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friendlypoet's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Police brutality, Death of parent, Cancer, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Racism
Minor: Colonisation and Pandemic/Epidemic
manderzreadz's review against another edition
2.0
I tried this book because I love books that follow different generations, timelines, and how they all connect. I did not enjoy the hyper-sexualization in the book as well as COVID being a major part of the plot in the last 10% of the book.
allfawkesgiven's review against another edition
reflective
slow-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
4.0
I loved Fly and I loved Stela, and I loved all the different voices we hear to know them. This is essentially a novel of linked short stories, so each chapter has a little bit of a different feel. But the images and heart are connective tissue that hold it together and made it such a beautiful, song-like experience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
year23's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
This was a surprisingly great story - started off strong, engaging middle, and then the end sort of sputtered. I would have loved to have seen more of Fly and Stela's relationship and interaction.
Starts off almost with a magical realism bent that I think can give the wrong idea about the story. But if you like generational stories exploring families, trauma, all within the context of race and gender (both in America and in South Africa) - this book is for you.
Starts off almost with a magical realism bent that I think can give the wrong idea about the story. But if you like generational stories exploring families, trauma, all within the context of race and gender (both in America and in South Africa) - this book is for you.
nahelizara's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.5
Good book, well written just incredibly heavy and depressing. You feel low after reading it
copaceticreader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bookofcinz's review against another edition
3.0
When you meet your love, you are meeting all the people who ever loved them or who were supposed to love them but didnt love them enough or, hell, didnt love them at all.
This a love story, but not your usual love story. We meet the two lovers after meeting their entire family line and getting a look at how they both ended up where they are... meeting each other in New York City in 2021. This book is a great mash up of Homegoing, The Vanishing Half, Open Water and Transcendent Kingdom
Tiphanie Yanique's writing is impeccable, I was immediately pulled into the story about Fly and Stela, specifically their back story. As reader, I LOVE the backstory about our main characters and that is exactly where Yanique took this love story. You get to see how and why they behave they do and if they are perfectly suited for each other. I will say, because of this technique I was more invested in the back story than the actual love story. I wanted to know more about the father and why he insisted on having his ex white girlfriend photo on the family wall. I wanted more information on Stela's mom second husband and her life after Martin.
So much is explored in this book, racism, religion, immigration, love, forgiveness, marriage, unfaithfulness and regret. I really enjoyed how religion was dealt with, we see Evangelical dating taking place, how growing up in the church changes you and how you change after leaving the church.
I think the novel could have benefitted from be more direct, it felt a bit all over the place in certain parts. The ending was a bit "what the..." why was that even included... however, overall I think it would be a great read, especially because its a book I cannot ever remember reading.
This a love story, but not your usual love story. We meet the two lovers after meeting their entire family line and getting a look at how they both ended up where they are... meeting each other in New York City in 2021. This book is a great mash up of Homegoing, The Vanishing Half, Open Water and Transcendent Kingdom
Tiphanie Yanique's writing is impeccable, I was immediately pulled into the story about Fly and Stela, specifically their back story. As reader, I LOVE the backstory about our main characters and that is exactly where Yanique took this love story. You get to see how and why they behave they do and if they are perfectly suited for each other. I will say, because of this technique I was more invested in the back story than the actual love story. I wanted to know more about the father and why he insisted on having his ex white girlfriend photo on the family wall. I wanted more information on Stela's mom second husband and her life after Martin.
So much is explored in this book, racism, religion, immigration, love, forgiveness, marriage, unfaithfulness and regret. I really enjoyed how religion was dealt with, we see Evangelical dating taking place, how growing up in the church changes you and how you change after leaving the church.
I think the novel could have benefitted from be more direct, it felt a bit all over the place in certain parts. The ending was a bit "what the..." why was that even included... however, overall I think it would be a great read, especially because its a book I cannot ever remember reading.
barbarianlibarian's review against another edition
2.0
just couldn't get into it, too short story like and I'm not a fan of short stories