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leoni_plu's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Classism
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Terminal illness and Death of parent
alysereadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book was a hot mess. I wanted to like it so much, but felt the characters were very unlikeable and I don't understand how you could stay in a relationship with someone with such fundamentally different values. I HATED the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
bookswithmybulldog's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
2.75
I dont really know how to properly review this/what my voice can add to the conversation surrounding this book. I think I understand what the author was trying to do, and I also understand why many readers are very upset with the book. One big issue is that it is being marketed as romance, but the MC is in a seriously mentally abusive relationship. It is really about a WOC falling for a white man who is constantly barraging her with microaggressions and gaslighting her into thinking shes over-reacting. On the one hand, i think it is important people understand that white men really are this stupid and egotistical. But, I think my issue is that Jess didnt come out on top or dig herself out of this horrific relationship with this man, if anything she defended him right to the end. I just wanted her at some point to really stand up for herself so that was disappointing. Overall I dont think I would reccommend this one as I think it is doing more harm than good, but I dont know that i agree with the outrage either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual content
kirstym25's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
stechu___'s review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Toxic relationship
barnold165's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
dogbuttsandbooks's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
this book reads as earnestly anti-Black and pro-racism. Spends the entire 323 pages discrediting the Black FMC and excusing the white MAGA hat wearing MMC’s racism and politics. It’s actively harmful, and you should read it under no circumstances.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Out June 6, 2023 [Thank you so much the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!]
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Jess is a Black liberal woman who takes a job at Goldman Sachs after graduation, working alongside her college nemesis, a white conservative man named Josh. But when sparks fly between the two, what might otherwise be a “will they-won’t they” becomes a “should they-shouldn’t they” romance.
This is an extremely difficult book to review—I read it a few days ago and I’m honestly still not entirely sure how I felt about it. On the positive side: the writing itself was excellent and the book was engaging and flowed quickly (I read it in a few hours spaced over 1.5 days). There were a lot of thought provoking moments and themes, including a really great section on being a POC growing up in a predominantly white community and the unique challenges that can result.
That said, I had a lot of difficulties with the “romance” side of this book—I hated the MMC, and didn’t feel like he ever redeemed himself or demonstrated anything that would justify her love for him. The ending of the book also made me viscerally angry—I think I see what the author was going for (a kind of political satire reminiscent of a Jordan Peele film), but it did not land for me in the slightest and just made the entire “point” of the novel feel all the more confusing. My reaction can definitely be seen as a kind of positive (a book that can inspire emotion is usually a good thing!) but overall the ending dampened my reading experience.
Recommended if you like: literary romance; political novels; Jordan Peele
CW: Racism/misogyny/misogynoir; death of parent; grief
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Physical abuse
thevioletfoxbookshop's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
5.0
This book absolutely floored me! I devoured the entire thing in one weekend. It's a fast read, but don't let that fool you - it's jam packed with heavy emotion, big issues, and uncomfortable truths.
Everything's Fine is the debut novel by Cecilia Rabess that will leave you unsettled, eyes wide, knowing one thing for certain - everything is definitely not fine. It's the story of a young Black woman, her career in New York City finance, and her relationship with Josh, a white conservative man. So it is about a relationship, but it's more of an enemies to questionable friends to toxic relationship lovers, but still kind of enemies all along kind of story. It's about racism, politics, class, sexism, capitalism, identity, and so much more. There's so much to unpack and consider in this book and it is incredibly difficult to read on an emotional level because it can be very triggering.
I'll be honest - I've typed and deleted paragraphs of this review over and over. It's difficult to find the words. I think it's going to make a big splash when it hits shelves - people are either going to rave or rage about it. I'm not going to pretend that I understood all of it (because I can never fully understand what it's like to be a Black woman in the US), but I will say that this book has made me THINK. And that more than anything - the thinking and consideration - is important.
This book is such a mix of opposites. A black liberal woman in a relationship with a white conservative man. So simply put yet so complex and layered. an absolute page-turner somehow dealing with numerous divisive issues. It's about what unites us and what divides us. It is simultaneously vulnerable and scathing. It's both analytical and deeply personal. You'll get it, but you won't. You'll keep turning the pages wanting more, but it will also make you sick. You'll feel a lot like Jess - you know you shouldn't and it's not good for you, but you can't help yourself.
I know this book has been very controversial. But here's the thing - in my opinion - just because the book deal with difficult, uncomfortable, ugly stuff, does not mean it was a bad book. The controversy means conversation is happening about this stuff and I think that matters.
I know this book has been very controversial. But here's the thing - in my opinion - just because the book deal with difficult, uncomfortable, ugly stuff, does not mean it was a bad book. The controversy means conversation is happening about this stuff and I think that matters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexism and Classism
Minor: Police brutality
bookishmikay's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Antisemitism
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