findyourgoldenhour's review against another edition
5.0
I re-read this for the senior book group I lead at the library. It definitely held up on the second go-round! I am looking forward to discussing this one; I think this is an excellent book club selection if your group is looking for a title.
I loved this book! I can't believe how quickly I finished it, but it is so well written and I really cared about the characters. There is so much to discuss here; I think it would make an excellent book club selection. The immigrant experience, the American Dream, what happens to people when they actually achieve that dream, how it affects their children...all good stuff. I will read anything the author writes next!
I loved this book! I can't believe how quickly I finished it, but it is so well written and I really cared about the characters. There is so much to discuss here; I think it would make an excellent book club selection. The immigrant experience, the American Dream, what happens to people when they actually achieve that dream, how it affects their children...all good stuff. I will read anything the author writes next!
jessiesnoww's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Grief, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Drug use, Classism, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Homophobia, Child abuse, and Racism
zobiecat's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
This book was a lot better than I thought it would be (had to read it for school)! I really liked the writing style. The ending wasn’t what I expected and it was kind of a let down for me, but overall it was a good book.
pamiverson's review
4.0
How the 2007-8 crash impacted an extremely wealthy New York family and an immigrant family. Lives very different than mine.
michellemybelle's review against another edition
5.0
Spoiler
A wonderful, wonderful page-turner. I was laughing soooo hard at some points! This novel’s ending doesn’t resemble typical immigrant-based stories I’ve read, this ending is SO important for West African immigrant representation.tbretc's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
jiyoung's review against another edition
3.0
This is very much an Oprah’s Book Club type of novel, with predictable, sentimental drama. The characters were very familiar archetypes (some straight up stereotypes) acting out various facets of the “American Dream”. While I appreciate the flawed dignity Mbue gave her Cameroonian immigrant family (e.g., I loved that Neni had the gumption to blackmail Cindy), Jende’s unending obsequiousness toward the Edwards family was aggravating. The storytelling is so earnest it dips into a certain naiveté.
bherald's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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