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bettinab's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
What an astonishing novel. This is a heartbreaking, multi-layered, complex and at times hard to read book that covers a lot of major issues. The author wastes no time throwing us into it all and writes with incredible maturity, finesse and sensitivity. This is a story about questions of identity and how we can suddenly lose everything we thought we were, without knowing who we want or actually can be. It deals with the traumatic, far-reaching aftermath of assault. It deals with power, privilege, subtle and not so subtle racism and widespread institutionalized misogyny. That may seem like a lot and in a way is - but Lee is exceptional at weaving all of it together. The characters are well developed and beautifully complicated yet relatable.
Throughout the book, I was horrified, sad, not the least bit surprised with most of what Jade experienced, a little shook and above all, it all made me think and reflect. There's also a little humor in it, most notably the DEI initiative that - as someone too familiar with that kind of corporate nonsense - made me laugh out loud.
Ela Lee is superbly talented, has written a fantastic debut and one can only hope to read more from her.
Throughout the book, I was horrified, sad, not the least bit surprised with most of what Jade experienced, a little shook and above all, it all made me think and reflect. There's also a little humor in it, most notably the DEI initiative that - as someone too familiar with that kind of corporate nonsense - made me laugh out loud.
Ela Lee is superbly talented, has written a fantastic debut and one can only hope to read more from her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Classism, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Racism
brewdy_reader's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ข๐ณ๐บ โข ๐๐ช๐ต๐ง๐ช๐ค โข ๐๐ช๐ณ๐ข๐ค๐ช๐ข๐ญ
๐๐ช๐ด๐ฐ๐จ๐บ๐ฏ๐บ โข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฑ โข ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ช๐จ๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต ๐๐ฆ๐ฑ
๐๐ถ๐ฃ๐ญ๐ช๐ด๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฅ 19 ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ค๐ฉ 2024
This book hit home for me on many levels b/c of the parallels to my own life. ๐ญ๐ฅบ
It read so much like a memoir that I had to make sure it was fictional. Ceyda (goes by Jade) Kada is a first-generation London-based daughter of immigrants. By all measures a success story: sheโs smart, independent, ethnically half Turkish (dadโs side) and half Korean (mumโs side), a high powered lawyer embodying the โwork hard, play hardโ motto after graduating from a top tier Uni.
Uni is where she met Kit, with whom sheโs been in a long-term committed relationship the last 7 years. He comes from old money, the generational wealth side of the tracks, but he loves her for her independence, brains, and because sheโs different. Climbing the metaphorical corporate ladder, allโs going well until a drunken evening at a company party gone wrong.
Through flashbacks and memories unsealing, this was a fast read that covered some deep and important topics. Belonging. Glass ceilings and double standards for women and underrepresented groups. Diversity and Equity for show. System racism and micro-aggressions. Immigrant persecution and cultural differences. Shame and blame. Classism. And of course food. And also, unconditional love and besties who build each other up.
Jadeโs dad reminded me so much of mine. Usually happy go lucky, unassuming. He who always believed in me. And my mom, who shows her love through food and acts of service more than words. Iโm the only daughter of biracial immigrant parents. Jadeโs story is my story. ๐ซถ๐ฝ
Please check trigger warnings: Rape, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual Assault
๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ด๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ต๐ฐ @SimonBooks ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ #๐จ๐ช๐ง๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฑ๐บ!
๐๐ช๐ด๐ฐ๐จ๐บ๐ฏ๐บ โข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฑ โข ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ช๐จ๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต ๐๐ฆ๐ฑ
๐๐ถ๐ฃ๐ญ๐ช๐ด๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฅ 19 ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ค๐ฉ 2024
This book hit home for me on many levels b/c of the parallels to my own life. ๐ญ๐ฅบ
It read so much like a memoir that I had to make sure it was fictional. Ceyda (goes by Jade) Kada is a first-generation London-based daughter of immigrants. By all measures a success story: sheโs smart, independent, ethnically half Turkish (dadโs side) and half Korean (mumโs side), a high powered lawyer embodying the โwork hard, play hardโ motto after graduating from a top tier Uni.
