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nimeneth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
I wanted to be kind to this book. I wanted to accept that this was going to be a difficult book club read that was gritty and uncomfortable and dark. The blurb was amazing, had a great hook, interesting title, the whole nine yards. Objectively the dialogue was a little flat and the characters felt a little wooden at the beginning, but it would get better, right? I would get through this even if I had to skim or skip scenes, it would be fine, right? Right??? I was optimistic. I was open-minded.
I did not like this book. I did not enjoy this book. The first 100ish pages were fine, mostly. I could accept the racism and homophobia as just part of what it's like in parts of Virginia. The middle is where it started to sour. I especially did not like the last 100 pages of it where it turned into full-on revenge porn. It's graphic, folks. There's no art, just blood. No redemption arc, just death. I think Cosby wanted the final scene to be profound or something, but by that point there's no tying it up into a near little package and calling it hunky-dory.
Graphic: Gore, Racial slurs, Transphobia, Blood, Murder, Misogyny, Gun violence, Racism, Cursing, Death, Alcohol, Hate crime, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Deadnaming and Cancer
gabepants'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
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Homophobia, and Racial slurs
Minor: Transphobia
evawhite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, Transphobia, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
literaryintersections'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
5.0
The main point of this book isn’t the vengeance or death or violence. It’s the love and community. And realizing as a parent that we can mess up so bad but there is still time to change and grow, even if that time is physically taken from us. I will think about this book forever.
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence
bl_6210's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Deadnaming, Racism, Transphobia, Terminal illness, Death, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Gore, Hate crime, Cursing, and Abandonment
eusteph'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
5.0
This story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming in that it deals with the topics of racism, homophobia, and transphobia in a very down-to-earth way. Honestly, if someone told me this was based on real life events, I would believe it, that's how well crafted it was.
Although the ending of the book was quite sad, it made sense and was the perfect way to wrap up this tale. I cannot wait to read more by the author.
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Hate crime, Racism, and Murder
citymouse's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Racial slurs, Violence, Medical trauma, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Excrement, Hate crime, Addiction, Grief, and Alcoholism
Minor: Deadnaming
wynplus1'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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs and Transphobia
thekrujue'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
5.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Racial slurs, Violence, Homophobia, Gun violence, Hate crime, Car accident, Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Racism, Grief, Alcohol, Transphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Murder, and Death
e_naida's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Transphobia, Murder, and Racism