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beingjada's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
deehawkins74's review
5.0
I loved this book. Classic E. Lynn Harris novel. I could swear I've read it before, way back when, nevertheless, it was great. The characters Yancey and Basil were complicated individuals who found common ground and solace in one another. Their secrets and backgrounds were something that made the storyline quite interesting. Can't say that I liked Yancey, but I felt her pain. Basil was that dude. Loved his character. Looking forward to reading the next installment.
tikaw's review
5.0
This is the first book of the late E. Lynn Harris. I love the way he told the reader about being a gay without icky words. Honestly, I dislike male authors but E. Lynn Harris is the only exception. He's good at using slang and idiom to express the atmosphere among the diva and the perfect gay.
fountain_of_book's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
tita_noir's review
3.0
A Diva + a Dawg = a Page Turner,
I would have never thought after reading some of E. Lynn Harris's preceding books where Basil makes an appearance, that I would actually like this character. I've always kinda despised Basil. But in this book, I couldn't help but like him. Sure he's in deep denial about his sexuality, and he is wrong for not telling his fiancée that about his bisexual past. And I think he is basically a very weak person. But, bless his heart, he is trying in this book. He believes he is in love with Yancey so he works at it and he really does try to make it all work. So I give him a lot of credit. Unfortunately, Basil really is the only major character who is in this book (Although a very minor character, Windsor, is also very admirable). I disliked Yancey a lot. I applaud Mr. Harris for creating such a seriously flawed character who, unfortunately, rings true. Yancey is supremely selfish and self-absorbed. She is jealous, manipulative, materialistic and completely dishonest. Yes, the book addresses why Yancey is such a messed up person, but in my opinion, the little glimpses of humanity we see in Yancey are a little too little to late. And don't get me started on her mother...grrr!
Altho there are some real unsympathetic characters in this book, it is a page turner! It is a very entertaining and fun read.
I would have never thought after reading some of E. Lynn Harris's preceding books where Basil makes an appearance, that I would actually like this character. I've always kinda despised Basil. But in this book, I couldn't help but like him. Sure he's in deep denial about his sexuality, and he is wrong for not telling his fiancée that about his bisexual past. And I think he is basically a very weak person. But, bless his heart, he is trying in this book. He believes he is in love with Yancey so he works at it and he really does try to make it all work. So I give him a lot of credit. Unfortunately, Basil really is the only major character who is in this book (Although a very minor character, Windsor, is also very admirable). I disliked Yancey a lot. I applaud Mr. Harris for creating such a seriously flawed character who, unfortunately, rings true. Yancey is supremely selfish and self-absorbed. She is jealous, manipulative, materialistic and completely dishonest. Yes, the book addresses why Yancey is such a messed up person, but in my opinion, the little glimpses of humanity we see in Yancey are a little too little to late. And don't get me started on her mother...grrr!
Altho there are some real unsympathetic characters in this book, it is a page turner! It is a very entertaining and fun read.
treshi's review
4.0
Wow - talk about skeletons in the closet! This book was a clear illustration of just how deeply some people's backgrounds run and how unwilling people can be to face what's staring at them in the mirror.
Unfortunately, there are far too many women out there like Ava and Yancey: selfish, cold, gold-digging and unfeeling. I do feel that Yancey could be "rehabilitated" if you will, because it appears she was very curious about the child she gave birth to. Ava, on the other hand, appears to be a lost cause.
Basil, unfortunately represents men of all races, although the stigma of being a gay Black man has plagued the Black community for ages. In the end, it appears that Basil was beginning to face the demons of his past and beginning to live his life again. From the epilogue, though, it seems that "rebirth" will undoubtedly contain LOTS of play things men and women!
Good read!
Unfortunately, there are far too many women out there like Ava and Yancey: selfish, cold, gold-digging and unfeeling. I do feel that Yancey could be "rehabilitated" if you will, because it appears she was very curious about the child she gave birth to. Ava, on the other hand, appears to be a lost cause.
Basil, unfortunately represents men of all races, although the stigma of being a gay Black man has plagued the Black community for ages. In the end, it appears that Basil was beginning to face the demons of his past and beginning to live his life again. From the epilogue, though, it seems that "rebirth" will undoubtedly contain LOTS of play things men and women!
Good read!
kellyosreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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