Uni is where she met Kit, with whom sheโs been in a long-term committed relationship the last 7 years. He comes from old money, the generational wealth side of the tracks, but he loves her for her independence, brains, and because sheโs different. Climbing the metaphorical corporate ladder, allโs going well until a drunken evening at a company party gone wrong.
Through flashbacks and memories unsealing, this was a fast read that covered some deep and important topics. Belonging. Glass ceilings and double standards for women and underrepresented groups. Diversity and Equity for show. System racism and micro-aggressions. Immigrant persecution and cultural differences. Shame and blame. Classism. And of course food. And also, unconditional love and besties who build each other up.
Jadeโs dad reminded me so much of mine. Usually happy go lucky, unassuming. He who always believed in me. And my mom, who shows her love through food and acts of service more than words. Iโm the only daughter of biracial immigrant parents. Jadeโs story is my story. ๐ซถ๐ฝ
Please check trigger warnings: Rape, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual Assault
๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ด๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ต๐ฐ @SimonBooks ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ #๐จ๐ช๐ง๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฑ๐บ!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Racism, and Classism
marissanbullis's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.25
first half was decent (4 stars) the second half makes it all worth it (would rate this half 5 stars) crying, screaming, throwing up. recommending this to everyone i know
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Rape, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, Classism, and Panic attacks/disorders
ciarashine's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Difficult themes but handled so well, lots of universal experiences alongside major themes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Classism
ramreadsagain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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
4.5
Be aware that this book has intense triggers.
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a proof copy of this book. The below is my honest review.
This was an incredible read about the intersection of race, gender, class and privilege, particularly in the aftermath of a horrific event, against the backdrop of the dog-eat-dog London world of legal firms.
Jade was a very compelling character, and seeing the world through her eyes was both difficult and really interesting. I liked having the perspective of a mixed race protagonist who isn't half white; Jade's mother is South Korean and her father is Muslim Turkish and it was refreshing to have this take on "protagonist feels like they don't belong to either half of themself" combined with Jade trying to exist in a white world.
The class commentary was really well done, particularly looking at the class solidarity among the social elite that takes priority over however "liberal" individuals may think they are. Wanting to be seen as feminist and anti-racist without putting in any work, and having the privilege of debating real people's lived experiences as a thought experiment.
The central theme though is rape, and how isolating this experience can be, and how the system is stacked to make it nearly impossible for anything to be done about it on both an individual and a systemic level.
I don't wish to explain/spoil the plot further, I will say that this was a very difficult read at times but done so incredibly well. I particularly loved some of the smaller details, such as the concept of a "starbucks name" and the law firm self-congratulating over having an 11% female workforce.
My only complaint is that it felt at times a bit too tell over show, particularly in thefight scenes between Jade and Kit where we kept being told exactly why certain actions or words were bad.
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a proof copy of this book. The below is my honest review.
This was an incredible read about the intersection of race, gender, class and privilege, particularly in the aftermath of a horrific event, against the backdrop of the dog-eat-dog London world of legal firms.
Jade was a very compelling character, and seeing the world through her eyes was both difficult and really interesting. I liked having the perspective of a mixed race protagonist who isn't half white; Jade's mother is South Korean and her father is Muslim Turkish and it was refreshing to have this take on "protagonist feels like they don't belong to either half of themself" combined with Jade trying to exist in a white world.
The class commentary was really well done, particularly looking at the class solidarity among the social elite that takes priority over however "liberal" individuals may think they are. Wanting to be seen as feminist and anti-racist without putting in any work, and having the privilege of debating real people's lived experiences as a thought experiment.
The central theme though is rape, and how isolating this experience can be, and how the system is stacked to make it nearly impossible for anything to be done about it on both an individual and a systemic level.
I don't wish to explain/spoil the plot further, I will say that this was a very difficult read at times but done so incredibly well. I particularly loved some of the smaller details, such as the concept of a "starbucks name" and the law firm self-congratulating over having an 11% female workforce.
My only complaint is that it felt at times a bit too tell over show, particularly in the
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Racism, Xenophobia, and Toxic relationship
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