Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

In Every Mirror She's Black by Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström

24 reviews

librarybookscene's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment

krys_kilz's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

4.75

This book was incredibly engaging and I could not put it down. The characters are rich, complicated and multilayered. I thoroughly enjoyed engaging with their multiple perspectives, personalities, hopes and dreams. The characters disrupt the racist notion that Black women are a monolith. There is also a lot of visceral metaphor and imagery woven throughout. 

I am still sitting with the ending, which was heartbreaking in so many ways. I am not a fan of happy, neatly wrapped up endings, so that's not something that bothers me. What I'm sitting with is what message the ending reveals along with its scathing critique of misogynoir and xenophobia. The entire novel does an incredible job of shattering the picture perfect image of Nordic countries we are often fed in the so called "united states."

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Grief

Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Islamophobia, and Stalking

Minor: Drug use

If suicide is a trigger for you, I would advise taking great caution with this book.

amandalorianxo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

I just finished reading this debut novel and… wow. Thank you for pouring your heart and soul into this. It’s really going to sit with me for a while. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars. It would have been four and a half but the ending and unraveling of it all made me deeply sad. It’s a much needed exploration about what it means to be black in Europe, particularly in a country like Sweden where we discover three different voices from three distinct black women who all wind up in Stockholm thanks in part to one (white) man. The storylines were clear and powerful as we are enriched in Kemj, Brittany and Mina’s lives. The ending is tragic but unfortunately, more common than we realize. It covers racism, privilege, refugees, immigration and fighting to be heard despite feeling like you are on mute nearly everyday.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

laurenmagoo's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, and Stalking