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fkshg8465'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Alcoholism, Car accident, Stalking, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Alcohol, Child death, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Cancer, Deportation, Death, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
kcelena's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Child death, Death, Pregnancy, and Stalking
Moderate: Cancer, Domestic abuse, War, Car accident, Chronic illness, and Racism
amandas_bookshelf'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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Death, Grief, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Car accident and Child death
myrtle'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
3.0
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death, Death of parent, and Racism
ctrl_shift_dlt'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
3.25
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Minor: Domestic abuse, War, Racism, and Rape
toofondofbooks_'s review
- 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
3.0
I feel like this was a solid read, but it could've been *epic.* It had all the elements there, but it never seemed to really take off. I thought the writing was great even though it was pretty simplistic and I enjoyed the dual timelines, though Margot as a character truly bored me to tears and I didn't feel like she had a personality. Still, it was hard for me to predict what would end up contributing to the fate of Mina Lee, and I liked that, even though all of the things that did happen to contribute to it fell flat for me in the end or were flat out anti-climactic.
Though I did like this author's writing, there was a ton of repetition that could've been edited down. The entire premise of this book hinges on the death of Margot's mother, but I felt like the author kept wanting to remind us of that fact. So many sentences started or ended with something like "since her mother's death." I feel like as a writer, you need to trust that the people who are reading your book are going to remember such a major plot point.
Something I thought was done right in this book was capturing grief, understanding that there are things we will never know about the people we love or perhaps never understand about them, but loving them anyway. Overall, a decent book, but there are things I would've liked to see done differently.
Graphic: Child death, Racism, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Death of parent, Sexual content, Rape, Alcohol, Death, War, Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Murder, and Gun violence
Moderate: Car accident, Infidelity, and Addiction
Minor: Homophobia, Police brutality, and Child abuse
lain_darko's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Racism, and Stalking
Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and War
cereads's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Vomit
Minor: Cancer, Car accident, and Pregnancy
foliage_and_fiction's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Trying to imagine Minaโs loss, pain & struggleโฆto say I was moved while reading her story would be an understatement. Iโm always drawn to a complicated mother/daughter theme & I especially loved the deep dive into the relationship between an immigrant parent & their American born child - how this can cause a lack of communication & understanding in each other. Oh & the FOOD ๐คค Wow did this novel make me hungryyyyyy. Vegan Jjigae has now been handwritten into my cookbook my mom gave me & it will be a regular meal in my house for sure!
All of that said, there were parts I was really disappointed with. The ending pissed me off so much & it felt way too rushed. Like Juyoon Kim tried to fit too many themes into one book, so some of it was wrapped up too perfectly while the rest was glossed over with little explanation. The โmysteryโ theme in the book didnโt feel needed whatsoever. I could have read another 300 pages about Minaโs life & the dynamic between her & Margot instead. Also, the gay Hispanic BFF was unnecessary & it seemed he was only added for more โdiversityโ. Miguel was a one dimensional, stereotyped character IMO.
Minor: Child death, Death, Racism, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness
sydresnik's review
- 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? N/A
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Stalking and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Racism