lady_elle's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Death of parent, Grief, Racism, Violence, Abandonment, Pregnancy, and Racial slurs
Minor: Slavery, Alcohol, Addiction, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
suzyvee'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
3.5
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Ableism, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Hate crime, and Bullying
Minor: Alcohol and Addiction
blackcatkai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this type of contemporary isn't usually my go-to, so I had a bit of a hard time getting into it, but overall a really good read. Johnson has a way with words and I'd be interested in what she writes next.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Violence, Bullying, Blood, Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Drug use, Death of parent, Infidelity, Infertility, and Sexual content
kimveach'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
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Classism, Abandonment, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Alcohol, Police brutality, and Terminal illness
Minor: Infidelity
seawarrior'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
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Hate crime, Police brutality, Death of parent, Child death, and Murder
Minor: Miscarriage, Addiction, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Infidelity, and Infertility
serendipitysbooks'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
While this was a perfectly fine book it fell a little short for me and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d hope. What worked well for me was the exploration of the intersection of race and class - the ways the lives of working class Blacks and whites were similar and the ways they’d diverged, plus similarities and differences between working class Blacks and those who were at least middle-class. The portrayal of a small town suffering from an economic downturn, and the scenes showing police attitudes and behaviour towards Blacks were also well done. The family drama component of the plot also worked reasonably well. I may not have agreed with the way Mama handled the baby’s adoption but I understood her motivation, and Ruth’s reaction when she learnt the truth of it.
Where I struggled especially was with Ruth who often seemed selfish and self-centred. Some of that could perhaps be put down to her struggles as a Black woman from a poorer background and for having had decisions regarding her baby’s adoption made for her. However, the way she revealed herself to that child seemed inexcusable with the focus on her wants not his needs. Too often the book told rather than showed, and did so in a way that I failed to find convincing. Ruth’s friendship with Midnight is just one example. The ending also seemed a little too quick and neat to be satisfying or believable.
To reiterate, a perfectly fine book that didn’t fully click for me.
Graphic: Alcohol, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Police brutality