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mbs76'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? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Racism, Rape, Slavery, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Islamophobia, Abortion, and Lesbophobia
ihiggyz97'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
3.75
Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, Xenophobia, and Abortion
laurenreadsagain's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.25
Minor: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Colonisation, and Classism
carolinacortez'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
4.0
I think of the past, of the person I used to be
I dont know where she went
Bummi complained that people viewed her through what she did and not what she was
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Child death, Deadnaming, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Abortion, and Classism
zulliekinz'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
4.5
Okay, so why not 5 stars? It may have been a weakness on my part but sometimes keeping up with the links took a little more work that I would have liked. But maybe that was something Evaristo was wanting us to do...work for it.
At the same time, whilst at the start I was HOOKED, somewhere in the middle I began losing links and wondering if there was an unnecessary layer of hype that was stopping me from falling completely in love. <Spoiler>However I find the way the epilogue ties it all together was so powerful, it answered my unanswered questions and had me crying. Getting to the end confirmed it was all love from me to this book..
No one can deny what an excellent read this was.
Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, and Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, Abortion, and Gaslighting
Minor: Slavery and Xenophobia
uncreativeoops'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Antisemitism, Abortion, and Alcohol
b_austridge's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Transphobia, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, and Abortion
hannahbailey'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
4.5
Generally I prefer not to read character-vignette novels written in third-person. But this novel just goes to show that when done well, I can really enjoy them! I loved the distinct voice of each character and how they would be name-dropped in one chapter only to be the main character of the next one. It built such an interesting and creative narrative without leaving me feeling I didn't know enough about them–which is usually the case for me with character-vignettes.
Surprised to see some reviews stating the character dialogue and mix of poetry/prose was hard to believe and unrealistic. I completely disagree! The inner dialogue of the female characters was relatable and familiar. I enjoyed the exploration of womanhood and motherhood and how this intersects with race in Britain. It was an interesting and sobering read.
It was almost 5 stars, but there was a part where the character overcomes drug addiction by sheer willpower–they literally stay at home for a week without any form of support and somehow recovers? This didn't feel realistic to me especially given the vulnerability and young age of the character. That said, this was one of the chapters that really stood out to me in its exploration of body/gender dysphoria and trans joy.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, and Classism
nmartamusic'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
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Addiction
zalouis'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? No
5.0
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism