unloading of burdens for the Murphy's but I also feel like they got off pretty easy in the grand scheme of things.
I would have given this book 5 stars if it included the court proceedings, trial, and character witness statements. I think that would have been very impactful. Personally, I didn't think we needed a love story of any sort for Riley in this book - it felt like an afterthought until the end.
Again I think this book is great to start a dialogue, especially for white men and women, and would recommend to any book club but left a few things to be desired from the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Police brutality
Moderate: Racism
brdietz08's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
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
Moderate: Infertility and Police brutality
d0505's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Infertility and Racism
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
i really disliked this. i can see what the authors were trying to do, but this just feels like a cheap caricature of police brutality. in the end, it feels like they are supporting it and trying to have us agree.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
lindsayerin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Grief
mollyedolly's review against another edition
Heavy, heavy read. I’m not emotionally ready for it yet.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Racism, and Police brutality
chicagobelle's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Police brutality