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dayofrebecca's review against another edition
emotional
informative
tense
fast-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
4.75
Great find, I hope more people read this book
bobinsbooknook's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
What I think I loved most about this concept is that though a work of dystopian fiction, it felt so real.
The portray of the controversy in women-only biological parentage was really intriguing and made for a great read. The political aspect tied is really nicely and provided the great opportunity for twists and revelations both around the pregnancy and homophobia.
The only reason I couldn’t rate this higher despite my enjoyment is that there were some moments that did feel a bit repetitive in rehashing out the same situation over and over again and do wish the ending was a little more fleshed out.
I do feel the darker incestuous abuse towards Jules’s father didn’t really have enough depth to provoke an emotional response for me and didn’t really add anything to the plot so felt thrown in for just shock value.
I could definitely see this making a really interesting standalone Netflix series and is definitely worth a read.
The portray of the controversy in women-only biological parentage was really intriguing and made for a great read. The political aspect tied is really nicely and provided the great opportunity for twists and revelations both around the pregnancy and homophobia.
The only reason I couldn’t rate this higher despite my enjoyment is that there were some moments that did feel a bit repetitive in rehashing out the same situation over and over again and do wish the ending was a little more fleshed out.
I could definitely see this making a really interesting standalone Netflix series and is definitely worth a read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, and Pregnancy
Minor: Pedophilia, Car accident, and Death of parent
isablablella's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
orlaithma's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
At first glance, XX seems completely far-fetched, yet at times I felt like I had somehow found myself reading a particularly unsavoury Daily Mail article about the pitfalls of modern parenting and how the world can only benefit from a return to "traditional family values". If this book had been published 10 years ago I would have simply enjoyed it and then moved on to my next read, but given the current climate in western politics, it almost felt like I was reading the biography of the first o-o parents.
It's a highly provocative read but I think it's a book that needs to be read.
Thank you so much to @dialoguebooks for this free ARC. I'll be eagerly awaiting whatever Angela writes next!
At first glance, XX seems completely far-fetched, yet at times I felt like I had somehow found myself reading a particularly unsavoury Daily Mail article about the pitfalls of modern parenting and how the world can only benefit from a return to "traditional family values". If this book had been published 10 years ago I would have simply enjoyed it and then moved on to my next read, but given the current climate in western politics, it almost felt like I was reading the biography of the first o-o parents.
It's a highly provocative read but I think it's a book that needs to be read.
Thank you so much to @dialoguebooks for this free ARC. I'll be eagerly awaiting whatever Angela writes next!
nightresplendent's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
At first glance, XX seems completely far-fetched, yet at times I felt like I had somehow found myself reading a particularly unsavoury Daily Mail article about the pitfalls of modern parenting and how the world can only benefit from a return to "traditional family values". If this book had been published 10 years ago I would have simply enjoyed it and then moved on to my next read, but given the current climate in western politics, it almost felt like I was reading the biography of the first o-o parents.
It's a highly provocative read but I think it's a book that needs to be read.
Thank you so much to @dialoguebooks for this free ARC. I'll be eagerly awaiting whatever Angela writes next!
At first glance, XX seems completely far-fetched, yet at times I felt like I had somehow found myself reading a particularly unsavoury Daily Mail article about the pitfalls of modern parenting and how the world can only benefit from a return to "traditional family values". If this book had been published 10 years ago I would have simply enjoyed it and then moved on to my next read, but given the current climate in western politics, it almost felt like I was reading the biography of the first o-o parents.
It's a highly provocative read but I think it's a book that needs to be read.
Thank you so much to @dialoguebooks for this free ARC. I'll be eagerly awaiting whatever Angela writes next!
ronjaslibrary's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
oeunoia's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really didn't enjoy reading this book, every other paragraph goes into how the main character is feeling, but it reads like an Ikea catalogue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Medical trauma, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Hate crime
kaylo88's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
After completing the book, I find myself grappling with a whirlwind of emotions. On one hand, I was drawn to the captivating storyline and its thought-provoking premise, particularly the accurate portrayal of right-wing media and the potential societal reactions to the birth of female-only babies in lesbian families. The book also effectively delved into the myriad of emotions that accompany pregnancy and the rollercoaster of experiences, especially relating to the treatment of the "o-o" storyline.
