bookswithboo's Reviews (1.13k)

I actually don’t feel like I have the words nor the context to do this collection justice in a review so forgive me while I try. I found it moving, intelligent and beautifully rich. I found myself slowing down, re-reading sections and cherishing just how on the nose the writing was. I found myself nodding my head in agreement throughout - the delivery is challenging and doesn’t shy away from the ugly truths of racism and colonialism. The style really adds to how effective this lands with the reader - it’s like a gut punch:

My culture is not your cash crop.
My mother’s country is not your paradise.
My bilingual tongue is not your inquisition to crusade over.

I learned an absolute ton about the Afro-Latina disapora and the history and culture of Hispaniola and I think it is a must-read for anyone interested in diversifying their reading. It’s heavy in its themes, yes, but it’s also a love story to womanhood, ancestry and the Caribbean. It’s stunning.

Bit of a mixed bag for me this one - loved Zora’s energy, drive and passion for bookselling and the side characters were good fun and well-developed. But the romance fell flat for me I’m afraid and I found the writing too descriptive and repetitive for my tastes. The conversations between the love interests felt stilted and I couldn’t vibe with the chemistry. I will pick up another by this author though as I loved her character work.