The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
chloeap_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Terminal illness, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Child death, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, Death, Physical abuse, Suicide, Sexual content, Misogyny, Death of parent, Cancer, and Biphobia
Minor: Abortion
heyitsnay's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Child death, Death of parent, and Death
clovetra'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
this was a very conflicting book. but one i ultimately fell in love with.
let me start with the positives, as although i can't find too many negatives with this book, they are quite jarring.
first, going into this book, i thought the "lgbt+" tag was queerbating. did i know the story? nope. that was just my opinion. and boy am i happy i was wrong. i loved how unapologetic characters like harry and celia are, and it made my little heart sing.
i also loved jenkins reid's style of writing. this is my first time reading a book of hers, and i can confidently say i'll be reading other works of hers. this was scrumptiously written, and i adored every second.
one final note is that evelyn is a protagonist you love to hate, and that is one of my favourite tropes, if not my *favourite* trope, so this book gets big ticks from me.
now, on to the parts where this book failed.
a white woman so clearly writes this. explaining evelyn's heritage in the start and ending of the book, plus the way monique's race is described made me feel a bit sick if im honest. it was.... Not Good!
also the biphobia in this is fucking disgusting. i don't care if due to this being a historical fiction book its time accurate, as a queer reader it was fucking vile to see celia dunk on evelyn for the 50th time because she likes men and women. i wasn't too mad with how harry was portrayed up until the end. also im sorry did the d slur need to be included? im a lesbian and i feel that that word is reserved for black lesbians only. seeing jenkins reid throw that word out like nothing made me sick. and not in a good way reflecting the narrative, it soured me towards this book. i felt similar to this in regards to the misogyny & sexism present, as well as the extreme domestic violence portrayed. yes, it is reflective of the times this book is following. it still should've been written with some tact.
this book was very conflicting. and even writing this review i am still largely conflicted on how i feel. but, i will say, even if i find a book shit, if i don't want to put it down, in my mind its worth an additional star. and i actually could not get this book off of my mind.
Graphic: Death, Biphobia, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Car accident, Alcohol, Drug use, and Racism
Minor: Abortion and Addiction
hanhantap's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Car accident
Minor: Racism, Abortion, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Outing, Miscarriage, Blood, Lesbophobia, Suicide, and Drug use
kirsten1999's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Infidelity, and Car accident
Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Drug use, Gaslighting, Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicide, Sexism, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, and Body shaming
aherman18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Child death, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Death, and Sexual content
saskiahill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, Death, Car accident, Blood, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Outing, Misogyny, Homophobia, Grief, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Sexism, Physical abuse, Suicide, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Terminal illness, Child death, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
frenchpants'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
3.25
Moderate: Biphobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Car accident, Death, Alcoholism, Abortion, Child death, Suicide, Infidelity, Outing, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Lesbophobia, and Mental illness
abic14's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Violence and Cancer
mangofraiche'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
Moderate: Terminal illness, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Blood, Infidelity, Outing, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Sexual content, Classism, Biphobia, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Abandonment, Death, Alcoholism, Car accident, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Violence, Cursing, Lesbophobia, and Miscarriage