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matmatmatty's Reviews (128)
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So sweet it's giving me a tummy ache ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Would recommend this one for sure. It's very Gossip Girl-esque - secrets at a private school, lots of rich kids doing bad things, but with an anti-racism message underneath.
I think at times the villain was a bit cartoonish but for this genre, it makes sense.The point is that so many people and so many people with power are in on it, with this level of "who can you trust" going on. It makes sense that the teachers did nothing (even though, I know for a fact if a school found out that their Head Prefect was accused of stealing and murder and had inappropriate pictures shared everywhere, they would SHUT THAT DOWN - my source : I went to a posh private school)
Questions I still have that weren't completely answered:
I think at times the villain was a bit cartoonish but for this genre, it makes sense.
Questions I still have that weren't completely answered:
Who stopped Devon's suicide attempt? Like I don't think they actually said What happened with the original headmaster? Like was he in on it, or was he against it so they got rid of him? Chi should have just gone to the police straight after the accident. Like I get that it would have been implicating her friend and everything but I feel like the smart thing is to tell the police and if it was real, get leniency for age. Kids, if this happens to you, tell the police straight away because hiding a crime is way worse than the actual crime. It was implied that Chi was assaulted but then it feels like it was kind of dropped? Like what happened with that? Not a question but I think it would have been good if the revelation of previous victims had been teased a bit more. Like when Terrell first mentioned that they the only black kids, he could start looking into if they're the first and maybe find some names but they lose the trail and then they can find the yearbooks and know they disappeared. Feel like that would have felt more like a conspiracy that way.
But honestly, really loved it. Not perfect but did what it was doing really well. Snaps all round.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Classism
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Super super sweet!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Stalking
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was really on the fence about this when I first started but my god, I loved this.
This is the story of August - a student who moves to New York for a new start in a new city and Jane - the girl she meets one day on the subway. Except Jane is always on the subway. Only on the subway. And has been that way since 1970s.
Trying to figure out what happened to her while seeing these two fall in love - I literally am tearing up just thinking about it.
If you're looking for something with a mystery and really decent characters that seem like real people, then check this out.
This is the story of August - a student who moves to New York for a new start in a new city and Jane - the girl she meets one day on the subway. Except Jane is always on the subway. Only on the subway. And has been that way since 1970s.
Trying to figure out what happened to her while seeing these two fall in love - I literally am tearing up just thinking about it.
If you're looking for something with a mystery and really decent characters that seem like real people, then check this out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Violence, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Okay, got a lot to say on this.
Summary:
If you want to read about a realistic experience as a Muslim and daughter of immigrants, and that's not your lived experience, you might really enjoy this and get a lot out of it.
Things I liked:
Summary:
If you want to read about a realistic experience as a Muslim and daughter of immigrants, and that's not your lived experience, you might really enjoy this and get a lot out of it.
Things I liked:
- I loved Rashid and Kawkab Khala - easily best characters.
- I did like the representation - it's good to hear stories about Muslims like this so I do applaud that.
Loved Hana standing up to Marissa and putting her foot down on the show. It's important that we understand that we should not be tokenised and to refuse participation if we think that we are
Other thoughts:
- I don't understand Hana's character. She's 24 but spent a fair amount of time acting like a teenager (being petty and vindictive).
I don't understand how she could phone in a false complaint and then immediately feel bad about it, but then a few days later make a bunch of accounts to spread rumours and on general make Aydin seem bad, and again feel bad about it! Just don't do it! I did enjoy her relationship with her family, especially her father and seeing her with her father showed her mature side but sometimes she acted like she was 10 years younger and I don't get it - The twist/mystery was too obvious imo.
