Reviews

Red by Annie Cardi

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whosbradpitt's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

Enjoyed this quick read focused on the challenges of navigating the aftermath of abortion in a highly religious community. I found it predictable, but that didn't take away from the emotional impact of several moving scenes and relationships.

iahcrosby's review

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challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

daniellereadslikealot_'s review

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

A YA modern retelling of The Scarlet Letter for the Roe v. Wade era, Red is an extremely important book that I think everyone should read. I thought the way Cardi portrayed sexual abuse and religious bigotry was incredibly well done. Tess was such a well written character with her complex feelings about her choice to have an abortion while also being a part of a Christian environment and also her conflicting feelings about the man who abused her. One of the things I really liked about this book is that while yes, Cardi shows how some Christians can be hypocritical, judgmental and down right un-Christian, there were still people in the church that were kind and understanding to Tess’ situation, people that felt like she still belonged in their community. I am not a religious person at all, but sometimes I think books like this can go too hard into demonizing Christianity to prove a point and I liked that this one didn’t. Tess still wanted to feel that sense of community and support and I liked that she got to do that. Also, I loved the author’s note at the end. I do think it could have been about 50 or so pages longer with more scenes of her friendship with Chloe, Mia and Connor, but overall, I really loved this book.

CW: grooming, religious bigotry, sexual assault, abortion, bullying, slut shaming

Content Warnings

xangemthelibrarian's review

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5.0

Someday I’ll be older and look back and this will all be a thing that happened to me. Choices I made. Paths I took. It won’t be all of me, and maybe it won’t be something other people will see when they look at me, but it will be something I carry with me. It’ll all be a part of the person I am and the person I’m becoming. There’s so much more ahead of me, and I don’t know what that will be yet, but I want to find out.

I wish this book had existed long ago, when I needed it. Reading this was a very personal experience for me and I couldn't put it down. I wanted to hug Tessa. I wanted to scream at that youth group full of teens who simply didn't know any better. To see the church culture and how they all "just want to help you" and the subtle way the author brings out how these Christians consider it a point of pride to be "the one that brought you back to the fold" caused a visceral reaction and served as a strong reminder as to why I left the church.

Now, even as I say that, Cardi does not condemn the who church community. Even more than this story being one of abortion, loneliness, rejection, and abuse, this is a redemption and a justice story. Tessa learns to speak out and stand up, her friends redeem themselves, and her grandparents make a grounded comeback as well. Not every thread in this story is tied up neatly. It's a messy story with a realistic and hopeful ending. And I think that's what I love about that. Below are some more quotes from the story that impacted me. I removed spoiler-y bits from them so it won't ruin major plot twists.

"You obviously want to have a relationship with God.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I would change what I did,” I say, and as I’m saying the words, I realize it’s true. I want to reconnect with the faith I had, to talk to God again and be a part of something larger than myself. And I don’t know if what I did was right or wrong, exactly. But that doesn’t mean I would go back and make a different decision. Even if my relationship [...] hadn’t been a secret, even if he’d been okay with everyone finding out, I still wouldn’t have been ready to have a baby, to carry it for nine months and then be a mother. Maybe one day, but not now, not even if things had been different...

A baby is not a choice, we had shouted [...] But a baby is not a punishment either.

He should have known better.
I’m starting to know better.

Except it didn’t work out that way. Everything changed. Everything needed to change, but not for the reasons I thought at the time.

Content Warnings

alyssa1226's review

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

Annie Cardi definitely knows how to bring out your emotions with Red. It is a heavy read that I had to stop a few times and regroup. Annie has a beautiful writing style that makes you feel that you are the characters and in the story. The storyline is perfect and real. It is sad to know this happens all over the place, and the victim does not realize they are a victim until later on.

I love all the characters except Adam and Rodger. I can smack them. Annie is a very strong character even if she does not realize it at first. I love that even though she felt alone at first and was naive that she eventually found her voice. I felt after she found her group of people who supported her that she was unstoppable. The way she turned a bad situation into a good one made me smile. Not everyone can.

I definitely recommend this read to everyone. You will definitely learn a lot, which in this situation is important. I enjoyed the message and story. I do not want to say much because it would be spoilers. If you want to discuss this book with me dm me. This is a five star read.

bhsbooklady71's review

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4.0

Powerful story of abuse of power and manipulation.

tallsoyflatwhite's review

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It was boring. Very shallow characters.

courtenayliz's review

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emotional medium-paced

4.0

alongreader's review

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challenging emotional informative inspiring

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes

4.0

This didn't start at all where I expected; I thought we'd get Tess and her mother moving to town and making friends, but instead it starts in the middle, more or less, with Tess's huge decision already in motion. Flashbacks and memories fill in the back story for us.

From outside the story, it's devastating watching the way Tess is groomed and led down a very specific path, and how blind people are or have made themselves to it. Watching the support system she built around herself was extremely satisfying. I loved that, despite the terrible associations she must have had, she never gave up on her faith or her music; she made both more private and personal and more meaningful to her, instead.

Every time I read something like this, I'm horrified that stories like this are based on real life and that people really go through this kind of thing. Hopefully, by sharing stories like this, we can bring more attention to the issues and make things better for everyone.

sharivareads's review

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challenging emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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