To start off, this book is very beautifully written. It really pulls you in and there were many sentences I re-read simply because they were so lovingly put together. However...sometimes it could be too flowery and it would distract from a scene. You don't need to wax poetic during a dangerous stand off, in my opinion. Get to the bones of what's happening! I think there can be an ebb and flow in a novel and it doesn't always have to be the same level of metaphors and deep thought all the way through in every scene.

It was so nice to read a story about a biracial main character (and a woman at that!), and to also have multiple BIPOC characters in the book. (side note: a few times someone was described as "brownish" and that was a bit annoying. you could say light brown? or many other descriptors? IDK.) I also really appreciated it dealing with issues of racism, wealth, and privilege.

I forced myself through the second quarter of the book but it really picked up in the second half as others have already mentioned. Once I got past the middle I couldn't put the book down and stayed up until 2AM so I could find out what happened!

But I wasn't particularly crazy about the ending, or the unexpected emphasis on romance -- it felt like it really undermined the whole message (or what I thought was the message) of independence, family, discovering yourself and the world.

Spoiler

Is it really destiny to find yourself in someone else who you...barely know?? Bleurgh. And I was very annoyed by her writing the book for Samuel and the epilogue focusing on him when it had been her story the whole time.

The romances just weren't for me; they felt underdeveloped and a little forced.

Overall it was beautiful. I rolled along quickly until I finished and there were some very inspiring ideas and descriptions. I liked it; just not my favourite of all time.