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cloudsofbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Vomit
narbine'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? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol
emco_0's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Trafficking, and Death of parent
tlaynejones's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Fatphobia, Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Drug use and Vomit
amcghig's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Torture, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit
courtnoodles's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Misogyny, Racism, and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content
starrysteph's review
- 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
This is a story about inescapable poverty & racism. It's a story about family - about generational violence and struggling with identity and our MC's deep desire to be a good father. At its core, it's a story about one man yearning for freedom. Throw in a heist (where things rapidly funnel out of control) and a lot of action-packed getaway drives, and you've got me hooked.
We follow Beauregard ("Bug") as he attempts to create an honest life for himself and his family, leaving his exploits as a getaway driver in the past. But a lot of things go wrong all at once, and Bug is tempted by an old acquaintance to lean back into the Life he so desperately wanted to bury for one final heist. (Though is it ever one final heist?)
Bug is a deeply compelling protagonist - he makes some pretty nasty choices, but you still find yourself rooting for him. That's not easy to pull off.
The prose is overall strong, but at moments Cosby leans into the similes so much that it got a little distracting. There's also a lot of detailed car talk, but even as a reader with 0 expertise in this area I felt like I was able to follow along (it just took a little extra effort at times, and led to some descriptions that felt quite dry).
It's a gritty read with a lot of depth. It's intense. It's violent. It's heavy on the heart. But in my opinion? It's worth it.
CW: murder, violence, gore, body horror, gun violence, drug use, racial slurs, torture, fatphobia, cancer, sexual content, car accident, animal death, fire, vomit
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
natalieba'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
3.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Vomit
abby315's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Vomit, and Murder
Moderate: Torture
horizonous's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Car accident, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Blood, and Excrement
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Vomit