Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

24 reviews

crybabybea's review

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Basically a cautionary tale wrapped up in a murder-mystery thriller. The story really only focuses on one character, Enchanted, a 17-year-old aspiring singer, and her toxic relationship with a powerful older singer named Korey Fields. Even though there are other characters, they don't play a huge part in the story and therefore aren't as fleshed out as Enchanted. It didn't affect my experience but might be a deal-breaker for some.

Since this is YA, it's definitely dark and does get pretty graphic. I did find some of the twists a little silly, but I think the point of the story was more the warning to young readers and exploration of rape culture, especially the silencing of Black women. Because of this, it felt a bit like a literary fiction with a murder-mystery thrown in.

I think Tiffany D. Jackson did a great job showing what it looks and feels like to be groomed and taken advantage of, and how quickly a toxic relationship can spiral out of control into violence. Definitely an important read for (teens and young adults especially) people who might be experiencing the same thing. I especially liked how the author captured the intense feelings of self-doubt and justification that goes through a victim's mind, without romanticizing the "good" moments, and the confusion that comes from manipulation and gaslighting. There was always a looming sense of danger in Enchanted's narration, which I appreciated. Also, she included content warnings in the beginning of the book and a list of resources for anyone struggling at the end, which I think should be done more often, especially in YA.

The pace is lightning fast and the simple prose makes it easy to breeze through. Overall an anxiety-inducing murder-mystery with a satisfying enough ending.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Addiction, Sexual violence, Stalking, Body shaming, Blood, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Murder

m2deloria's review

challenging emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Racial slurs, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping

Minor: Cursing, Dementia, and Gaslighting

hapikohw's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

Damn, Tiffany Jackson and her unwell, unbelieved Black girls. So far I am 3 for 3 with her books. They hurt and are beautiful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Abandonment, Ableism, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Sexual violence, Stalking, Drug use, Classism, Sexual content, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Bullying, and Child abuse

emily_mh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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? No

4.5

Tiffany D. Jackson just knows how to write contemporaries!! She has a true talent. Every one of the four books I’ve read of hers have been astonishing, including this one. 

This book will boil your blood. It shows in detail how Black women are harmed, exploited, devalued, and disbelieved. This happens in all areas in life, but Grown focussed on this occurring in the music industry, following Enchanted’s story. What struck me especially in relation to this topic was that people in the book (as in real life) were so desperate to put the blame on anyone but the perpetrator of harm. 

This book is heartbreaking. What Enchanted goes through is horrendous. Jackson doesn’t shy away from exactly how Black girls are exploited in the music industry. Acknowledging this reality is so important, as it provides visibility on an issue that doesn’t get any in mainstream media. 

Jackson crafted this story so well. The book starts out with the morning after the murder, then goes back in time, focussing on how Enchanted got to that point. The result is this well-executed looming sense of foreboding. The incredibly short chapters match the pace at which Enchanted’s life is snatched out of her control. We are presented with certain small details early on that then become super important later, giving that click of understanding. As I said, Jackson is one hell of a writer!! 

One thing I did think was odd was that Jackson didn’t take the stance that a 17 year old getting with a 14 year old is weird, as is a 20 year old getting with a 16 year old, when those are weird age gapes considering the relative life stages of the people involved. But I also could have been reading these sections too literally and be completely wrong about what her stance is! I just wanted to flag that in case. 

Rep: Black MC, Black SCs, Latina SC

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Drug use, Sexism, Racism, Rape, Addiction, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Murder, Confinement, Blood, Violence, Gaslighting, Stalking, and Death

Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Vomit, Alcohol, Ableism, Body shaming, Religious bigotry, Infidelity, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, and Police brutality

Major: grooming Minor: hoarding

alyvia_jeane's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Addiction, Stalking, Rape, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Death, Cursing, and Blood

Minor: Gaslighting

sarahreads2222's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

Okay, the ending though.....This book was TOUGH to get through. triggers up the wazoo. But such an important story that so many people need to read. Enchanted was such a strong character but reading from her POV you can see how even strong personalities can get brainwashed and end up in the horrific things that she went through. I don't feel qualified to review this one but wow. Amazingly written again by Jackson. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Stalking, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Blood, Drug use, Murder, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Violence, and Sexual content

bl00dsuccker's review

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this book was absolutely heart wrenching. but it’s stories like these that need to be told more often, you see the parents side and the victims side in cases like these. it’s so easy to push blame when your favorite person is accused of something like this. and this book hits EXTREMELY hard on the topic of race. the malcolm x quote was extremely needed. since enchanted was a darkskinned BLACK woman, the police took no time to accuse her of murder and ignore the fact she was beaten, stalked and raped. but if gabriella (or olivia) did it, korey would have been in jail in five seconds. the author did another amazing job of writing a book having to deal with a very real situation, mondays not coming was an amazing read. i believe everyone should read this book. especially if you still believe r kelly didn’t do it. even thought the author says it isn’t about r kelly, it’s heavily inspired.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Death, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual violence

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis

purrrcilia's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

when i tell you i needed to sit down for a few after reading this…

I LOVEEE IT. i think this was the fastest i’ve read a book, (3 days) it kept me immersed the whole time. i couldn’t put it down! the story was extremely intense and really showed a light on the scary stuff in the entertainment industry. it shows how people in power (typically men) use there power to take advantage of people in lower power. i love how as the book slowly continues, the main character starts realizing that her relationship wasn’t safe or okay at all. this book really makes you think. it shows multiple issues as well like how black women are often heavily sexualized, gaslighting in relationships, older men preying on younger girls, etc. i recommend taking a few breaks in between because it can get extremely heavy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

This book had me holding my breath the whole time I was reading it. While predictable in a lot of ways, it is still a story that demands to be told. I couldn’t even get emotional until the very end. Loosely based on R. Kelly’s abuse of young Black women, this book is a devastating portrayal of all the ways money and power allows men to get away with whatever they want to do to women, especially Black ones. This book is an homage to all the women who’ve been abused and haven’t been believed. Believe them. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Classism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Trafficking

jessicaludden's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

“My wounds are invisible, weeping invisible blood. Can anyone see the black-and-blue marks painted on my heart?”

I really enjoyed this. It was really hard to read at times, but I also couldn’t stop reading it. It’s such an important book and it was really interesting to read from the perspective of a character who has been a victim of abuse and other trauma. I loved the commentary on believing survivors. I loved the inclusion of mental health and how that plays a role in believing survivors. This book made me sad and angry and that’s what it was supposed to do. The part where her dad was cutting her hair and she broke down crying thinking everything was her fault really got me. It was one of those moments where you just want everything to be okay for a character. At the end of the book Enchanted saved herself and too many times in our society survivors are forced to save themselves too. I loved the side comments from outside characters. I feel like it really accurately portrayed the discourse that occurs around situations like this. Overall, this story broke my heart, but I’m glad I read it.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body shaming, Death, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Gaslighting, Murder, Sexual content, Stalking, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault