danielakalexandra'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Sexual content, Self harm, and Sexual violence
ella_pittsford'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Self harm, and Sexual violence
grandiose_r'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
4.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Rape, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Car accident, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, Addiction, Blood, Medical content, and Body horror
Moderate: Death, Lesbophobia, Infertility, Racism, Gaslighting, Transphobia, Cultural appropriation, and Homophobia
Minor: Outing, Vomit, Cannibalism, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Child abuse, and Confinement
lindsaylhunter'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
4.5
The first madness was that we were born, that they stuffed a god into a bag of skin.
I wish I could forget this book so I could read it again for the first time. Absolutely floored that this is Emezi's debut. To write as lyrically as she does on the subject matter covered is masterful.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Rape
Moderate: Eating disorder
onceuponatime'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? Yes
4.25
Minor: Self harm, Rape, and Suicide attempt
gabriella_dorianne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Transphobia, and Body shaming
adribaby's review against another edition
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
scrunger'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
4.5
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
raneyak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The story is told in a non-linear fashion, jumping back and forth in the timeline while different characters (personalities/identities within the main character) tell stories from their perspectives. This choice worked excellently for the story being told, with story pieces being told not in order of time but instead in order of personal significance.
This book was quite explicit, though, and while the language was lyrical it still talked about self harm and suicidal ideation. Be very careful reading it if you have a history of mental health issues.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Transphobia, Blood, Child abuse, Rape, Grief, Dysphoria, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol, Medical content, Outing, and Homophobia
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
“In many ways, you see, I am not even real.”
I still can’t wrap my head around this being Akwaeke’s debut! It’s fantastic 😍 This is a character-driven novel and the concept is brilliant. Ada has multiple selves and we experience life alongside them, including some severe trauma. It was especially impressive how Akwaeke definitively fleshed out each “voice” / part of Ada.
cw: Self harm, Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Child abuse
Graphic: Self harm, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Rape, Suicide attempt, and Child abuse