bookswithmybulldog's review against another edition
- 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
Spoiler
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.Graphic: Grief, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual content
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
dogbuttsandbooks's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexism, Terminal illness, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
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
bookishmikay's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Drug abuse, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Racism, Grief, and Medical content
Minor: Emotional abuse, Cancer, Physical abuse, and Antisemitism