Scan barcode
cgret's review against another edition
just lost motivation to read but I'm pretty sure I still have this somewhere and I want to reread it, it was great
dondon1503's review against another edition
3.0
I’m very conflicted on what I think about this book. Did it make me feel all of the feelings? No. did I hate it? No. Did it make the impact I think the writer was trying to achieve? I don’t know. Perhaps, I cannot relate to the storyline. It seems like, the author tried to convey struggles of people of color while twisting it in with a ‘best friend’ scenario to magnify the stark life experiences? Maybe? Would it have been more effective as an autobiographical novel? Something fell flat for me. Could very well be my own ignorant getting in the way. I did sympathize with Riley several times though because Jen was uber self centered and annoying.
a_reading_xennial's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
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
4.0
This was such an interesting read with a great topic. I come from an area that seriously lacks cultural diversity, so this gave me much to think about. It was really well written and I highly recommend the audiobook.
eggbeater's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a striking, compelling story about race relations and police brutality. It was written from two different points of view--the perspective of a Black woman and a white woman who were best friends. I feel like I got a lot out of this book. It was a meaty, thought-provoking story.
sunshinefinch's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
hambysmith's review against another edition
4.0
I felt really uneasy when I started this book, knowing that some of the content would be hard to read and probably make me uncomfortable. About halfway through, that feeling lessened significantly and I just wanted to see how the story played out. For the most part, it was a good book. It lightly touched on several important topics but I think it could’ve/should’ve been grittier. It was a tiny bit too gentle with its message in my opinion. I appreciated the epilogue— it was the realest portion of the entire book and it brought me to tears.
mindybraun's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ashleysilver7's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don't give 5 star reviews lightly - this book was extremely relatable and did a good job of honestly telling a story about 2 friends who are very different: one is white, and one is Black. Jen and Riley have been best friends since they were little girls, but their friendship has always had barriers: Riley, a successful, Black journalist often lets Jen get away with "accidental" racist comments. However, this all changes when Riley is forced to cover the death of a 14 year-old unarmed Black child, and it hits too close to home for Jen....
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Racial slurs, and Racism
evaribaker's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. It was fine. There were a lot of tropes, but I suppose that is to be expected