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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
5.0
This may be an extreme and even glamour filled version of a reality that happens everyday to millions of women, especially BIPoC women and young women. Millions of us have been/are being assaulted (myself included), and probably just as many or more of us are beaten and brutalized and victimized and gaslighted by men, especially men with power, money, and influence. It doesn’t even have to be a lot of any of the three - so long as it’s just a little more than what we have. This story is my story. It’s an exaggerated version, but it happened to me under different circumstances. I also suspect the entertainment industry is probably as toxic as written. Bravo to Tiffany Jackson for writing with courage and gentleness and for killing off a character who should’ve been raised differently and could’ve brought so much beauty into the world if he had.
Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Violence, Bullying, Confinement, Infidelity, Stalking, Classism, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Gore, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Drug use, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, Torture, Rape, and Sexual harassment
crybabybea's review
- 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
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.
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
lexa's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Addiction, Confinement, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual assault, and Stalking
Moderate: Blood
gen_wolfhailstorm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Details:
Narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Unabridged
This was heartbreaking. I had to slow down half way through and read a little at a time because it was so upsetting.
The suddenness of how quickly Enchanted was able to go on tour with Korey and how quickly she began to see the cracks in the supposed fairytale was devastating.
This was such a genuinely difficult read, especially knowing how much this happens in the mudlsic industry and how compliant those within it are. Its either they ignore it or are blatantly actively taken advantage of these young people that are supposedly under their wing.
The power dynamic between Korey and Enchanted was messed up from the start, but I find it hard to feel some sort of way about the parents as I feel like they were blindsided just by allowing their daughter to follow her dreams... it just so happened those dreams were within the power of a cruel, predatory man.
The scenes with Enchanted at the mansion were really difficult to read and when she began to doubt her sanity I just near enough broke down because how many times is a young Black girl going to be told she's crazy for speaking up. Simultaneously I was second guessing her reality too, feeling guilty for it, be because of what she was being subject to, what she was being fed (literally and metaphorically).
Tiffany D. Jackson portrayed a dark and deeply upsetting narrative, giving voice to the many young women who have lived this, trusting in the goodness of people and their love, in the act of chasing their dreams. This was a sad perspective, but one I'm glad I have finally read.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Pedophilia, Body shaming, Grief, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Excrement, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Trafficking, Violence, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Stalking, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Minor: Classism
hapikohw's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
Rep: Black MC, Black SCs, Latina SC
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: hoardingaformeracceleratedreader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
I don't know what to say. This books shows how power dynamics of famous people are used/abused to target vulnerable people, especially young girls, and how people are so quick to blame the victims and/or gaslight the victims. Like I've stopped listening to some bands once I found out members of them targeted teens and manipulated/groomed them. Also shows how black girls in particular are seen as "more adult" or "knew what they were doing" than their non-black peers in situations of sexual violence.
Believe victims. And if you are a victim of sexual assault, you aren't alone or at fault.
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual violence, Violence, Gaslighting, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Confinement
abbiestowe'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Addiction, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
alyssaarch'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Rape
belleden'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
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, and Suicidal thoughts