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balberry's review
dark
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.0
This is a beautiful and painful glimpse into life within a multigenerational family in America, navigating the complexities of birth and death while struggling with the challenges of existence in between. The characters are imperfect, each with flaws and struggles, yet undeniably lovable. I was rooting for each of them, empathizing with their triumphs and tribulations. It hurt to take in the contrast between mistakes that can be overcome and those that lead to irreversible consequences, underscoring the inherent unfairness of life. The pace was nice, gradually building to a powerful climax while interjecting moments of humor that offer respite from feeling too bleak. I loved the dynamic between Angel and Amadeo as they navigate their roles as young parent and grandparent, undergoing personal growth and strengthening their bond. The universal desires for love, acceptance, and understanding are juxtaposed with the fear of vulnerability and pain in a relatable way. I couldn't help but recognize echoes of my relationships mirrored in some of the ones on the page. I felt both injustice and hope for a brighter future, and truly recommend this gorgeous read.
daisyray's review
5.0
I read this book a while ago, but it still comes to my mind. It took me a while to finish, but this is one of those books that deserves to be read slowly. The characters are written so well, some are so unlikeable based on their actions, but almost a pity-like feeling drew me to the characters and made me like them.
swaggynikki's review
This is one of the best books I've ever read oh my fucking god??? Getting through it is HARROWING but it's not like, all despair all the time. I think the choices made for each characterization were balanced PERFECTLY, and it does an extremely extremely good job at showing development through narration without being way too subtle. I was surprised (in a good way!) at how on-point its politics were about nonprofit workers who try to better troubled communities. I think its portrayal of the politics of gender was painfully realistic and compassionate without being too apologizing. Mostly my mind is just blown.
seeceeread's review against another edition
Having children is terrifying, the way they become adults and go out into the world with cars and functioning reproductive systems and credit cards, the way, before they've developed any sense or fear, they are equipped to make adult-sized mistakes with adult-sized consequences.
As a young woman, Yolanda's life got a lot harder when she put out her husband, Anthony. His drug use was unacceptable and his confession of hidden love for her recently-deceased cousin was unintelligible. Their son, Amadeo, is this year's Jesus in the town's recreation of Christ's crucifixion; he asks for the nails in his hands in the hope for authentically being redeemed, transformed from sixteen years as a wayward father, an insatiable drunk, and a drain on his mother. He gets a trip to the emergency room. Angel's run away from her mother and her violent, frightening boyfriend. She's muddling through a teen parenting program as a high school dropout, where her teacher, Brianna, feels like a beacon of possibility.
The plot is a string of upheavals that threaten to strangle the cast: A baby is born. A grandmother gets rapidly growing brain tumors, then dies. A teen falls deeply in love with a peer who cannot accept her, or their queer lovemaking. They grapple with postpartum depression, self-harm, a secret affair (found out), bureaucratic injustice, homelessness, the fear of child removal, chiva addictions, and a car crash.
Quade's gorgeous sentences are somewhat incongruous, with the bleakness she depicts, but kept me reading:
She didn't realize how long a night could be, how capacious and elastic.
He always assumed there was time, time to grow up, time to quit drinking, time to become the astonishing individual he's surely been on his way to becoming.
Careful characterization carries the book. We are treated to imperfect, impulsive and often remorseful people who are swimming in mistakes they do not know how to right. I'd love to read the author's short stories, one of which was expanded for this debut.
nlallen1's review
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Car accident, and Homophobia
Minor: Addiction, Rape, Incest, Self harm, and Sexual assault
slymberis's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
omp's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This multi-generational tale of an alcoholic father, a teen mom, and an aging, ill family matriarch is everything that a true story of a growing, flawed family should be.
Reread as a book club selection. Again, the story felt realistic to me...messy circumstances, flawed decisions, characters with vulnerability that make mistakes. I want to see this on a screen.
Reread as a book club selection. Again, the story felt realistic to me...messy circumstances, flawed decisions, characters with vulnerability that make mistakes. I want to see this on a screen.
aleex's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
relaxing
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.5