However, there were certain aspects of the story that left me perplexed. For instance, I found myself questioning the lack of vetting procedures for the program's staff and the absence of contractual safeguards to prevent the infiltration of individuals with bigoted views. Furthermore, I was troubled by the apparent exclusion of other segments of society, such as the trans and non-binary communities, which led me to ponder whether there were underlying TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) undertones, although I hope that is not the case.
The overwhelmingly negative portrayal of the "o-o" program left me unsettled, as I struggled to believe that the LGBTQ+ community wouldn't actively challenge this narrative. In reality, I anticipated a more robust response, with counter protests and advocacy for providing lesbian couples with additional choices. Additionally, the portrayal of the main characters, Jules and Rosie, was somewhat disheartening. Jules came across as domineering and irksome, while Rosie's characterisation left me feeling a lack of empathy or curiosity about her. She just seemed weak and dare I say it, boring. Given that the couple served as the focal point of the narrative, I had hoped to genuinely empathise with them; however, I found this to be challenging.
Furthermore, the characters' isolated existence, with minimal friends and support systems beyond a male friend of Rosie's, their parents, and a few of Jules' colleagues, seemed peculiar. I found myself questioning why they lacked a network of queer friends and a support system, especially considering that it would seemingly be a critical criterion for participants in the program. It struck me as implausible that LGBTQ+ couples would lack a circle of queer friends entirely.
My feelings about Jules' manager mirrored my other concerns. While I acknowledge that homophobia is unfortunately prevalent, the manager's reprehensible comments and discriminatory behavior, openly displayed in the workplace, left me bewildered as to why he wasn't promptly removed from his position. It was difficult to understand why there wasn't a more forceful response to his behavior.
Despite these reservations, I felt compelled to see the story through to its conclusion. I was eager to witness the fate of their daughter and whether Jules and Rosie found a sense of contentment. Nonetheless, the swift conclusion to the story felt rushed, particularly after the deliberate pacing throughout the majority of the book.
However, there were certain aspects of the story that left me perplexed. For instance, I found myself questioning the lack of vetting procedures for the program's staff and the absence of contractual safeguards to prevent the infiltration of individuals with bigoted views. Furthermore, I was troubled by the apparent exclusion of other segments of society, such as the trans and non-binary communities, which led me to ponder whether there were underlying TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) undertones, although I hope that is not the case.
The overwhelmingly negative portrayal of the "o-o" program left me unsettled, as I struggled to believe that the LGBTQ+ community wouldn't actively challenge this narrative. In reality, I anticipated a more robust response, with counter protests and advocacy for providing lesbian couples with additional choices. Additionally, the portrayal of the main characters, Jules and Rosie, was somewhat disheartening. Jules came across as domineering and irksome, while Rosie's characterisation left me feeling a lack of empathy or curiosity about her. She just seemed weak and dare I say it, boring. Given that the couple served as the focal point of the narrative, I had hoped to genuinely empathise with them; however, I found this to be challenging.
Furthermore, the characters' isolated existence, with minimal friends and support systems beyond a male friend of Rosie's, their parents, and a few of Jules' colleagues, seemed peculiar. I found myself questioning why they lacked a network of queer friends and a support system, especially considering that it would seemingly be a critical criterion for participants in the program. It struck me as implausible that LGBTQ+ couples would lack a circle of queer friends entirely.
My feelings about Jules' manager mirrored my other concerns. While I acknowledge that homophobia is unfortunately prevalent, the manager's reprehensible comments and discriminatory behavior, openly displayed in the workplace, left me bewildered as to why he wasn't promptly removed from his position. It was difficult to understand why there wasn't a more forceful response to his behavior.
Despite these reservations, I felt compelled to see the story through to its conclusion. I was eager to witness the fate of their daughter and whether Jules and Rosie found a sense of contentment. Nonetheless, the swift conclusion to the story felt rushed, particularly after the deliberate pacing throughout the majority of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Pregnancy