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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
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
caughtbetweenpages'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
4.5
Graphic: Kidnapping, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Stalking, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Child abuse, and Sexual harassment
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
ruinedbyreading'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Stalking, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Physical 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: hoardingbooktalkswithregina'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
4.0
" Yo, Malcolm X said it best. " The most disrespected person in America is the Black Woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black Woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black Woman".
First, Tiffany D. Jackson's book. One that caught my attention right away with the stunning cover.
Grown is a punch in the gut! A graphic portrayal of grooming and abuse.
This was hard to read and deeply uncomfortable. Left me enraged, sad and stressed.
This is a story about all the abused young girls. Who are lured by the appeal of a romantic relationship and empty promises. And are then stripped of their freedom and innocence by the hands of a powerful older man. How these victims, while seeking help, are often revictimized by the police force and the judicial system.
Enchanted represents the young dreamer, naive, full of hope and desperation. Going through the growing pain phase that marks adolescence. She feels a lot of restlessness and anger. Easily fooled and manipulated.
Tiffany D. Jackson did a great job portraying and relating the relationship between Korey and Enchanted. How he slowly manipulates, corners and uses his power.
I enjoyed how crucial the family was in this narrative. In young-adult novels, the parents are often left almost entirely out of the story. In this case, that didint happen. I loved how well the relationship was explored.
And this also provided incredibly touching and poignant father-and-daughter moments.
Another well-explored theme in this book is how quickly victims are villainized for seeking justice. Even by those that have suffered the same plight. Can't forget the layer of racism and colourism that aggravate the possibility of black women being ignored.
Overall it's a good book. I had minor issues with some of the choices made by the author in terms of plot progression and the relationship between Enchanted and her friend Gabriela.
I felt it was unnecessary, and the constant back and forth between reality and delusion was bizarre.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual assault, Misogyny, and Drug use
Moderate: Stalking
armstrongangela83's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Trafficking, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Rape, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Kidnapping
jessicafacchinigould's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Trafficking
Moderate: Alcohol, Racism, and Gaslighting
aformeracceleratedreader'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