eschorrlesnick's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Racism
kirstym25's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Racism, Grief, and Death of parent
nicolioliolio's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, and Cancer
heyitsshan's review against another edition
4.0
Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
amh253's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, Racism, Sexism, Grief, and Infidelity
bootsmom3's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcohol, Cancer, Medical content, Racism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Grief
apmcmullen'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
4.5
After spending the last few days trying to get a better picture of this book and its wide array of opinions, I think it's important to note what Black women, in particular (since that's who our main character is and, really, who the story is about), are saying about this book. It doesn't really matter what I think, as a white left-leaning reader, but I found mostly two camps: (1) It was very triggering and this book shouldn't exist, and (2) it was very triggering but I have never felt more seen. I think, no matter your feelings on this book, they're valid. But I do think writing a one-star review before reading is doing this book a disservice.
For those of us walking in the world with white privilege and fragility, this book holds up a very clear mirror to the ways in which we make BIPOC walk on eggshells in every possible way. I felt so uncomfortable for Jess, who was trying her best and was still making two steps backward for every one step forward. There were cyclical arguments between Jess and her love interest, Josh that highlighted his white privilege and lack of perspective. He infantilizes her and her very real anger and sadness. Yes, there were cringe conversations, but those cringe conversations I've heard my actual family members say those kinds of things. I felt like, as a white reader, the nuances in this book that made me stop and think would be nothing new to Black people who inherently know and live the racism, misogyny, sexism, identity struggles, and social and economic conversations that were introduced here.
I think, if you go into this book expecting it to be an escape or a romance, your expectation should be changed into one of expecting discussion. This isn't a romanticized love story about people from two sides of the political spectrum. I think it's a story about the very real struggles BIPOC go through daily, but especially how Black women have to navigate this world and how much the Trump years and leading up to it really did a lot of social, emotional, and mental damage. How white privilege and fragility are harming and hateful, and how we as a society really need to work on how we treat each other and how we listen to each other.
I'm glad I read this book. I thought it was worth the read, and it's been worth listening to and engaging in the discussions that are happening because of it. Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. This title publishes June 6, 2023 in the US.
Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, Sexism, Racism, and Misogyny
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Physical abuse
thevioletfoxbookshop'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
5.0
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.
Graphic: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Racism, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Grief
Moderate: Classism and Sexism
Minor: Police brutality
literaryintersections's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Is the point of the book to show the fallacy of youth? To highlight that when we are young it’s easy to be taken by lust and good looks and gloss over the gas lighting, violence, and racism? Is it to show that everyone’s internal understanding of “fine” is different? Or that white mens belief that Trump’s racism and white supremacist rhetoric is not actually “that bad” and “everything will be fine” is harmful and scary and makes Black people question their every move? Is it about what actually makes someone Black, and what it means to “find” or “understand” your Blackness?
If it’s any of those things then this book completely misses the mark. Because none of that depth discussed above is actually in the book. Jess doesn’t change. She’s still a Black woman struggling to make it in a white world, while continually trying to separate herself from other Black people, including her family. Jess is part of the problem, but I don’t think she ever actually see it that way.
If it was about any of those topics or questions above, this book would’ve been a 5 star. But it never got there far. Never took a chance. Hides behind this “enemies to lovers” bullshit that’s actually harmful.
I wanted to enjoy this. I actually devoured it and read it so quickly. But it rarely goes deeper than the surface and ultimately could be a book where white folks can read it, feel good about themselves and say, “well Atleast I’m not Josh”. And that is going to be so harmful to Black folks.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Racism
Moderate: Grief