Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - In Every Mirror She's Black

Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

In Every Mirror She's Black by Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström

27 reviews

cherryblossomgirl's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

The author is a good writer. However, I just didn't like the decisions these characters kept making. They were so shallow and selfish. It's really quite a depressing read.

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bookishevy's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book is told from the perspectives of three Black women living in Sweden.

Kemi - a successful Nigerian-American marketing executive who is enticed by Jonny von Lundin to move to Stockholm and clean up a racially tone-deaf campaign turned PR fiasco at his marketing firm. Kemi also sees this as an opportunity to shake up her love life.

Brittany - a Jamaican-American model-turned-flight attendant who Jonny thrusts onto the lap of privilege after a chance encounter in business class leads to his obsession with her.

Muna - a Somali refugee who finds a job as a janitor in Jonny's office after losing the people closest to her. Muna is working toward becoming a permanent resident of Sweden and seeks a sense of belonging more than anything.

There's so much being explored in this read. The isolation one feels when they immigrate to a new country, especially as a Black woman in a mostly white country. The privileged expecting the oppressed to do the work of dismantling racist systems the former's ancestors put in place. How even with wealth and all that comes with it Black women are still othered. How society dictates what we look for in a mate and how giving into these ideals can lead to unhappiness. The importance of processing trauma and loss and providing the proper supports to someone with developmental disabilities. The xenophobia and challenges refugees face while trying to make something of themselves in a new country.

I empathized most with Muna because, unlike Kemi and Brittany who chose to uproot their lives and move to Sweden, she fled her home to survive. Her desperation to make a connection is palpable. She's sensitive and a bit naive but she notices things as at Jonny's firm. Through her little interactions with Jonny the reader sees Jonny for who he truly is.

This story with so many isms: racism, sexism, classism, tokenism, fetishism, ends on a cliffhanger. I'm on to book two.

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titagee's review against another edition

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Very triggering for someone who has experienced sexual assault. I just don't understand why a Black woman would allow a white man liberties she would not allow a Black man. SMH

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