Really well written and just heartbreaking. Loved the mirroring of the two separate POVs.

Did anything really happen in this book? Not really. Did the audiobook narration make this a goddamn good time? Absolutely.
Extremely character driven, with topics that explore how class, race, and sexuality affect people’s standing in society and in other people’s views, both blatantly and subconsciously. All the characters in this novel feel so human, and the narrator does an amazing job distinguishing them from each other. 
Overall, really well written and compulsively readable, but not for everybody.

This book was phenomenal and gut wrenching. From the first word, your eyes are glued to the page and you can’t help but keep reading and reading. It’s absolutely heartbreaking and horrifying as you watch Enchanted get groomed and her circumstances get worse and worse. This is such an important read, and I loved the spotlight on how black girls and women are treated when they are in abusive situations-not being believed, and being blamed for being too “grown.” I liked how the novel explores how a situation like this would affect the family as well, but in the end the focus is still on Enchanted. Your heart just breaks for her the whole novel, and you keep rooting for her to get her out of this situation. This didn’t get a 5 star cause unfortunately, the ending was a bit rushed and I’m not quite sure how I feel about the last two pages. I’ve read White Smoke by this author as well, and I’ve noticed that she tends to put a tad too many plot twists at the end. 

I really did not like how the author literally states in her authors note that the relationship between Gab and her bf is ok…..NO, it is NOT ok for an 18 year old to date a 15 year old just because the older one treats the younger one nicely like what the fuck….that really rubs me the wrong way. The whole point of the novel is the fact that it is the adults job to recognize that relations with a minor is wrong and disgusting!!! It literally goes against the whole message of the novel!!! It doesn’t matter that the older one was 17 in the beginning!!! A 14 year old and a 17 year old??? Gross!!! Ugh. Unfortunately, I just can’t give the book 5 stars for that.. Ignoring that one major flaw, this was an amazing book and I would highly recommend. Please check the trigger warnings first! This is a YA novel, but the content can be very triggering. This is definitely an older YA novel.

This is a great novel with really poignant prose. The plot is really tragic, as are all the characters. The POV switches often, with the POV of Claudia being the only recurring one. Morrison explores the ways that black children are taught self loathing and hate, and how the definition of “beauty” is often intertwined with race. There is especially a spotlight on the treatment of black women in society, one of the topics being how black men will turn to abusing black women due to feeling demasculinized by white men. The author gives all the characters backstories to show how they became the people they are in the present day. I know some people didn’t like that she humanized the bad characters, but I think it’s important to recognize that the terrible things that happen in this novel are distinctly human. 

This book is a hard read, and it did a bit too much towards the end for me personally. I don’t think there was a reason to show the rape of Pecola considering we already know from the very beginning of the book that it happens. I also really didn’t understand the point of the POV of “Soaphead” except to be gratuitously disturbing. 

This book covers so many extremely important topics and themes, and I would definitely recommend, but PLEASE check the trigger warnings before reading! 

A few other things I had issues with. The way fat characters are treated and described are pretty fatphobic, but I’m not surprised considering the time it was published. There’s also a character who doesn’t enjoy sex with her husband, and finds comfort in her cat. There’s really weird descriptions of her experiencing “pleasure” from her cat sitting on her lap and stuff like that ??? Weird and once again, gratuitous.

This was a really enjoyable reading experience. I liked the setting and all of the twists in the plot. I’ve read Black Tom by this author as well, and one thing I’ve noticed is that he is not very strong at character work. I didn’t feel any connection to any of the characters, and for a book that seems like its big message is redemption, that’s a bit of an issue lol. A lot of the character progression in both books either happens off page or is kind of one note if that makes sense? Even the “villain” characters, even though they’re doing bad shit and you dislike them for it, you don’t really FEEL anything for them. The last 100 pages definitely does a better job of all of it though, and the plot becomes pretty exciting. Would recommend.

Unfortunately this just wasn’t for me. The book felt very inauthentic and cheesy to me, and I could tell it wasn’t going to get any more than a 2.5 star so I decided to dnf. 

GAGGED! I’m not sure how else to describe it. This book was amazing!!! I read it in one day. Both the MCs are wonderful and funny, their relationship is sexy, consensual and adorable. All the characters have distinct personalities. I’ve only read the Love Hypothesis from this author, but I can definitely say her writing has improved a lot. I love her humor so much, it really works for me. Will probably be in my top 10 faves of the year!!! I absolutely loved it!!

A short fast paced romance that’s emotional but also has some fun elements (aka demon boy….also smut lol) I liked the plot and I felt that the heavy topic of SA was handled very well by the author.
I will say, the smut in this was not my favorite. Some words were just very overly used, and I don’t like how fast it all went by like…..yall locked eyes and are already “gushing”? Lmao
Overall, would recommend :)

Sooooo much fun and so messy. Overall really enjoyed it. Was a bit predictable but I didn’t mind. The only thing that really bothered me is kind of a spoiler (not big tho)

One of the main storylines is the MC coming to terms with being sapphic….and we get references to two times she had sex with women, and neither are really consensual….kind of uncomfortable.

Another hit from Alexis Henderson! She is amazing at creating a claustrophobic and tense atmosphere in her horror. I really enjoyed the characters and their relationships, I loved how none of it is simple and straightforward. Sometimes you’re rooting for Marion, sometimes she has you face palming. The relationships go through changes throughout the book that will have you liking and then side eyeing and then liking a character again. Marion and Lisavet was so well done, ugh love the sapphic tension!! The novel explores themes of exploitation of the poor by the rich, how manipulation and gaslighting can look in abusive relationships, ect. I can’t wait for the authors next author! She’s definitely a favorite now <3