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gracepickering's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
reading_with_river's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
12dejamoo's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I clearly didn't read the blurb because I would have never picked up a book that contained the trope where the MC tells the LI a lie when they first meet and you just have to spend the whole book waiting for it to come out. And then of course when I realised that would be the case with this one, I decided to keep going because I liked the vibe of the rest of the story. So I did do this to myself.
Slightly spoilery review:
To start with things I liked: I liked Nala's family a lot. Her Grandma and the people in her accomodation especially, but all the scenes of her family hanging out and eating and chatting were really nice. I liked the setting. I feel like the book really set itself in Harlem and New York in general and took advantage of being there. I liked the lists interspersed throughout the book; they changed up the pace and really made clear Nala's narrative voice. I liked the whole main vibe of this book as a journey of self discovery and the tension between Imani's activism and Nala's unwillingness to partake.
The things I didn't like: I don't think the relationship was all that interesting. Because it was built on a lie that was quite foundational to how Tye viewed Nala, it meant that the whole time I was wondering if he actually liked her. There are very few moments where we just see them talk that aren't him asking about her made up projects and her stressing in her head and trying to get him away from the subject. So I don't really believe they like each other all that much on a fundamental level.I was pleasantly surprised when she broke up with him and I was foolishly hopeful for a moment that they wouldn't end up together. But of course, it's a YA romance book, so they do.
My biggest issue is probably one of poor communication. I was so frustrated with these characters for never properly talking through things. I think Nala was right to be upset that the Inspire Harlem group were judgemental and high-and-mighty, even if their activism was fighting for the right thing. Which then leads to me being annoyed that Toya was being nice at the end? It came from nowhere. And I think Nala should have better explained her position to Imani about living in the house. Not that Imani was wrong to feel what she was feeling, but I think they resolve quite a fundamental issue with little to no actual productive conversation. With Tye and Nala, the same point can be made. They never really seem to talk through things properly. I think it was shitty of him to continue the argument at the film in front of everyone, and she never really tells him that. Instead, his flaw was apparently asking after what she was up to and getting enthusiastic about a project that he believed she was passionate about.
I kept getting annoyed at Nala for insisting that she and Tye just have fun. Okay, yes, she was trying to avoid the topic of her falsified volunteering, but I also think Tye should have been more annoyed about her just shutting down his conversation with insisting that they just 'have fun' and not chat.
Also just a small note but I don't like song lyrics in books. I just skipped all the songs, maybe reading the chorus once to get a sense of the meaning.
In conclusion. I don't believe that Nala and Tye really like each other all that much. They don't have that much in common and they shouldn't have ended up together. But I did love all the scenes with Nala's family, so maybe it was worth reading for that.
Slightly spoilery review:
To start with things I liked: I liked Nala's family a lot. Her Grandma and the people in her accomodation especially, but all the scenes of her family hanging out and eating and chatting were really nice. I liked the setting. I feel like the book really set itself in Harlem and New York in general and took advantage of being there. I liked the lists interspersed throughout the book; they changed up the pace and really made clear Nala's narrative voice. I liked the whole main vibe of this book as a journey of self discovery and the tension between Imani's activism and Nala's unwillingness to partake.
The things I didn't like: I don't think the relationship was all that interesting. Because it was built on a lie that was quite foundational to how Tye viewed Nala, it meant that the whole time I was wondering if he actually liked her. There are very few moments where we just see them talk that aren't him asking about her made up projects and her stressing in her head and trying to get him away from the subject. So I don't really believe they like each other all that much on a fundamental level.
My biggest issue is probably one of poor communication. I was so frustrated with these characters for never properly talking through things. I think Nala was right to be upset that the Inspire Harlem group were judgemental and high-and-mighty, even if their activism was fighting for the right thing. Which then leads to me being annoyed that Toya was being nice at the end? It came from nowhere. And I think Nala should have better explained her position to Imani about living in the house. Not that Imani was wrong to feel what she was feeling, but I think they resolve quite a fundamental issue with little to no actual productive conversation. With Tye and Nala, the same point can be made. They never really seem to talk through things properly. I think it was shitty of him to continue the argument at the film in front of everyone, and she never really tells him that. Instead, his flaw was apparently asking after what she was up to and getting enthusiastic about a project that he believed she was passionate about.
I kept getting annoyed at Nala for insisting that she and Tye just have fun. Okay, yes, she was trying to avoid the topic of her falsified volunteering, but I also think Tye should have been more annoyed about her just shutting down his conversation with insisting that they just 'have fun' and not chat.
Also just a small note but I don't like song lyrics in books. I just skipped all the songs, maybe reading the chorus once to get a sense of the meaning.
In conclusion. I don't believe that Nala and Tye really like each other all that much. They don't have that much in common and they shouldn't have ended up together. But I did love all the scenes with Nala's family, so maybe it was worth reading for that.
Minor: Racism
jwinchell's review against another edition
4.0
I could have used a book like this during the summer before my senior year. Nala is on a big time journey of self discovery and self love after receiving a boy to get him to like her and lying about lots of aspects of her life. I admit that I really did not like her at first- she’s a very unsympathetic character in the beginning. But I found her evolution to be authentic and I liked how she took charge of her errors and digs in on the self love. I liked that her cousin-sister-friend Imani had things to learn, too. There are no perfect characters in this book. I admire the body positivity. I thought about Lizzo a lot during this book, probably because she has been staging these elaborate, sexy photo shoots of herself with zero shame about her size. And of course Renee Watson shouts her out at the end; some of the songs Nala rocks out to are inspired by Lizzo (and Lauryn Hill and Lucille Clifton poetry).
mbrandmaier's review against another edition
4.0
Nala falls hard for Tye. The only problem is, she is not being truthful with him because of being afraid of what he would think of her not actually being a vegetarian, volunteering at her grandmother’s nursing home, etc. Nala is also experiencing some friction with her cousin-sister, Imani, who is pulling back slightly to spend more time with her Inspire Harlem friends.
I really enjoyed seeing Nala mature during the book, as well as the descriptive settings of Harlem and of some of the delicious sounding meals they ate.
I really enjoyed seeing Nala mature during the book, as well as the descriptive settings of Harlem and of some of the delicious sounding meals they ate.
elizabethbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
librarianboy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
aviv18's review against another edition
3.0
Like other reviews have mentioned - lots of girl-on-girl hate, and also weird negativity/judgement (consistent throughout the whole book) about being involved in activism.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
Empowering coming of age first love story featuring a plus-sized Black girl. It's full of body positivity, learning how to be yourself and love who you are. Especially great at sending the 'Black is beautiful' message. Nala lives with her aunt and 'cousin, sister, friend,' Imani. She has a complicated relationship with her mother but is very close with the rest of the women in her family. When she falls in love with Tye, these relationships get tested as she starts dating him without being completely honest about her life and has to deal with the repercussions of those decisions. Her grandma has tons of great advice for her: "You want to really be something in this world? Learn how to walk into a room being yourself, being true to who you are." and "The most radical thing you can do is love yourself." I loved how this book didn't focus on Nala being "fat", she doesn't struggle with loving her body but more with figuring out who she really is and what she wants to do with her life. When she looks in the mirror she tells herself: "Girl, you are exquisite...you are that rare find, that one of a kind. No one is a better you. See how big and Brown and beautiful you are." Really enjoyed Renee Watson's writing style. Great for fans of Leah Johnson, Kristina Forest, Angie Thomas and Elizabeth Acevedo.
ellethebookworm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0