I guessed that Aydin was Stanley P as soon as I met him and I honestly don't know if I was supposed to know or if I was supposed to find out when Hana did but it just seemed so obvious and was kinda annoying that neither of them realised until much later. I also guessed Afsana was Aydin's mum as soon as we met her - Hana literally says she reminds her of him and I was like "oh is that his mum?" It just felt a little too obvious again and felt like I was just waiting for characters to figure out what I had already pieced together. - I am not sure who this story is for - I love the representation but I don't think this is written with brown girls in mind. The messages were a little too on the nose (like I know racism exists and I know what it's like and this just felt too exaggerated for me to enjoy it). I think this is written for white/non-Muslims to read to learn and understand the experience and I do not fit into either of those categories. I also think this read too YA than adult, partly because of Hana's actions.
- Should add, I am not Canadian, I have never been to Canada. I am Muslim and not white, but I don't wear hijab so I do not know what someone like Hana feels and experiences. That bring said, that actual discrimination that Hana experienced was way too over the top.
It went from 0 to 100 on the city centre with the fight and just felt almost cartoonish. Same with what happened at the festival - I've experienced similar shit to things I've organised but it was just way too unrealistic. Overall I think the issue is that it came out of nowhere - she had never spoken about racism before and suddenly this happens and it's an assault. Yes that can happen of course but normally you hear comments first. You have side glances. People following you on the shop etc. Not straight to hate crime. She ran a podcast that was about being brown and never mentioned racist comments on it - they should've started here at least. That being said, i do think that for those not used to having those conversations, it would be very useful to read something like that and is a good thing to address.
Not a bad book but I think not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Xenophobia
Moderate: Chronic illness, Pregnancy
Minor: Toxic relationship, Car accident, Suicide attempt
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Was very cute! Normally for a story like this, I would be really frustrated with the lack of communication but I think because I know these characters, it doesn't feel completely ridiculous.
That bring said, please communicate in relationships!
That bring said, please communicate in relationships!
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed this! When I started, I was worried that it might end up being a 3 ⭐ read since I wasn't quite feeling it but pretty soon I really got into it.
I liked the discussions about the reaction to Chris and Shireen on the show - I think it's important to talk about things like that (especially when they're usually swept under the rug - will personally never forget the season of Bake Off when they got rid of nearly all the contestants of colour by week 4 🙃)
and when Niamh was like "they're calling me ginger" on response to Shireen receiving ACTUAL RACISM???? I knew something was up with that girl, you cannot hide from me
I liked the discussions about the reaction to Chris and Shireen on the show - I think it's important to talk about things like that (especially when they're usually swept under the rug - will personally never forget the season of Bake Off when they got rid of nearly all the contestants of colour by week 4 🙃)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism
Moderate: Fatphobia
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
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:
No
Loved it! Could not stop!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Outing
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual assault, Death of parent
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
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:
No
This story focuses on a Sikh community in Southall, London where a young "modern" woman is hired to teach a literacy class (although she thinks it's a creative writing class) and while giving her students (who are, of course, the titular Punjabi widows) the confidence to express themselves properly, she starts to uncover the truth about some of the community's secrets.
I really liked the dynamic between the m in characters- coming from a religious immigrant community myself, I could completely understand Nikki's thinking and the way she acts, but could also see some of my family in Kulwinder and some of the widows.
This book gave me a lot to think about - from how our safe communities can become toxic, to how it's important to stand up to our ideals even if the world is against us.
I know what happened to Maya does happen - there was a lot of talk of "honour killings" in the UK a few years ago, but it sometimes feel like things are out of our hands with things like this, and this story helped me realise that it doesn't have to be.
Really loved this book and looking forward to reading more from this author!
I really liked the dynamic between the m in characters- coming from a religious immigrant community myself, I could completely understand Nikki's thinking and the way she acts, but could also see some of my family in Kulwinder and some of the widows.
This book gave me a lot to think about - from how our safe communities can become toxic, to how it's important to stand up to our ideals even if the world is against us.
Really loved this book and looking forward to reading more from this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Sexual content, Suicide
Moderate: Racism, Violence, Murder
Minor: Sexism, Xenophobia