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margthephysicsbard'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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Biphobia, Cancer, Racism, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy
Minor: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
readtomea97'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
ohheyash'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol
beate251'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
4.0
I have first encountered this story as an eight part Disney+ series. Now that I finally got round to reading the book it's based on I can see why some people have problems with the narrative. It feels a lot more disjointed than the series, with a constant back and forth and introduction of seemingly random characters who turn out to be someone we didn't expect. You'll just have to accept that there's a big cast, and we're following them all.
The book deals with a lot of difficult topics (my content warnings are probably longer than my review!) and it sometimes feels like it's too many, even though some, like the rape, are barely mentioned. The TV show fleshes the time in Edinburgh out a lot more.
The writing is beautiful but I would really recommend the Disney+ series - it makes the book a lot easier to read.
Moderate: Addiction, Biphobia, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Rape, Terminal illness, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
kyriannaj'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? No
1.5
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Hate crime, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Cancer
reddeddy'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
3.5
Graphic: Biphobia, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Stalking, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Slavery, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
moonyreadsbystarlight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cancer, Death, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Colonisation
Gambling addiction, being forced to give a child up for adoption, and discussion of impending climate disaster are also CWs I would add.erinoconnor'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
4.25
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
tinyjude's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The story deals with topics such as immigration, racism, colourism, gambling issues, biphobia, sexual assault, domestic abuse, colonialism (specifically the West Indies-The UK, America and Spain) and its consequences even in the way the characters viewed their oppressors' land as full of opportunities and then became disillusioned and appalled by the bigotry and lies. It also deals with conflicts such as police brutality and abuse, the difficulties both women (just for being women sometimes) and men of colour face in the workfield; as well as how colourism and gender plays a big role in it.
But most of all it's a book about family history, heritage, feeling torn and at a crossroad with your identity (multiculturalism, hybridity, cultural assimilation, etc.), feeling lonely and ashamed by unfair things that happened to you (mostly women), white lies, safety and love. Above all. It's a book about love. A mother's love for her children. Family's love, friends' love, sibling's conflicts and love and romantic affection. Love for yourself, your safety and your life.
And: What are you willing to sacrifice for x?
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Mental illness, Slavery, Trafficking, and Death of parent
eve81'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape