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beiiadonna'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? No
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Addiction and Abortion
rachel_bunting93's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
gobby_gilbert'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
avinawood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Racism
Minor: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Vomit, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
mirireads'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Grief, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Drug use, Infertility, Miscarriage, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Stalking, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
writingcaia's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Still, from the painful pit of that life she is emerging, even when she does not see it so, even when she almost believes she can never have better, and with the rekindling of old friendships and new friendships, a new hope, new opportunities, and darker revelations come to light, and Alethea finally finds her truth and herself.
This is not an easy read, but I find that regrettably it reflects a tale of so many women raised in extreme poverty surrounded by lies and abuse, made to feel worthless, abused as if their bodies are usable, but it happily also shows how hope and love can still be born amidst it all and change those women’s lives.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence and Racism
essay23'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
2hermione4'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: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Fatphobia, Racism, and Injury/Injury detail
gems_books'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
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Incest
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
This novel is unique, I think, in its complex and deep-layered portrayal of an abusive relationship where the female victim can actually afford to leave w/o her life falling apart a lil. But she doesnt, and her reasons - or rather lifelong trauma-rooted conditioning - for not doing so unearth a whole can of worms that are truly disturbing. I feel for the main character while also being frustrated at times.
A lot of important issues - some rampant in Trinidadian society - are also tackled, such as racism, colorism, female identity outside of motherhood, misogyny, and ofc intergenerational abuse and trauma, and Allen-Agostini does so w/o making it overwhelming. Another thing I enjoy is Alethea's distinctive voice that can be both unintentionally dark and funny; it def makes the story even more memorable.
Overall, this is a novel riveting in both its darkness and glimmers of light. It manages to keep me glued to the pg in dread, and that's def sth.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual content, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infertility and Abortion